The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-09-06
A Romance of Fort George Island.

Fort George Island-a winter resort at
the mouth of the st. Johns River,
Florida, which is coming into fashion
is the subject of an enthusiastic writer
in Scribner for September, who relates
the following story:
The young ownerof the island, cult
waiting hundreds of acres and raising
enormous crops of cotton and sugar,
used to build schooners in a ship-yard of
his own, and imported slaves directly
from the African coast, selling to his
neighbors such as he did not want. He
was unmarried. Perhaps no one of the
daughters of the neighboring planters
could hardly have appeared attractive in
any woman's eyes; perhaps he preferred
a life of freedom and independence.
However that may have been, he was in
the habit of going occasionally to Africa
himself, and of buying his slaves from
the native chiefs, who disposed in this
way of their prisoners of war.
During one of these visits, while en-
| gagged in bargaining, he was struck with
the grace and beauty of the chiefs
young daughter, a child of ten years
old. He proposed to buy her, but she
was a favorite child and her father could
not part with her. Persuasions were for
a time unavailing, but at length the
savage father, unable to resist the
glitter of the white mans gold, agreed
to part with his child upon condition
that she should be treated with con-
sideration and brought up as becomes a
kings daughter. The planter promised,
and, strange to say, he kept his word.
She was kindly cared for and well edu-
Gated, and in course of time became the
planters lawful wife. She had, accord
ing to tradition, with the exception of a
dark skin, none of the usual negro
characteristics. Her handsome features
were regular, her hair smooth, her pres.
ence dignifed and commanding. Hei
husband seems never to have regretted
his unusual course, and her influence owe
her captive c~ountrymen was unbounded
In addition to her position and superior
intelligence was the consideration of hel
native rank, which to them at least wa
a source of unquestioned right.
The establishment was kept up il
almost princely style. The SONS were sen
to England to be educated; for tn
daughters French and English govern
esses were procured, and established il
separate houses near the mansion; whit
artisans of various kinds were constant,
employed, making quite a large com
munity aside from the hundreds o
!, slaves upon the island. And wei al
J this, in her husbands long and frequen
+ absence, reigned our dusky princess, a
absolute in her insular domain as he
savage father in his native wilds. Sh
: had a strong and powerful mind, an
sympathy as well. One old negro, VIII
r died some time since, so old that no on
5 could remember him as other than ole
used to tell how he was brought owe
when young to this island, where he ha
. lived ever since, and how he and Others
, sick and exhausted, were ministered
e by the "missis'" own hands, and no
t they all loved her and always prayed
"Lord bless Ma'am HannahW Ever
morning as she stood upon this very spt
d the field hands passed in review befol
her, each gang with its driver, going I
their daily work. She inspected thel
S all, picking out such as were unfit ft
labor and sending them to the hospit;
o or to lighter tasks; and every night j
}, the same spot she heard a report of tt
day, examined into all complaints, an
with strict justice adjudged each often
er's punishment; and without h
order not a lash could be given.