Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-12-06

tablishes the fact that he was located near Bal
| timore. He had married soon after coming
| back to Maryland. and at the breaking out Of
| the War Of 1912 he had quite family. He
| clearly remembers the stirring incidents Of
those few years. At the close Of the war he
and his oldest boy helped rebuild Fort McHen-
| ~. the reduction OF which furnished the in
| spiration for the "Star Spanglcd Banner"
| This is the second event that seems to substan-
| tiate the statements as 10 his age.
| The remainder OF his life slave so close
| " rescmblcd the picture OF slavery painted
| in "Unclc Toms Cabin" that when. In recent
wears. the book was read to him, the old man
would murmur, the tears coursing down his
wrinked cheeks the while, Eyes. dat is SO!
I've seen il myself" The slaves. he said. were
| treated worse than dogs. Cruel overseers
showed them no mercy. The hands were
| struck down without any provocation. On one
occasion he failed to bring in the required
quantity OF vans and was strung up 10 the
whipping post. He received fifty blows and
10 the dav OF his death the deep scars that
covered his back told OF the terrible agony he
endured. AT another time he saw an inhuinan
overscer strike heavy blow at a woman who
was working beside him The lash fell with
fatal effect upon babe which was strapped up
on the mothers back. With no further thought
than though It had been dog. hole was dug
in the ground and the body roughly thrown in
and thus buried Not a word OF remonstrance
was uttered, although. as Father Hanson said.
the slaves were only too anxious 10 Kill their
taskmaster. ANY such attempt would have
been useless. however. for aside from his whip
and revolver. the man was protected by huge
bloodhounds. and the condition OF the poor
wreiches who occasionally attempted To escape
was sufficient evidence OF their fcrocty.
Father Hanson told Of one occasion in which
girl tried to escape but was brought back by
the dogs. The master undertook 10 Kill her
child. but divining his intention. she escaped
under cover Of the night. The ne 1t morning
the hounds We're set upon her track. and st
night the wretchcd girl. manglrd and bleeding.
was brought back. The child was killed and
the mother terribly punished
When young man Hanson Joined the
Methodist church. The peculiar habit Of
colorcd people OF shouting during their de-
votions seemed TO be intensified In hi case
At any rate his master did not appreciate his
religious ZEAL and finding that circumstances
were OF no avail. tried 10 whip it out OF him
A. result OF the chasti-cmcnt hi- right arm
was injured 20 severely that he never aftcrward
rcgained the Use OF il. His ferycnt picty was
rendered all the more stanch by this course and
he labored zealously for the conversion Of hi,
companions in slavery.
During all these wears OF hi- bondage he had
kept up stout heart and hope for better things
in the future. But when they -old hi children
his spirit was broken. He had seen others sold
but could not think Of his own little ones going
upon the block. When the first child was TAX
en- he was almost heart-brokcn. One by one
they We're torn from him until only hi favor
lie child. Tom, remained. Then he realized
his terrible loss. and vowed that this one should
be spared. But the suffering Of the slave did
not affect the master, and ere many weeks hal
passed his last child was taken from his sight
He was crushed with grief. but was at last 3
reused with an intense desire to run away He
felt that he could not remain in bondage any
longer. One night he succeeded In making his
escape, and after months Of priyation and toll
he reached the land Of freedom This is all
that is known Of him rs slave. He could
never BE- induced 10 tell how or in what year
he made hi. escape. He was first heard Of in
Canton. and at the beginning Of the late war
he reached HYDE Park. He was intensely in
terested in the fierce struggle and was continu-
ally asking his friends 10 read the latest news
from the front. When the struggle ended he
could not believe the good news When told
that slavery was abolished he would shake his
head doubtfuly. and say II was too good 10 be
true. Said he. 'Massa Is ugly he will kill
the Yankees. They wont dare to interfere
with him., He lived in continual fear OF his
old master and was In mortal terror lest he
should be carried back TO slavery This great
fear confirms the story OF his cruel treatment.
Whenever questioned to his past life he
would only say: .'Ill never 90 back; I'll die
first" He would cry bitterly over the fate that
had separated him from his children. When
asked a. TO his age he would reply" Il don't
know how old | am: its long time, a long
time" He was the first colored resident of HYDE
Park. During the latter years Of his life he
was dependent upon the charity OF his friends.
and no man was ever more worthy Of il than
he. His honest face and hoary locks were al
ways welcome in any house. He was special
fayorite with the children and ALWAYS had
pleasant greeting for the little ones So long
as his health permitted he was regular in his
attendance at church, and, when unable to walk
so far, would still do good missionary work
among the people in his neighborhood. He
died at about o'clock Wednesday evening"
Boston journal.
Richmond, Thompson & Co.'S novelty
wood -turninO shon nj Law Rrid0e ia said 70