Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-04-02
5f}istellaueuns &eading.
TO FAME AND FORTUNE.
TITO COLORED MEN WHO HAVE SUCCEED
ED IN 4TTAINING BOTH.
i'HOw ahOut Senator Bruce /"

"How about Senator Bruce?"
''Bruce is rich. The story Of his fortune
is curious one. He was born in Virginia,
and was slave in Mississippi at the time
of the war. At its close he went North to
Oberlin, where he got some education, and
then drifted South. He returned to Missis-
sippi in the height Of reconstruction times,
and arrived at Jackson when the Legisla-
ture was just being organized. He at once
put in claim for the office Of Sergeant-at-
Arms, and as he was plausible fellow, and
could say the Lords Prayer without biting
his tongue he was elected This position was
worth about $40 day while the Legislature
was in session. Bruce became an influential
factor about the Legislature, and Alcorn,
the Governor of Mississippi, was glad to
have his friendship. One time Governor
Alcorn wanted the Legislature to make an
appropriation of 900 or so to the secret
service fund over which he had entire
control. He called Bruce to him, slapped
him on the back and said: My man, you
are not making any money at all. You de-
serve better place. l appoint you Sheriff
of Bolivar county, OF course the secret
service fund was passed. A few months
more and Alcorn again sends for Bruce. At
the close of the interview he says: THE
Sherif's Office is too small a place for you,
my man. You are making no money at
all. 1 will make you the tax collector of
Bolivar county, Both of these offices were
very valuable. Bruce saw his opportunity,
saved his money, became manipulation
of men, bought large plantation and used
negroes to farm it. He speculated and add
ed to his pile, and soon became known as
one Of the leading cOlored men of Missis-
sippi;
"When the State was again admitted to
the Union, Gov. Alcorn again sent for Bruce.
At this time there was vacancy in the
United States Senate from Mississippi caus-
ed by the unexpired term Of jeff Davis.
The Legislature were to elect Senator for
this short term and long one. Among the
leaders Of the colored people was Metho-
dist preacher named Revels, whom Alcorn
wanted to get out Of the way. He said to
Bruce, 'Revels is good man and we had
better send him to the Senate Bruce
nodded, and Revels went to Washington.
Alcorn then took the long term to himself
But at Washington, Governor Alcorn grew
tired of Revels and finally told Bruce that
he had better let Revels 60 back to Missis-
sippi and they would establish university
and make him president. This they did,
and Revels, who was Methodist preacher,
was delighted with the change. By this
time Bruce's eyes had looked quite through
the science of politics, and few years later
Senatorial election occurring he decided
to be candidate himself. The State credit
was very low and the legislators were re-
ceiving their pay in State certificates not
worth over eighty cents on the dollar.
Bruce offered to cash them at par provided
he should be elected Senator. A man named
Piles, now in Washington, acted as Bruce's
agent in cashing the certificates. And SO
he came to the Senate. Here he deported
himself 50 well that when he was nominal
ed for his present position Senator Lamar
must be worth over 100000. He still owns,
! am told, his Mississippi plantation and
has money in government bonds"
"How about John Lynch, of Mississippi ?"
"Lynch is also wealthy. He presided,
you know, at the opening of the last Nation
al Convention. He has a plantation near
Natchez, on which he lives in the summer
and comes North in the winter. He is q
thin, young man of dark complexion, with
rot much magnetism or ability as an organ.
izer. He was originally slave, is we'll
educated and has served six years in Con-
gress. Captain Smalls, the South Carolina
Congressman, has saved some money and
| has a fine estate at Beaufort. His daughter
| is one of the handsomest colored girls in the
land. She is of a light brown hue, has reg
uar features, long eyelashes and beautiful
brown eyes. She was educated at West New
ton, Massachusetts,, and is as accomplished as
any white girl in the country. Senator
Pinchback lives in one Of the finest houses
in New Orleans. He has also educated his
children in the best of the New England
colleges, and has been State Senator and
Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana. About
that time he got himself elected both to
Congress and the Senate and came to Wash
ington with both sets of credentials, on the
principle that he was bound to catch the
coon either a-goin' or a-comin'. He failed
in both instances, and did not get into either
end OF the Capitol Pinchback started life
as some kind of hand on river steam
boat, think as bartender He is worth
several hundred thousand dollars"