The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-10-03
ASOU rHERN RIP VANWINKLE
"Slaves'' Still Held ON a Forgotten Ala
bama Plantation.
A Man That Did Not Know the War Had
Ended, and Bad Bought Sold
Nothing for Twenty Years.
Tcortespondent Of the Nen York Tribune.l


way from Florida to Selma. Alabama, de-
termined to make part of tie journey on
horseback for the benefit of my health. l
was unacquainted with the country, and so
was the clergyman with whom l spent a
night soon after / started. However he
produced an ancient map. and by its aid l
chose the Bottoms road" from Andalusia to
according to the well-meaning guide. 1 had
no idea that the Bottoms road was unused,
until 1 had ridden perhaps twenty miles and
left the last cabin behind me. But the
weather was fine and would not turn back.
When the first night came without the sign
of a habitation, l tethered my horse,
rolled myself in blanket and slept on the
ground.
All the next day rode, and saw not a
house nor a human being. At six o'clock,
when 1 had already made up my mind to
spend another night in solitude, came up
on a roadside campfire. beside which a ne
gro sat. OF all colored men that have met,
this one was the latest, greasiest and happi-
est He gave me a bow as / stopped
Good evening" returned. "Can you tell
me how far l am from the nearest house%
Its powerful distance to walk!" the fell
low grinned.
And who lives there when you get thereP'
/ questioned, after vainly trying to get the
distance in miles, or at least in length OF
time.
"Ole mars he lib dar!' was the answer;
and further questioning elected the infor-
nation that "old mars" was another name
for Master George Wiltsie, that was then on
the border of his plantation; that his resi-
dence was several miles distant; that the
negro was Sam; that he resided with "ole
mars, and that he Twas down dis way
splorin to see if dar couldn't be timber cut in
dis seckshun. was soon camping by his
fire, with my hore feeding near by on the
grass.
LIKE MASTER LIKE SLAVE
In ten minutes l made up my mind that
Sam was the most ignorant of Africans
Could he tell me how far l had travelled
since the yesterday morning? He had
no idea. How far to the next turn? Didn't
know; never heard of next turn. How far
to the nearest neighbor? Didn't spect that
there was any nearest neighbor now Mars
PeIton used to be nearest, but his house was
burned these dozen years
After many other questions, the answer to
each leaving me more and more convinced
Mr.. Wiltse, concluding with de bes'
masr in Alabam', Nebber selled any of us
nigs for some while"
"And you all continue living with him the
same as you did before you were freed?'
I'VE amt .freed!" declared the paragon of
ignorance; and now come to the conclusion
that he was a fool. Out # all patience 1
fixed my bunk for the nigh. and placed my
pistol at my pillow. In tile morning the ne
gro was not to be found and L was more and
more convinced of his insanity, and had him
in mind as i rode onward.
SOMETHING LIKE MoATED GRANGE.
Ny third days journey-at least the fore
moons part of twas not unlike the first
and second days. At o'clock l suddenly
came upon field of corn by the roadside.
A little further on five or six negroes were
standing, among them Sam" OF the previous
night. Oats himl' l heard 'Sam" say as 1
approached, and like the cows and mules
the negroes scampered. l went on to the
house. 1t was an old fashioned typical
Southern house that had evidently seen bet
ter days. The main door was OF heavy cary
ed oak. battered and weatherbeaten, aud the
knocker that took up was much worn.
1t was ten minutes or more before my
twice repeated knock had an answer. Then
the door opened slowly by colored woman.
A nod of the head answered my question as
to whether the master was at home, and
ished, 10 appear again after minute with
scared face.
walk up, masr!" she said, leading the
way up the stairs and through halls. L was
ushered into a large room fitted as a library.
A gentleman occupied an armchair beside
an oriel window. His face was yellow, his
hair was long and white, and heavy grlZ-
zled beard hung over his breast. He was a
man of more than seventy years, with re-
markable blue eyes, and flashed in defiant
way as i introduced myself.
IL can not arise, sir" he said, in a lofty
tone. "Be seated, and tell me what you have
come here for"
Il would like to remain with you all
night"
"Yes; but travellers never come through
here. You are the first traveller-the first
white person that has been here-that have
seen-in more than twenty years. Why did
you Gomez"
gave my reason as we'll as could
you must have lost your way" the gen.
tleman said. II never have visitors. The
Bottom road is never used
Then there is a better road by which you
get outg' | remarked.
II never get out" he answered For
twenty-six years L have been a helpless para
lyticp'
But your servants | began.
Never go from home,' he finished. Then
he went on to say that he needed no COM
munication with the world, and followed
with some particulars of himself and family.
THE STORY OF A REcLUsE.
The plantati on of the Wiitsie family had
originally comprised a section of 5000 acres
| 1t had been in the family since the State was
settled. The father of the present owner had
| been politician OF some eminence, and also
a man of wealth. He had left this one son,
| who had married and inherited the estate
| After few years of a happy life the wife
| had died. and two sons gladdened the fathers
heart They were educated as the sons of
| Southern gentlemen are, and came home
| from their graduation twenty-three years
| ago. One-John-had gone to New Orleans
| to purchase slaves, and had been murdered
| there. The charlottesville in the follow
| ing year enlisted in the Confederate army
| and been stricken with a malignant fever
when in camp at Selma, and there had died.
1 The deaths of the two sons had been heavy
| blows to the planter, and in both cases had
been occasions of prejudice to him.
Johns death determined me that would
| never buy or sell another slave, and never
| haVe,,' he said. "Before James death 1 was
an advocate OF the freedom of the South.
| But after the death of James did not care
| what became of the Soulful"
81 do not care to see the world" he said.
| mo one comes, and if by any chance they
| do, they shall have my welcome 1 am con-