The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1885-09-30
pLANrAroN 4ASps MA pAsIo
NSsrss. Who ThlAk the G. y,rpmsnt Per.
matt. Tvs Ilodr suatohlng.

Negroes Who Thlak the G. v.rumsRt Per.
hll. L VI Ilodt Suatchlns.
Nv ofeAns Ct. Nav York sun.l
Though most Of the supeBtitions OF
the negroes arc generally wcll.knoWn, [
have never seen any account OF a very
peculiar belief which prevails among
them In this part Of tue south. can
best exUmpllfy this strain Of supenti.
: tiou BY parratlng the events Of an
evening on IT l;oSalie plantation, OF
viii b was che manager at tho time,
in August i'si, thirty three miles DO.
low New Orleans, on tho Mississippi
river.
AT about dusk was sitting on our
broad plaza taking the air aud tho mos.
quitoCS, when two strangers were an,
rounCed. There WIS not sufficient
light 10 see their faces, but | noticed
that 10th were well built and dressed
alike in Lrown linen suits, and | in.
ferrel from the little they said that
they were not men Of education or
polish. On their asking for o nights
lodging, ] directed them to the store
clerk, who was instructed 10 send them
to sleep In the white mems barracks,
which were some distance from
the cabins Of tho negroes
The route was pointed out,
button their way they. concluded t,Fliy /
do not know 10 pass the night in Che
hay loft, which was midway between
the store and barracks, and about fifty
yards from the negro Quarters There
was nothing suspicious in this action,
nor was thvrc in the fact OF a schooner
Icing at anchor on the other side OF the
river, and about a mile above There
arc steamers, ships, barks and scliOon.
ors passing almost hourly, and Of course
they frequently come 10 anchor. Nor
was the schooner q plratiral looking
craft, but rather, should udge, a
lumber schooner. And yet the negroes
fancics wrought tho two mon and the
vessel into realistic picture, which in
an hour developed the terrors Of a
panic.
did not learn who whispered the
first warning, but soon tho various
groups o rapidly speaking darkies sepa,
rated. The chillren we're hastily liOnsel
by tho women, who barred and locked
themselves indoors and in q twinSling
the lights wCrO OIt in twenty cabins
The negro men had gotten their shot.
gins and surrounded the hay loft, call.
ing on the strangers to come down and
out All had been done so quietly that
the officers Uf tho plantation apprO.
hended no trouble anil had gone TO bed.
Now. however, the report OF firearms
aroused the OVerSeer, Who was nearest
" the scene.
The summons 10 come out feing dis
rcgar ed, the negroes fired three or
four shots into the haylOtt and tho way
farcrs, unhurt, hut thoroughly fright.
ened, iumpOl through a hole in tue
side Of tho building and made q dash
for the road along che river shore. As
the night was dark the two men got a
good start, aud it was only tho sound
OF their footsteps upon tho bridge that
discovered their escape. Instantly tho
mob was after them shouting The
seutents, ""1ho sCutents, but on get.
ting to tho purlic road there was a
pause, the crowd not knowing whether
the chase was up or down.
The overSeGr coming up, by authority
and expostulation caused the pursuit to
10 abandoned and tho negroes con.
tented themselves with posting seuti.
nels for tho night. Fat women, and
those who had fat children were tho
most alarmed, and tho sOO.pound vito
Of my old driver or foreman insisted
on his mourning guard at her door the
whole night through. The alarm spread
so that the following night guards were
Dosted for miles and miles up and down
the coast TO catch the 'sCutents."
The two strangers were believed by
'be negroes to 10 medical students sent
tut to Eidnap living men, women aud
children fat ones preferredl for pur.
poses Of dissection. They believed that
during tho small hours, when all were
asleep, the selected ones would 10 chic.
reformed, silently stolen away, and
packed aboard the schooner, to leborne
10 tho operators knife and tlble. It Is
impossible o reason away the supersti.
tion Of u darkcy, however absurd or hor.
rible it may DO. One n whom they con.
fdo in all other affairs is pOwerless to
make any impression on tho ideas which
are in them pctrlRe facts. The day
after the scenes described called one
OF my most intelligent colorcl hands"
to mo, and told him how ridiculous and
SensclesS was the crpdulity. lie listened
reSpe fully TO my arguments.
"iou needn't tell me that, Mr. Bid.
die, said he, "'causc knows. | had
two Of my frienls ki mapped in New
Orleans, and il you will 10 aboard Of
that schooner yonder you will find her
full Of 'lOrOiormed people besides there
is certain time Of the year when tho
'uvament allows mediki!s $ utents TO do
this"
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