The Shasta courier., 1865-11-04
A Remarkable Character.

Agate, " CT the Cincinnati Gazette. who
was with Judge Chase in his recent tour
through the South, describes as follows an
old negro whom the party met at Key West,
and concerning whom brief paragraph has
already been in print. The character thus
graphically sketehed might be well worked
up by capable novelist:
g Presently there came hurrying up
stalwart negro, with the physique of prize
fighter; body round as a barrel, arms knot
ted with muscles that might have belonged
to a race horses legs, chest broad and deep,
with room inside for the play of an OK
lung. So magnificent a physical develop
ment | have never seen before or since
The head was very large. but the broad
forehead was very low. Above it rose the
crisp, grizzed wool, almost perpendicular for
hight as great as that of the exposed fore
head, and the bumps above the ears and at
back of the head were of corresponding
magnitude. The face was Enthusiastically
Afrlcan-gossy black, with widely distend
ed nostrils, thick lips, and liquid but
cleaning eye. This was Landie himself
an old man now in my sebenty tree yeah,
sab, he said himself-yet the strongest man
on the island, the richest of the negroes, the
best farmer here, and with history as ro-
LudlltlC dS ludb VI ANY lUultln WHOM song anu
story have combined to make famous.
He was native of Maryland had bought
himself for three thousand two hundred
dollars from his master, and had earned and
paid over the money had removed to Flori-
da, and been engaged at work on a railroad,
where he had already accumulated what for
him was handsome competence, where his
little house burned down and his free papers
were lost in the fire. A gang of unprinci-
pied vagabonds at once determined there
being no accessible evidence Of his freedom
to be produced against them, to seize him,
sell him In the New Orleans market and
pocket the proceeds. He frustrated their at
tempt by whipping the whole party of six
then hearing that they were to be reinforced
and were to try it again, he deliberately pro.
ceeded to the public square, accompanied by
his wife, cut the leaders of his ankle-jont,
plunged knife into the hip joint on the
other side. and then sinking down on
wheelbarrow, finished the work by chopping
off with hatchet the fingers of his left
hand. Meanwhile, an awe struck crowd of
white men gathered round, but made no
attempt at interference. Finally, brandish
ing the bloody blade, Landie shouted to the
crowd that if they persisted in their effort to
sell free man into slavery after he had
once. at an extortionate price. bought him
self out of it, his left arm was as yet strong.
and he had one blow reserved, after which
thev were welcome to sell him for whatever
he would bring.
That the essentials of this story are true,
there is unquestonable evidence. The
fingers on the left hand are mutilated, and
the scars of the hip and ankle are still tear
fully distinct, while besides there are still
To fn the m
facts.
Landie's powerful constitution brought
him through; he was confined to bed six
months: then he began to hobble about Il
little. and at the end of the year was
again able to support himself.
He showed us through what he proudly
called his plantation Ripe sapodillas from
the trees, and particular large sour
sop was pointed out as specially intended
for our dinner. He had a little patch OF
tobacco green cocoa nuts rested at the tops
of the palm like stems, and tamarinds were
abundant; the African cayanne pepper
berry was hanging on little bushes, and one
or two Of the party who had been promiscu-
ously experimenting on Landie's fruit came
to grief when they reacted it. and were
heard complaining that their mouths were
afre.' Plueking two or three little berries
OF another KIND. Landie handed them to the
Chief Justice Take dem home and plant
'em in you garden, and you'll hab yau own
coffee aftah while But coffee won't grow
Landie, where live Don't know bout
dat, sab. OATS iuss what dey told me heah
but you see it does | didn't know de reason
why it shouldn't, and so I try. Now you
.luss try too
Finally he asked for picture of his guest,
and the Chief Justice handed him a one
dollar Creenback The scene that followed
was curious Old Landie. bareheaded and
with his shirt thrown loosely back from his
brawney bosom. stopped down, spread the
bill out on one knee, and gazed from it to
Mr.. Chase and back to the bill again for
some moments in perfect silence. Now
knows YOU, he broke out at last. you's Ole
Greenback hisself. You might come heah
6fty yeah from now and I'd know you juss
de same, aud tell you all about sittin' in dis
yeah piazzy heah.
THE Emperor of Abyssina is very fond of
children. In the last battle against the
Gallas, young General was killed by The.
odore's own hand. The next day the widow,
crazed with grief. put herself in the Emper-
or's way, holding out child, three years
old. in her arms. He ordered his guards to
let her approach. Monster ~ she exclaim-
ed. after the father. the child; take him
and kill him ~ and she threw the infant at
-. Tlaodora vrifhopt r,or;nr n r,ne-