The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-06-10
Correspondence.

Baldwin county, sometimes called the
state of Baldwin on account of its in
dividuality, is located in the southern
part of Alabama. A part of its eastern
boundary is Florida, and Mobile bay, and
Alabama river bounds it on the west. 1t
is about one hundred and sixty miles in
length from north 60 south, aud averages
about thirty il width. Along the hay
shore from Stark's Landing to Point
Clear, distance of eight or nine miles, |
the scesnery is quite fine, and residences
belonging to city people, and boarding
houses, whittier Mobilians retire for few
weeks in summer to escape the city dust,
and enjoy fresh air, and sea bathing, give
some tokens of civilization. But away
from this part of the shore, it is one vast
pine region, very little Of the land cult
waited, and that little, wears stinted,
| frightened look
The inhabitants, both white and color
ed, are scattered through the woods, liy-
ing in poor looking houses; you may trav-
ell miles, and not see an inviting, homelike
place. Astounding in these pine regions
are small ponds of four or five acres in
extent, where aligators live, and woe to
the wandering pig that thoughtlessly
visits the borders of these lakes.
Extensive turpentine orchards are man
aged by white men, who employ colored
people to do the work, and in many cases
when the years work is done, the promise
OF good wages which gave hope, in days
of hard labor, proves only a delusion, the
price of the coarse food, and sometimes
i little clothing has more than balanced
the expected pay, andanother years work
must be agreed upon to bring up arrear-
ages. Many of the people of this county
are not aware that the world moves, and
their habits of living, and personal ap-
pearances, remind one of stories read in
childhood of barbarous countries. Indee<.
the past years record shows that customs
not altogether allowable in enlightened
Icountries still prevail.
DIR. Stephen Moore, formerly from the
State of New York, by education q quak-
er, has lived in this county many years
and always maintained his integrity, he
has walked among them, a bright and
shining light, but the white people do
not love him; had desire to put him out
of the way during the war, but he was
the only physician on that side of the bay,
very few employ him now. Since the suren-
der he has had some appointment under
government. When the convention to re-
construct Alabama was held, he ives the
delegate from Baldwin County, elected
by the colored voters, for very few white
votes were cast. He was the Registrar of
votes, and now he is County Superintend-
ent of Schools, and colored and white
must share equally the public money.
This state of things is not agreeable to
people go far behind the times, and they
have burned two houses for the good
doctor during the last six months At
the last fire the doctor burned his feet
badly in trying to save valuable papers
yet, nothing daunted, he avows his de
termination to stay in the country.
About three weeks since very re-
spectable-appearing colored woman, about
seventy years old, went from Mobile to
Baldwin County, to see her daughter,
who was sick. Her former master lives
in the vicinity where she wished to go.
He had threatened to whip her to death
| if he caught her out of Mobile, and he
still holds her grandchild In szocery-so
far as the boys privileges are concerned.
Yet she ventured, her anxiety to see her
daughter overcoming her fear. After
leaving the boat, she set out to walk to
her daughters, who lives some distance
from the landing. About dark, as she
was crossing stream, three men met her
and accused her Of coming to steal her
grandson. They put her into the water
three times, trying to drown her. They
then laid her across a log, face down
wards, and beat her alternately till they
were tired. She attempted to scream, but
Fnife and pistol were held over her.
They told her if she went to her chill
dren they would kill her. They turned
her back toward the Landing; in the road,
took of her clothes and ordered her to