The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-01-17
THE EXODUS.
An Explanation that Hits the Bulls
Eye at Every Shot.
A Letter from Col. A. ID. streight tina
Does Honor to its Author, aud strikes
Home for the Oppressed.

A Letter from Col. A. ID. streight that |
Does Honor to its Author, aud strikes
Home for the Oppressed.
Hon. Chas. Kahlo, My Esteemed Friend
You have my thanks for sending the
Pharos of the 18th inst. 1t is surprising
to zee how q very ordinary transaction in
orr private business affairs can be con-
strued by blind political partisans into
matter of great publ C concern. The truth
is that sent two colored men, and their
families, consisting of some twelve women
aud children, from this city TO my farm in
Newton county. where am needing some
farm laborers. These people had just ar
rived here from North Carolina. These
are the people referred TO by the editor of
the Pharos, when he says "Tell it to the
laboring white men OF Indianapolis that
Col. Streight is stocking his farm in New
ton county with North Carolina Negroes"
Certainly, tell it to men of INDIANAPOLIS,
both white and black, that l sent these
people to work on my farm. Why not
tell them? l have repeatedly advertised
for farDl labOrers TO go TO my Newton
county farm, and have sent numbers oil
them there, gave them remunerative en-
ployment, and still want more, and, so
far "a know, there are no idle farm hands
i'm Newton county. Yes tell ii to the peO-
ole that sent two colored men, with their
families, 10 my Newton county farm; and
I will add that they are poor and destitute,
but 1 believe honest and industrious.
Now, friend Kahlo, while L am writ
ing / will add that [ have a very
kindly fe, ling for these poor, destitute,
prosecuted people, who are endeavOring
to escape from a condition worse than
slavery. 1t will soon be sixt, en- years Tin
February next since l was making my
way from the same country. That class
of people that are now per.ecuting the col
ored people was then called rebels; and
those rebels had orders from the COM
mander of the prison IRON which ! had
escaped to capture me, but TO not bring
me back MY life was at stake, but human
endurance has limit even when life is at
stake, and this limit was reached when l
was ON the south bank of the Rappahan
mock river, near Tappahannock, after
terrible day of crossing difficult streams,
marching and hiding from the enemy
Nv feet were sore; l was worn out for loss
OF sleep and starving for want OF food.
Escape seemed i'm possible. On the north
was the Rappahannock river (near three
miles widel; on the east was deep, inn
passable CT, elk; on the west was another
stream of water too wide and deep TO
cross without a boat, and on the south
side the rebels had established a strong
picket line. Ii was known by the rebels
that | was somwhere within the space of
country above described, VIII ch was not
more than two miles wide and three or
four miles long. A cavalry regiment, TO
gether with the people, both black and
white, with their d, gs, had turned out TO
hunt all day for my place OF concealment.
1t seems almost Providential THAI l was
able to elude their vigilance through that
terrible day. But darkness put an
end TO the search, and | was left to
consider the situation. Up ~ this time
my policy had been to avoid trusting
anybody, and to endeavor to get through
the country undiscovered. This must
now be changed, for was in great need OF
immediate, friendly ass istance, and as
had no confidence in the white men OF
that section of the country, the black men
were my only choice. / started in the
dark, through drenching rain, and soon
and on entering one OF the cabins was
welcomed by good, honest Union man,
and a friend though a slave who had been
out all day with his master hunting for
me. This man, at the risk of his life,
took me into his cabin, procured and
cooked q bountiiul supply OF focd. and
permitted me TO rest while he 10 ned his
Muster the next day in vigorous hunt for
my place o. concealment. Night came
again, and the negroes returned TO tell OF
what had been done, and OF the fact that a
certain boat, by chance, might be captur-
ed, which would enable me to cross the
Rhappahannock, and thus escape from
my pursuers. The negroes OF this plania
ton, at the risk of their lives, joined me
in capturing the boat, and plloted me
through difficult stream to the river, and
returned to their houses to join in the
search for my Whereabouts on the NOR
row. By their assistance l made my way
out of the reach Of the enemy, and my
life was spared. The colored people now
fleeing from Southern persecution, are try
ing to escape from the same evil spirit
that plunged our country into war; that
starved and tortured to death over 30 DOC
Union soldiers; that hunted escaping
Union prisoners OF war with blood hounds;
that since the close OF the war has muir.
dered tens Of thousands of men and wo-
men for entertaining political opinions
favorable to the Union; that has organic
ed rife clubs aud kn Klux bands to whip,
scourge and murder Union p ople l say
that il s from this evil spirit that these
poor people are trying to escape; and II
was from the same demon that l made
my escape. And now, remembering the
fact, ii any man supposes that have no
sympathy for the refugees, he is no; &C.
quainted with my disposition, for do not
intend to be- gully Of ingratitude. Hop
ing that the time will soon come when our
National government will rrotec. the con
stitutional rights ofour citizens through
out the length and breadth of the land, |
remain most truly yours,
A. ID. SrREIGHT.