The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-10-15
A Domestic Tragedy.

Last summer while the writcr was in
Amelia County, Virginia, tho following
incident occurred, illustrative of the
philosophical manner in which negroes
accept tho decrees of Providence. Amo-
lia, it will bo remembered, Is ono of
the black counties. The negroes occu-
py most of tho old homestcads, and arc
given over to ignorance and supersti-
tion. The Wigwam. tho old Harrison
place. house we'll known in Virginia,
is surrounded on evory side by hordos
of negroes, who own small tracts of
land, and farm them. Ono Of these
settlements is at "the Lodge" once tho
property of Mr.. Robert Archer, n dis
tinguishod Virginian gentleman of tho
old regime, now. with all his descend
ants, dead and gone. My hostess and
was pooling peaches on tho broad
veranda. whom Mary Caesar, tho dairy
maid, appeared.
miss Anna, gimmo pieco O. light
bread, please, marm."
''Who is sick, Mary?" said Mrs. H,
light broad being n luxury reserved for
the i'll negroes.
''Sister Rose Archer, marm."
All colored people claim tho fratcr-
nal relation, whether there is any in
reality or not, if thoy arc members of
tho same church, or have "cxporicnccd
q change"
why. l thought Rose Archer lived
In Richmond. What is tho matter with
horP"
Mary's largo greasy countcnanco,
which rivalled bombazino dress for
blackness, fairly shone.
"Well, Miss Anna, you member Sis
Rose was married to Unk Crutch Henry
Archor's son Willum. Oh dcy moved
fun dc Lodge to Richmond. Bout
three week ago Sis RosdNcn Willum he'd
q fight bout somo'in', Oh Sis Rose hit
Willum Archer crlick on do head wild
q stick or wood, en- it kilt him, it pintly
did. Willum Archer always was q
sickly nigger. Woll, Miss Anna, she
done all she could, on gin him or fun
eral, en- den,. bcin' cz she was Vidder,
on pore, she como up 10 do Lodge to
stay hero longer Willum's daddy Gu
nanny: Unk Crutch Henry wcrc
mighty 'tlicted 'bouten Willum being
kilt, cause ho wero do onliest son whur
he had, but Sis Rose say she gwine dar
to be all do company she ken for Will
um's folks"
The peach knifo fell. Mrs. H,
though schoolcd to Amelia cccentrici-
ties, stood transfxed. Then she gasp
cd:
"And Williams father and mother
let her stay thcro aftor killing their on
ly sonP"
Miss Anna" said Mary. in pccu-
liarly soothing voice, Junk Crutch
Henry done AK Roso huck UNI she como
to kill Willum Archer, cn Sis Rose say
she don' know hucS um."
This was Monday. Sunday afternoon
Mary re-appearod, an expression OF
triumphant excitement in her ewes.
though her manner was as gcntlc and
deprccatory rs evor.
isis Rose Archer dead, Miss Anna"
she announced.
dead! When did she dicP"
Mary smoothcd her apron.
"Wcll, Tuesday mornin', Miss Anna.
Brcr Jcamcs Barksdalc went to Court
House. ell dc sheriff sont Sis Rosc word
to git ready. cause he was comm to
de Lodge Monday mornn' TO cit her
en- hang her for KILN OF Willum Arch
or. En- Sis Roso say CT dc sheriff were
comm to hang her, cz she were porely
anyway, 'ta0d'nt Uttth l0hiie to at lD, so
she gWtne die.
"Nonscnse!" cried Mrs. H. "As
II people could die when they chosc!"
isis Rose done dic," said Mary.
stoutly. $40 say 'twu'M sOuM whiie
TO gu ~ jest TO be hangtd. ell she die
last night, en- please, Miss Anna, lom-
mo go 10 dc funeral. Unk Crutch
Henry gwine gin her mighty nice
buryin'. bcin' ez sho was widder en-
Willum Archer was do onlicst son he
he'd. ~. g. CaJeU, IN Editors DruaU-
or, Ha'pcr's .Hayazinc for eitcnlber.