Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-08-13
SIrAFER ROSS.
An Ex-CannibaI in BOstonAHfs
Eventful Life and Inter esting
stories.
Boston Globe.


which these people reside, that he
Realizes, b. contrast and association,
how much profit Is to be derived from
the study OF their habits aud procliv-
ities. Occasionally one Of these in
teresting objects finds his way into
some commercial center or lawyer 6
Office, and Immediately attracts atten.
ton by his inability to state with clear
ness the grievance for which he seeks
redress.
The Alabama Claims Commission
has brought into notice many OF
these characters, one of whom is the
possessor Of the euphonious name OF
Sitafer Ross. Sitafer is an Afri
can of extremely dusky hue, and is
apparently between sixty and seventy
years of age. He is below the average
height, but his we'll preserved and
vigorous body indicates that be was in
earlier years man of great physical
power aud endurance. His head is
bald and shiny. Time, too, has made
sad havoc among his teeth; and when
be smiles-a common Occurrenee-he
discloses only here aud there a tooth,
instead of the shining row so peculiar
to his race. Sitafer has a beard about
as vigorous as that which, we are told,
adorned the face of lamented Cete-
wayo. His clothes are evidently Sc
lected as opportunity offers, and the
various articles are of different shapes,
sizes and construction. He nearly
always carries a stick in his hand.
When the writer last saw him he had a
piece Of sugar cane, which he was using
as a kind OF staff. He was highly
elated, and stated that he picked it up
on the wharf.
According to Sitafer's story, be was
born at a place in Africa which he
calls "Carkas." His tribe wore little
or no clothes, and subsisted largely
upon plantains AID bananas But
when they wanted variety they
made war against neighboring tribes,
and roasted aud ate the captives. His
recollection of these events is very
vivid and referring to the unfortunate
victims, he says with great warmth:
They used to make good meat, and
we used to pick 'em clean, sab"
During bis residence 10 Africa this
was the only meat he ever tasted, and
also the only cooked food. Sitafer
thinks that he was about ten years OF
age when he and his parents we're cap.
tured by a SLAYER and brought to this
cOuatry.
During his early years he bCelme so
accustomed to his peculiar fare that at
first civilized food only distressed and
nauseated him. 1t is very amusing to
hear him describe his first expe
rienoe with clothing They gave him
some rude garment to put on, but he
s.outly refused. Then they persisted,
and he was inexorahle. At last they
clothed him by force, but he soon di.
vested himself Of the incumhranoe.
Yes, Ssh, let me te' you" says
Sitafer, 'it we're two vars after | come
to this yer country tore ! could bar
any clothing on my body t sll,s sab. |
used to take dem right of, sab, jus as
dey put EN- on, sab
Sitafsr Ross is not a bad sounding
mana, aud person is naturally curious
to know where he obtained so high
sounding an appellation. His ~ is
that he was given some kind of name
in Africa which sounded a good deal
like "Sitaier." 30 the name was in
this way Anglicized, aud Ross added
to it for the sake of convenience AMI
sgpbony. In books kept by ship
pi6g hsuao Q great many years ago his
name appears az "Sitapher."
The SLAYER referred To landed her
cargo Of human souls in Georgia. At
this stage of affairs the father Of Sta
fer disappeared from view. The
steward OF the vessel took an interest
in Sitafer and his mother, and the for
mer refers with pleasure aud gratitude
10 the man be called With considera
bic pride bis step papa 1t was to
him that SitsfsT vas Indebted for his
escape from the sad fate of bis fellow
passengers.
The years rollel on, and after ia
eVeDtful career Sitafer took to the sea,
and 10 VAT time he found himself on
board tie Charter Oak, one of the IN
fortunate vessels eaptpred by the rebel
cruisers. He next turned gp in San
Francisco. He had a good outft in
the Chrter Oak, but Everything wa:
taken away from him, and as he step
ped on shore be ESs without home
property. money and friends. The
Charter Oak sailed from New Bedford
aud it was to New Bedford that ht
longed to return. In the meantime
il was necessary to subsist, and herr
bis early experience in living on lie
tie he found most profitable. For tw,
years and q half he managed to sur
vive, sleeping VberaYer Opportunit.
afforded shelter, sna ottes gelying TO
for his food upon pieces Of Wateg
melon which he picked up in thl
street, or upon whatever the hand o
charity provided.
At last Sitafer was oVerjoyed al Tia
chance Of working his way found th
Horn in a Whaler to New Bedford
New Bedford for time afforded man
charm; he found 10 that Mecca q
his race scores of eongenial spirits. Blu
a few years there were long enough
Boston became the object Of his de
siFes, and to Boston be came. Her
he has lived for the last few years,
curious object, attracting attentio
wherever he goes, aud regarded by al
who meet him as kind OF ANOMALY
| lie married number of years ae.
sad was for a long time happy 4
bis marital relations. But hi
vile proved uniasthipl, She deserte
him as he says for younger man.
aHd II IS now quite evident that Ri
old restless1ess, which has returned
is largely due to her in6delity IL j
| hfa L