, 1877-11-02
A Romance Of Fort George Island.


Fort George Island-a winter resort at
the mouth of the st. Johns river, Flor
ida. which is coming into fasbion-is the
subiect of an enthusiastic writer in Serib-
nsr's, who relates the following story:
The young owner of the island, culti-
vatinp hundreds of acres and raising
esormous crops ofcotton and sugar, used
10 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 un-
married. Perhaps no one of the daugh-
ters of the neighboring planters could be
persuaded TO share the lonely life which
could hardly have appeared attractive in
any woman's eyes; perhaps he preferred
life of freedom and independence. How
ever 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 favor
tie child and her father could not part
with her. Persuasions were for time
unavailing, but at length the savage ia
ther, unable to resist the glitter of the
white mans gold, agreed to part with
bis child upon condition that she should
betreated with consideration and brought
up as becomes kings daughter. The
planter promised, and, strange to say,
he kept his word. She was kindly cared
for and we'll educated, and in course of
time became the planters lawful wife.
She had, according to tradition, with the
exception of dark skin, none of the
usual negro characteristics. Her hand
some features were regular, her hair
smooth, her presence dignitied and COM
mandiug. Her husband seems never to
have regretted his unusual course, and
her influence over her captive country
men was unbounded. In addition to her
position and superior intelligence was
the consideration of her native rank,
which to them at least was source of
unquestioned right. ....
The establishment was kept cup in
almost princely style. The sons were
sent to England to be educated; for the
daughters French and English govern
esses we're procured, and established in
separate houses near the mansion; white
artisans of various kinds were constantly
employed, making quite large commu-
nifty, aside from the hundreds of slaves
upon the island And over all this, in
her husbands long and frequent absences,
reigned our dusky princess, as absolute
in her insular domain as her savage ia
ther in his native wilds. She had a
strong and powerful mind, and womanly
kindness and sympathy as well. One old
negro, who died some time since, so old
that no one could remember him as other
than old, used to tell how ri, was brought
over when young to this is'snd, where he
had lived ever since, and how he and
others, sick and exhausted, were minis
tered to by the "missis'" own hands, and
how they all loved her and always prayed,
"Lord bless Ma'am Hannah" Every
morning as she stood upon this very spot
the field hands passed in review before
her, each gang with its driver, going to
their daily work. She inspected them
all, picking out such as were unfit for
labor and sending them to the hospital or
to lighter tasks; and every night in the
same spot she heard a report of the day,
examined into all complaints, and with
strict justice adjudgsd each offenders
punishment; and without her order not o
lash could be given.