The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-09-01
The Negro Policeman.
"Herc he comes !"

Here he comes ~
a motley crowd of nearly five hun.
dred white and black people stood on
Lombard street below Eighth, facing tho
Nineteenth District Stationhouse last
evening, where they had been waiting
Tor upwards of an hour to get glimpse
OF Charles X. Draper, one of thc new
colored policemen, who was to 60 on
duty at O'Clock in company with tile
squad of regulars Anxious TO assume
the responsibilities of his new position
Draper had been to see the tailor who
was making his uniform early Yesterday
morning, and succeeded in having his
blue uniform and shining brass buttons
ready to don before 5 o'clock in the after
noon. Somehow the people in the thick.
ly populated neighborhood came to hear
OF it, and the news spread quickly from
mouth to mouth, SO that when the hour
Tor going on duty arrived the street in
front Of the stationhouse was packed
from curb to curb with curious mob all
ready TO salute the first black policeman
ever seen in Philadelphia.
YES, look at dat air niggah !" was
shouted rs Officer Draper, armed with
the authority of the law, a mace and a
rattle, descended the stone steps of the
stationhouse, preceded by dozen and
hankcd by as many more of the old Off
GERS of the district. With an almost
phenomenal solemity the squad filed
slowly down the steps. Draper, cool and
collected, nodded right and left 10 nu-
merous acquaintance, who called him
by name, and by the time the blue coats
reached Eighth street ne had been
cheered a dozen times. Along Eighth
street to Spruce walked the officers, close
ly followed by the crowd, which was be-
ing increased every moment by the ire
pressible small boy, who yelled and
hooted ut every step.
"Shoot the niggcrs cap." yelled di-
minutive barefooted youth in long.
tailed coat. "Jes' lux at him ~ screech-
ed lemon-colored woman in dirty
calico dress. "Wull, wull r' exclaimed a
venerable old son Of the Green Isle !;
"niver did expect to see the loikes O.
that. A nagur policeman It's con-
sated am that we'll be havin' black
President afoor long"
Draper paid no attention whatever to
the multitude of unfavorable comments.
He walked firmly along, and the only in
dication he gave Of hearing was when
the colored people cheered, when he
bowed and smiled in recognition of the
compliment.
AT Spr,;ce street the officers who had
accompanied him divided, and he walked
slowly down Spruce street to Seventh,
there to be salutcd by chorus Of cat
calls. cheers and hisscs from all army of
hnx,v oo,taI ha rJ,ufnpo
each side of the street. From Seventh
to about halfway between Eighth and
Ninth streets the pavement was filled
with q noisy crowd Of white and black
urchins who had been waiting with i'm
patience for what to them would be IS
novel exhibition. By some kind of q
signal it was telegraphed along the line
that the new officer was on duty less than
five minutes after lie had turned the
corner of Eighth street. Down came the
crowd on q dead run. They hemmed the
black policeman in ON every side. They
yelled and shouted in ear-splitting cho.
rus. Draper, with remarkable GOODNESS,
paid no attention TO the hubbub, but after
reaching Seventh street turned about and
walked up the thoroughfare with the air
of veteran.
The object of curiosity bore the criti.
cisms without word and walked grave
ly up and down Spruce street, Seventh to
Eleventh, only stopping when greeted
and congratulated. About fifty yards in
the rear two stalwart special officers in
citizens clothes walked, ready to give the
recruit assistance should he require ii.
Draper was entirely unaware of having
any protectors, and displayed commend, n,;eia :.
the idle jibcs of the crowd.
"I expect TO do my duty, the same as
any other officer" said he, "and | pay no
attention to all this tomfoolery. ex-
pected it, and just made up my mind to
let it 90 in one car and out the other.
1t don't bother or annoy me in the least.
After the novelty wears off people will
nav no more attention to rle than to any
other officer Philadelphia Press.