The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-09
"UNCLE TOM"
The Story of His Life as Told by the Old
Man Himself

Detroit Special to Chicago Herald.
Josiah Henson was one of the finest speci-
mems of his race, shiny black skin, keen,
restless eyes, intelligent face, framed by
full silver gray beard, head bald only little
way back from the forehead, and covered for
the most part with a wealth of snowy wool.
Some years ago Uncle ST paid a visit to De-
troit stopping at Mrs, Clays little cottage,
156 Wilkins street. where the interchangeable
interviewer ferreted him out, and got from
his own lips the story of his life.
"In the slave days" said he, "the negroes
had horror of being sold by the sheriff.
Well, Massa Riley had a big lawsuit at An
napolis, and one night he came to my cabin
we lived some miles below Montgomery
Court-house-and said: Isl, it's gone agin'
me; am ruined. and you will all have to be
sold by the sheriff, and then he told me that
he wanted me to run away clear to Ken
lucky So | took my wife and children and
to Mr.. Amos Riley, brother of my master"
and that of Mr.. St. Clair were
separ ated by Blackfords creek, a small
stream in Daviess county, Kentucky. Riley's
plantation was a small one, and the fresh i'm
portation of slaves more than he needed
They were consequently hired out to neigh
boring planters. 1t was his good luck to
work for Mr.. st. Clair most of the time, and
he told the reporter he was just such a man,
and died just such death as Mrs. Stoves
book represents.
And was there really an Eva st. Clair?'
asked the interviewer.
ooh, yes but her name wasn't Eva; it was
Susan; Susan st. Clair, and she used to read
for me- then would sing for her. She was
an innocent, affectionate, God-fearing child"
said the old man.
''And did she fall in the water and did you
save her from drowning%
ttYpS naUSplf and annfhar alova RI W.
ing her across Blackford's creek, in a small
canoe, to her father who stood on the other
shore. The canoe rocked, she became ner-
vous and fellinto the water jumped after
her, and l can't swim either, but the Lord
helped me, just as he always has"
The hideous Simon Legree of the novel
was Bryce Lytton, overseer for Isaac Riley's
plantation in Maryland. He it was who
pounded 81 so that he could not to the day
of his death lift his hands to the top of his
head to wash his face or dress himself. He
could use his hands and arms upon any OBJ
ject that was in front of him, could shave his
master, and do a great deal of hard work,
but he could never feel OBJ de wool dat grew
on de TOP OBJ his head"
Aunt Chloe, the faithful wife of Uncle
Tom, was Charlotte, the patient wife of faith
full 81, but instead of crying, as she does i'll
the play, because Tom wouldn't run away,
she wept when he announced his intention
to do so.
George Shelby, Uncle TOMS great friend,
was in reality Amos Riley, jr., and he it was
chat took ST to New Orleans to sell him. and
while there was stricken with yellow fever
taken back to Kentucky and nursed back to
life by Mr. Henson, who shortly after made
up his mind that the Lord helps them that
help themselves, took his wife and four chill
dren and made his successful break for tine
freedom of which he had once paid $500.
and which he had really paid Tor thousand
times by his faithfulness to his different mas
ters
I'VE packed up a few provisions" said Mr.
Henson, land put the two little pickaninnies
in bag and slung them over my back; my
wife she led the other little ones A fellow
rowed us across the river, and we trudged
through the swamp and on to liberty, and
last week l left the two little darSies that I
toted away in the bag, now men grown, a
working the farm at Dresden" and the cid
man laughed until his sides ached as he said,
MY farm, do you understand? My farm"
Mr.. Henson never was ON a race track,
and never visited theater or circus but once
in his life and that was on the evening of
Oct. IA, 1878, when, by special request of the
newspaper men who interviewed HIM he oc-
cupied a box at Whitney's 0pera-house, and
for the first time in his life saw "Uncle Toms
Cabin" played by the Gotthold tS Rial COM
pany. He was also introduced TO the audi
ence from the stage. 1t is said that Mr.. Hen
ssh has forty-four grandchildren and about a
dozen Observation-Disclosures.