The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-07-14
Sold Into Bondage.

LEXINGTON, KY, June pa curl
Gus spectacle, and one that strongly re-
minded one of old slave times, was
presented at the Courthouse door to-
day. The occasion was the sale at auc-
ton of two colored men, convicted of
vagrancy at this term Of the Circuit
Court, and sentenced to one years SER
vitude EACH. One of the cattle-aucti-
oneers, Col Edmondson, was employed
to cry the sale. The men were put UP
as in the olden times. The Mcguire
bond case was on trial in the court
room, but when the sound of the auc,
tioneer's voice was heard, there was a
rush of people to the outside. The
negroes to be sold were Henry Tucker, a
big yellow fellow, about IS years of age,
six feet high, and weighing in the
neighborhood Of 800 pounds, and
Henry Dudley, greasy, fat fellow, about
so years of age, and notorious thief
After those who had come to see our
sale "on business" had inspected the
points of the stock, the sale begun. The
old man was put up first. He had
been pinched some, and his muscles
had been squeezed, and he looked as
though the era Of slavery had returned
once more. He had said that the
Democrats all along wanted to put
the niger back into slavery, and they
began on him." The first bid for him
was $40. Then it slowly advanced to
$40, at which point it rested for awhile.
ANY advance on 500, gentleman, for
one years service? Why, bless my
soul, I recollect the time when he'd
bring $500,-a hale, and hearty old Mig
ger like him. Twenty, twenty twentyp
rapidly spoken, "any advance on TWEEN
ty? Go up and examine him, gentle
men. He's able to do a good days
work yet, breaking rock, or breaking
hemp, or even working on a railroad.
Look how sleek and fat he is! Look
at his arms and legs" At this time
Dudley looked rs mechanically as if he
was going to be sent to the Mississippi
plantations. Then Col. Craig, repre-
senting the contractors on the Big
Sandy Railroad, advanced the price,
satisfied with his inspection. Then the
price slowly advanced under the inspir-
alton Of the auctioneer until it reached
$34, when bidding ceased. The auc-
tioneer cried, CAL done; no advance?
Sold to Capt. Craig for $34.
The next sale excited more interest.
Tucker had been sort of a paramount
for years of low white woman, nam
ed ''Dolly Smasher," who had a bank
account, and could buy him if she
wished. Tucker did not appear to be
very much afraid of his impending
fate; but he looked very sheepish at
being exposed for sale, his get-up being
in contrast with his circumstances.
Capt. Craig wanted him, too, and bid
on him. The bidding went from $40
up to $50 rapidly. Then ittook jump
to 800. The Captain stuck to him,
and advanced until the price reached
$112,5O, at which sum Henry Tucker
was knocked down to w. H. Harrison,
the street-sprinkler. II was said, how
ever, by the Sheriff that the real pur-
chaser is "Dolly Smasher."
This is the first instance of a sale for
vagrancy since the war. The verdicts
of the juries in the cases Of these men
have had q salutary effect. Many of
the colored loafers and some Of the
white ones have left the city or have
gone to work. At the present time
there is so much employment that
there is no excuse for idleness, and it
is understood that the eye Of the law
has fallen upon some white men, who,
if they do'not mind their ways, will
next experience what it is to be sold at
auction.