New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-09-27
Funny incident in The sqnth,
! oAsE or MUTUAL DIsrRusr.
IFrom The Savannah Herald, September l8,l

From the Savannah Herald, September 1871
An affair occurred a few days since in Seriyen
county, which, ludicrous as it was affords strik-
ing illustration of the mutual suspicion and dis
trust existing between the whites and blacks in
some of the country districts We give the cir
cumstances as they were related to us:
A countryman, very nearly deaf, whose name
we do not remember, was driving pair of mules
attached to wagon, when he was met on the
road by negro on foot, who bore an axe on his
shoulder, The man in the wagon was about taking
chew of tobacco, when the negro stopped sud
denly and asked him for a chew, which was
promptly given him. The negro returned his
thanks for the quid, looking steadfastly at the
white man and repeating the words, thank you,
sir, several times. The white mans hearing
being very dull and not liking the negro's appear.
ance, he imagined that demand was made for his
money, and, in great alarm replied that he had
nones. The negro perceiying the Misrepresentation
and that the man was very deaf, shouted,
didn't ak you for no money! But the man in his
fright heard only the word money!
While the negro was endeayoring to explain
the mules, who had been neglected by their driver
IN his fright, sheared off to the opposite side of the
road, and were about to upset the wagon, when
the negro seized the reins to bring them back,
which action on his part only confirmed the dread
ful suspicion Of the white man, who, in great
panic sprang from his wagon and took to the
woods at full speed. The negro, anxious to con-
vince the man that he meant no harm, followed in
pursuit, shouting to him to stop. The race CON
tliiueu iul suult tut Negro D6lDg me
feetest was rapidly gaining on the terrified white
man, who seeing that he was about to be over
taken turned to encounter his pursuer. As the
negro approached with vaeiferous assurances of
kindly Intentions, and holding his axe in his hand
the wlllteman made spring at him and des-
perate struggle for the possession of the axe en-
sued In the strife the white man got control of
the weapon, when the negro, for his protection
closed with him and succeeded in throwing him to
the ground, the white man all the time pleading
for life, and the negro using all his eoquence to
convince him that he meant no harm. They re-
manned some time on the ground locked in each
others embrace, the white man clinging desper
afeiy to the axe, and literally turning deaf ear
to the emphatic assurances of the negro, who was
now AFRAID to let him up for fear that in his alarm
he might kill him with the axe.
IN thls dllemma each distrusting the other, in
spite of their protestations it was finally agreed
that the negro would let the white man up upon
condition that the axe, to which the latter Still
chung, should be thrown away. Watching each
other like tigers, they rose from the ground the
negro holding the white man IS arms from the rear
until, with a swing of his body, the axe was
thrown from their reach, when they separated, |
running in opposite directions, the white man hat |
less and with his clothes nearly torn from his per-
son, shouting Murder help!" at the top of his |
voice.
Terror lending fieetness to his legs, he was not
long ID reaching house short distance from the |
scene of the conflict. Breathtess with exertion |
and alarm, he related his story declaring that he
had narrowly escaped being robbed and muir
iered, and demanded arms and assistance to 60 |
10 pursuit of the robber. In the midst of the ex- |
element which his appearance and relation of the |
affair had created, the negro, scarcely less |
alameda and excited, approached, and Immediately |
surrendered himself. He made his statement to |
hose present, but as the principal party in the /
Affair was still ncredulous, and could not be per
,uaded but that he had made narrow escape
gith his life, it was finally determined to detain
he negro in custody till the next morning. when
ne was to be taken to the freedman's bureau for a
fearing Accordingly, his physical wants having
leen supplied, he was tied, and his supposed in
ended victim, armed with gun, placed over him
$ guard. In the morning the deaf man was
ound lying fast asleep, and the negro was not
ound at ALL