Weekly Trinity journal., 1865-10-28
A Remarkable Character.

Agate" of the Cincinnati Gazette, who was
with Judge Chase in his recent tour through the
South, describes as follows old negro whom
the party met at Key West, and concerning whom
brief paragraph has been already in print
Presently there came hurrying up a stawart
negro, with the physique OF prize fighter body
round as barrel, arms knotted with muscles
that might have belonged to a race-horse's leg
chest broad and deep, with room inside for the
play of an ox's lung. So magnificent physical
development have never seen before or since
The head was large, but the broad forehead was
very low. Above it rose the crisp, grizzled wool
almost perpendicularly for hight quite great
as that of the exposed part of the forehead and
the bumps above the ears and at the back of the
head were of corresponding magnitude. The
face was unmistakably African-glossy hlask
with widely distended nostrls, thick lips and
liquid but cleaning eye. This was Landie him
self-an old man now in my sebenty-tree
yeah, sab, " be said himself--yet the strongest
man the island, the richest of the negroes
the best farmer here, and with a history as ro-
mantle as that of any Indian whom song and
story have combined to make famous.
He was a 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 Florida and been
engaged at work railroad where he had al
ready accumulated what for him handsome
competence, when his little house burned down
and his free papers were lost in the fire. \ gang
of unprincped vagabonds at 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 attempt by whip
ping the whole party of six then hearing that
they were to be re-enforced and were to trv it
again he deliberately proceeded to the public
square, accompanied by his wife, cut the leaders
of his ankle joint. plunged knife into the hip
joint on the other side, and then sinking down
on a wheelbarrow, finished the work by chop
ping 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, brandshing the bloody
knife, Landie shouted to the crowd that if they
persisted in their effort to sell free into
slavery after he had once at extortionatc
price, bought himself out of it, his right arm
was yet strong, and he had one blow reserved
after which they were welcome to sell him for
whatever he would bring.
That the essentials of this story are true, there
is unquestionable evidence. The fingers on his
left hand are mutated, and the sears on the hip
and ankle are still fearfully distinct, while be-
sides there are still white eye-witnesses to testify
to the main facts.
Landies powerful constitution brought him
through he was confined to bed six months ;
then he began to hobble about little, and at the
end of the year again able to support him
self
He showed us through what he proudly called
his plantation Ripe sapodlas hung from the
trees and particularly large - soursop' was
pointed ont as especially intended for our dinner
He had little patch of tobacco; green cocoa
nuts rested at the tops of the palm-ike stems );
and tamarinds were abundant the African cay
enne pepper berry was hanging on little bushes,
and one two of the party who had been pro-
miscuousy experimental on Landie's fruit came
to grief when they reached it, and were heard
complaining that their q mouths afre. /"
Plucking two or three little berries of another
kind, Lande handed them to the Chief Justice
- Take dem home and plant en- in you garden,
and you'll hab you coffee aftah while"
g But coffee won't grow, Landie, where live
- Don't know bout dat sah. OATS juss what
dey told me heah but you see it does didn't
know why it shouldn't and so | try.
Now you juss try too T.
Finally he asked for picture Of his guest,
and the Chief Justice handed him Il one dollar
creenback. The scene tina: followed was curious.
Old Landie, bareheaded and with his shirt thrown
back from his brawny bosom, stopped down,
spread the bill ont 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 ont at last, - yous Ole Green
back hisself. You mout come heah fifty yeah
from now and I'd know you juss de same, and
tell you all about sittin in dis yeah piazzy heah.