The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-08-15
s. Henry Caay,s slave.
NEGRO WHO ROPES 10 SEE
- - "a snARKY PRESIDENT.
& fr s ID Now York Mascary.l


RIO VINO HOPES IT. to SEE
rs i DARBY PRESIDENT.
frrotu The Now York Mercury.1
For several years past an oid ana smyste-
srious negro has been observer in Jersey
ana others 4 magician. He was very reti.
sa,,t and rarely engaged In conversation ex-
cs,,t with sfew OF his own color, by whom
he appeared to be held in high reverence.
.oc,asionallr he would let "a word drop
which would excite curiosity, but 1t would
ger orally increase the mystery OF bis lie
and business. 1t was known that ne was
an.old slave and had remarkable history,
and IL gradually became known that he was
a ,,esro.doctor, aud soon 4 number OF Won
derff,I cures were reported among the CO.
iorcd folks, but whether they were per-.
formed by medicine or magic was unknown.
few DAYS since Mercury reporter inter-
viewed him, and was fortunate in nnding
him In q communicative mood. de was
very cautious at first. and eyed the reporter
as il he was an assassin or something worse;
bat finally he gained his confidence, and ne
told
HIS STORY AS FOLLOWS:
He was born slave in Orange county,
va, and was named by his master. Sam
Whiten; he never knew his parents. After
becoming OF seryiceable age he was sold 70
j. Todd, OF Lexington, Ky. Here ne mar
ried his wife, who belonged to another mas
ter. Mr. Todd being ABOUT to sell him 70
go to Texas, he Immediately Went 10 non.
Henry Clay, who had the reputation OF beng
n good master, aud stated his case, urging
Mr.. CIoy to buy him so that he might not be
separated from his wife. Mr. Clay finally
told him that ne did not want to buy any
more, but rather than see him separated
would do 50, and asked him IL he thought
he could earn him Sl,150. Sam told Din
be would try, when
MIR. CLAY PURCHASED HIN.
with This master. Sam lived happily until
the opening OF the Mexican war, ana was
MIR. Claws body-servant. When he visited
New York and the eastern States, Sam ac-
COMMANDED him. On several occasions he
was approached by the Abolitionists. and
asked ii be did not want his freedom, ana
offering to assist him ii he would run away.
but he steadily refused, saying he wanted
no better master than MIR. Clay, and Would
not change his position with any "n1gger"
ne could see North. Sam enjoyed the MOST
nnbounded freedom. and his master bad
every confidence in him. Upon their
return to kentucky, Sam heard with great
sorrow that the master OF bis wife mad sofa
her to 20 to New Orleans. Upon this Sam
beseeched Mr.. Clay to sell him to the same
party, so that he might go with her. 10
this he reluctantly consented, and IN que
time they were on their way Soutn. NOW
began Sans troubles. At this time tue
Mexican war was in full blast, and accom-
who was on his way to the field. Upon ar.
irving at New Orleans Colonel Clay prom
ised Sam that upon his return he would re-
purchase both OF them and take them back
to Kentucky. But the brave fellow was
soon after killed, and then
SANS HOPES WERE BLASTED.
Sam and his wife were placed in the
traders ward, and in O short time she was
sold TO 70 up the Red river, and this was the
last he ever saw Of her. Sam was soon sold
TO Pierce Griffin, and in the course Of nine
months man came from Georgia to pur-
chase him. He knew that II he was sent to
Georgia he would be much further away
from his wife, and he made up his mind to
run away, and finally made his way to
Natchez, where he was captured. lie was
afterwards sold to Captain Gansley for $3.50,
and run on his steamboat as head cook for
three years. During this time he again
ran away and started up the Red river in
search of his wife. He was tracked by
bIoodhounds and shot. 1t was supposed he
was killed, and he was left to die in the
woods. he was finally rescued by team
ster and taken back to Natchez. The
steamer in course Of time made trip to
Cincinnati, where Captain Gansley sold
her, including Sam, to Captain Cults. This
did not suit Sam, as Cults was reported a
hard master, and he made up his mind to
run away. A favorable opportunity soon
presented itself, and Sam, assisted by be-
ney0lent Quaker, found himself the next
morning in the steamer Diana, bound for
Pittsburgh. Upon arriving there he made
tracks for Cleveland, Ohio, and thence
to Detroit, Michigan, where he remained
up TO The time Of the passage OF the fugitive
slave law. Sam soon found that he was
spotted, and that several parties were after
him. On one occasion they came to his
room, and, knocking in the door, asked for
Sam. BE replied: .sNo SIGH niggah heah.
Sans been dead desc tree weeks" ana
plunged out Of the window. He heard the
door crash after him, but his legs took him
to the riverin "gallopping time" and soon
he was in Canada. During the time he had
spent in Detroit he had purchased small
farm, and builta "rlghtsmart" house upon
it, and bad
ALSO MARRIED AGAIN.
This property he left in care OF ''good
Abolitionist," who took the best OF care
that Sam should never hear Of bis property
again. And so it proved. After few
months it was sold, and the proceeds went
into the "pious AbolitionisCs" pocket.
While IN Canada Sam studied the "medi-
cal art :, OF an old Indian doctor, and says
"thaf he knows morn all de white doctors
ebber forgot, and dey always forgot de best
part dey ebber knew"
In 1861 Sam and his family went to
Hayti, passing through the States Ia safety.
He had listened to the stories OF "Darky
Paradise with rolling eyes, and his aspi-
rations were OF no low order. Sam was
nerhaps TO become g SENATOR" in no time,
and would think OF nothing less. Visions
OF honors, gold, and ease fioated before the
whites OF his eyes, and he was happy. He
practiced q number OF speeches from the
head Of barrel on various topics, took les
sons in graceful walking from ascientific
s. cake walker" and, in short Sam soon
acquired all the lofty bearing and ease of
q prince. But on landing how quick the
vision vanished. he says that instead OF
finding people Of sense he found worse than
heatnens. Sam at once transmogrlied HIM
self into missionary, but soon found him.
self bad off. Having no money to return,
and not being able 10 make anything by bis
preaching, he finally accepted q grant Of
sixteen acres OF Government land. In q
short time seven acres were cleared and q
cabin built, but the situation was worse
than shaving. He could not even get the
Office OF alderman, for the darkies bad no
faith In a Yankee Niger" He finally