The daily gazette., 1877-06-02
Last Of an Aged Negress.
THE Trio UBLE CREATED AT HER
WAKE BY 81 CRILEGIOUy
DARKTES

Dinah Woods, or as she was called,
"Aunt Dinah," was known to almost
every colored person in the Eighth Ward,
New York. She died in Brooklyn, on
Monday, while visiting her son, who re-
sides in the upper part of the city, near
Flatbush. The old lady was hundred
years old, so herself and friends claimed
but the number is little large, she really
not being much older than eighty years.
Sam Woods, the son, is chimney sweep
and occupies prominent position among
the colored population. Sam determined
on havidg wake over "de ole woman's".
remains and on Monday night his house
was filled with all kinds of persons, from
pale faced Caucasians to the blacklist
Africans, all, the reporter excepted, gath
cred to do honor to Sam.
Many negroes from New York, rela-
tiyes Of the deceased, were present, and
they mixed with others on fraternal
terms. Many of the white persons were
attracted to Sans habitation through
motives of curiosity. The body ofthe old
lady was inclosed
IN A STAINED PINE COFFIN .
and stood in one corner of the ROOM
Around the head of the coffin were gath
cred number of old negresses, and they
spent the evening in discussing the merits
of the deceased. Says one woman,
"Friens we am yere to-day, but whar
am we Tomorrow" Ii..
"We'll all be in de blessed land of
hope," remarked an old lady who was
bending over the coffin and gazing
intently at the features OF the deceas-
ed.
"Dinah, looks as nat'ral as if she were
alive" said another old woman.
eyes, dar am look OBJ calm. resigna-
ton on her face" said the one who was
bent over the coffin. "Dem yere features
OBJ hers seems to say, my frens, l am
In de promised land, and Use very
'appy.'"
tsHow old was Aunt Dinah?" said the
reporter, addressing one of the group
around the coffin. ....
"Oh, somewhere about one hundred"
replied the woman, ,'mebbe she was more'n
dat, dunno"
"She was the Oldest colored person in
New York or Brooklyn" remarked the
reporter. ID
"Bless you, no chile, dare am ole Missus
L
dred and fifty. Dere she am right ober
deee in de corner"
An old negro wench was pointed
out.
Missus Thompson was small in sta
TUE and almost bent down with age.
Taking seat by the old woman's side
the reporter said, "you are Mrs. Thomp-
son?"
The old lady pulled hearing trumpet
from the folds of her dress, and placing
the end of it near her ear, said, "What
dye say?"
.sAre you Mrs. Thompson"
eyes dat am my name."
eMrs. Thompson" roared the repor-
ter in the trumpet, 'I'm told that you
claim to be the Oldest person In New
York or Brooklyn"
$50 am, so / am"
"How old are you?"
''None of your business" retorted
the old wench, glaring at the repor-
ter.
"Come, now, Mrs. Thompson, have
bet tnat you were hundred and fifty |
years of age"
"Den, chile, you've won," said the old |
woman, her eyes Frightening when she |
heard wager had been made as to her
age. 'G'm more'n dat, yes. Pm more'n
dat"
"How much more?"
81 don't know dat, but Pm ever so old, !
I'm so old dat forget when was a
chile .
"Are you sure. Mrs. Thompson, that
you ..e
NEVER NURsED GEO. wAsuINGToNo'
"Wsshington," repeated the weuch; "I
guess not, knew family OBJ dat name
down in Carolina; dey was low white
trash, clay eaters. l nebber nursed any
OBJ dere brats; no, sah."
The old woman never saw General
neither did she witness any
of the battles of the Revolutionary war.
She is at least hundred years of age,
but her friends have made her believe
that she is nearly 200 She has poor
eyesight and is so feeble that she has to
be carried from place to place. Mrs.
Thompson and the deceased were friends
for over half century, and no one
mourned the old lady's death more than
the woman who claims ta be over one
hundred and fifty years of age.
AT eleven o'clock every chair in the
house was occupied, and there were
R4 '.-