The New York herald., 1871-12-16
UNPREPARED TO DIE.
Fearful Sufferings in the
Death Room.

HILLsBoR0 N. O., Dec. ID, 1871.
Among the numerous vices which the negro race
have acquired since their emancipation from
slavery, and one that invariably leads TO the COM
MISSION OF crime, Is the carrying OF and use Of dan.
gcrOus and death dealing weapons. They are imi-
tatve In this In all other respects, OF the worst
characteristics, Manners habits and customs OF the
white race; and, like the rOwdes and rufisns OF
the South nearly every negro now carries his re-
yolyer, knife, dirk, or often still more effective
weapon-a razor. While they ore slow to acquire
the virtues culture and refinemcnts OF the whites,
they are quick and too apt to pick up
everything that Is debasing, immoral
and vicious All white bar-room bullies, street
corner rowdIes and cowardly runlans have now
their counterparts among the negroes who strive
10 emulate them In vice. bacKguardism and crime.
The jas prisons and penitsntiaries OF every South
era State swarm with negro criminals to such an
extent that increased accommodations are every
where demanded. rhus It is that civilization In
stead Of being boon has rather been curse to the
poor deluded negroes OF the South since their
emancipation from slavery, and the orime to which
this but preface Is another proof OF the resrogres
sion OF the negro from his standard Of morality
and virtue as slave.
One OF the most interesting events peculiar to the
Southern planters lie Is tue annual
'CORN sHUCKING.n
After the corn has been gathered and brought In
from the fields the unnnsked ears are heaped tOge.
ther ~ open space. Pens built for tine recep
tlOn OF the husked ears, night IL set upon Which
the shucklng' Is to take place, pigs and lambs are
slaughtered, plentiful supply Ol whlskey Ia laid In,
and runners sent out 10 invite the negroes from
the neignb0ring plantations 10 come and enjoy
themselves. such ID the social disposition Of the
negroes on the southern farms that they are known
20 walk ten even twenty miles to be at one Of these
gatherings. As soon as they are done their usual
labOrs at nome they start on, slnvy or In groups,
followed BY their .possum dogs" nlnging, shouting
anu laughng az they wehd their way 70 the rendez.
l99A ~ WAS " one Of these soclql gatherings tpAt
Sisr Lyons went one Saturday Ais Ill., IN The 61l6
oi October last on the plantation oi Mr.. George
Ellis, near Fiat River, IN this County,
Here he met another negro, named Baker
Tily, also visitor, ana prOmiDent character
among the negroes. POmp and Baker were rivals
for popularity aud leadership ~ the ''snucking,"
besldes having some grudge Of long standing exist
ing between them. The negroes were al welcomed,
aud speedily they set to work ct the pile OF corn,
occasionally being served witha
M DRINK OF WHISkEY
% keep up their spirits ana revive their energies
All The negroes present were by this means Kept IN
IN excessive good hulnOr, and az the WORK pro-
Gressed their vgor was Increased tenfOld. One OF
She negroes ~ the top OF the corn pile sings
pln1ntlVo melody, generally tue enuslOn Of some
local pO95- telling Ol tne duSKy charms OF some
aanlsel ID sh0 nelgh00r hood, or else recOunng the
deeds OF some successful pOsSum hunter. POmp
Lyons aud Bakcr Tllly were both rnymlng geniuscs,
who sang exteMp0re songs somewhat AZ iOows:-
Possum In gum stump,
Raccoon la dc hollow,
Hear my ,ttie dog bark