The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-02-11
From the Galaxy.
A Charleston Vendue in 1912

"A CnaflGSTCn v SnQue LII LORI.
It was at Charleston, South Carolina, in
May, 1912, that / witnessed for the first
and only time the public sale of men,
women and children at public vendue.
] am assured of the truthful accuracy, of
what l now write, but the impress was so
indelible that had l not done so, my mind
could reproduce it to day as perfectly as
five and twenty years ago. At that early
time there were no attempts at conceal
ment nor was there either dislike or
fear of Northern. The sale was public as
the daily sales of cotton, and the appear
ance Of stranger neither excited suspic-
ion nor suggested caution. It was undoubt-
edly, both in its condition and results
what could hardly have been obtained
five years afterwards fair sample of the
normal transfer of slave property in the
far South.
[ had been to the post-office for letters.
Coming down into Meeting street | OBJ
served that large shanty had been erect
ed during the night in vacant adjacent
lot, and that it was surrounded by a crowd.
AS [ drew near, perceived that large
body Of negroes were assembled, both
within and outside, scattered into little
knots, in the middle of each of which was
a man or woman apparently haranguing
the listeners with serious earnestness.
There were some indeed sitting alone,
others walking from side to side, and a
large number of children playing at var
ious games, but the greater portion were
grouped, according as family or other ties
drew them together, engaged in serious
conversation. Approaching a man OF
middle life, who wore the slouched hat
and gray jacket of plantation driver
and apparently had control'of the gang, ]
asked the meaning of the unusual crowd
'Vandoo, massa," was his reply. Desc
people hab jus come down the riber from
massa Papineau's plantation, and going to
be sold to-day"
"Sold ?" rejoined "Why so?"
"Massa dead. Died in April and young
massa goin' North to lib"
Chow many co you number p
"Ober seben hunder | don just know
how many, COS some jump the boat, but
more than seben hunder | reckon"
Are you to be sold too p
EYES, massa, but | don min dat /
worth all | fetch But that poor gal yon-
der, massas own Alice, raised like lady
| most sorry for her."
Passing through the crowd in the dir
ection the driver pointed, found seated
alone, behind board partition that screen
ed her from notice, girl of some eighteen
years, engaged in sewing. To say she
was beautiful would be faint praise An
0ctoroon, under whose transparent skin
the veins radiated in lines of blue, and
whose cheeks showed that tint which in
contrast with dark liquid eyes, makes the
race the most beautiful on earth; of slight
figure, tapering hands and feet, and full
developed neck and shoulders, over which
jet black tresses fell in luxuriance-she
was indeed tropical in her loneliness She
rose from her seat as stepped within the
screen, and babe me good morning There
was no shrinking. A slight blush seemed
to heighten the color of her cheeks, but
instantly disappeared, or was forgotten in
the graceful good breeding of her man
ncrs.
In dress-the simple morning calico Of
that day-in air, bearing and conversation
she was gentlewoman. Indeed she had
boon educated in schools at the North
under the expectation of freedom and
wealth, but the will of her father had
been denied probate, end her half brother
in fact, though not in name, held himself
aloof from all recognition of relationship
She knew that she was to be Sold anC
had evidently made up her mind to hel
fate.
AS turned to leave, she asked me eth
nv. 70 h.
to Massachusetts, where she would spenC
her life to'repay me; or if I could not d.
that, to interest some person in Charleston
to buy her for house-serYant, or LADY,
maid. 1t was out of my power-woulC
have damaged rather than benefited her
and | told her So
AS returned to the large inclosure TIN
sale was just beginning A platform ha(
been erected, and upon it stood the auc
tloneer reading aloud the terms and con
ditions of the sale. Some fifty gentlemen
were present. The negroes were all with
IN the Enclosure. A dead silence reigned
even the children being quieted and look
ing on with eager interest.
Call Tom, Betsy, and the three child
rem, said the auctioneer to the driver, re
terrlng to list of names lying befor
him.
Tom Tom! Tom and Betsy Up o.
de stan'i" shouted the driver to the crow
ana nearly man and woman, both ap
parently turned of thirty, the latter carry
ing ba6y at the breast, and pushin:
along before her boy and Girl of tw
and four years, crept out of the mass. an,
climbing upon the staging, stood befor
the purchasers
Here's blacksmith fine healthy fel