Omaha daily bee., 1885-07-18

might all meet again, IL not in this land
then In the heavenly kingdom where nc
separation could come.
at was some consolation the next day
to see that father and mother were pur.
chased by the same man, Charles
Menoux, q planter from Nstchez, Miss,
My FIVE brothers we're eold to parties
living in thesviclnity of Natchez, while
1 was bid off by a gentleman named
George Woodford, of Bowling Green,
ky. The parting scene the next day
cant attempt to describe. Sometimes
even now 1 start up with a shudder in
my dreams, and cry out to some imsgin-
airy person to bring back my father and
mother. We chung to each other till the
men tore us apart, and then, saying q
last good.by, l went my sad and weary
way.
"On reaching my new Kentucky home,
| found my new master was o man of
great wealth. the owner of several tob-
acco plantations, and conducting a large
business. l determined to make myself
as useful to him az l possibly could,
trusting thereby to secure kind treatment
from him, and | was not disappointed
He soon discovered that l could read well
and write a good hsnd. He did not put
me In the field with the other hands, but
kept me employed about his office and
the mansion. After trying me
thus for some months, he appeared
to be convinced that l was
thoroughly honest and faithful, and made
me his tru,ty attendant. After l had
been with him him about four years | fell
in love with o mulatto girl on a neigh
boring plantation and married her. My
master thought 80 much of ne that he
purchased her and brought her to his own
establishment, and gave US nice quarters
to live In. l had told him about my
father and mother having been sold to a
planter living at Natchez and my brother
sold to different parties In that vicinity.
One morning he said to me: Jake, | am
going to start for New Orleans in a few
days, and shall stop a week at Natchez
on my way down the river. l shall take
you with me, and while stopping there
you can look around and see II you can
find out anything about your parents l
was overj Dyed at the thought of seeing
them again, and yet l was afraid l would
not be able to find them, for thirteen
years had passed since we were separated;
but there was hope. On our arrival at
Natchez ] Immediately inquired for
Charles Merwln, who had purchase my
parents, and learned that he lived on his
plantation, TIVE miles out from the city.
Thlther l went, filled with hope and
dread. l readily found Mr.. Merwin, aud
made myself known to him, telling him
hn rp-rhooaI my fothn, and pnnthor
from the estate of Mr.. Western, near
Bolivar, Tenn, thirteen years ago.
After liktening to my statement, he In
formed mo that all my family were set
flee some eight or nine years before, and
were sent to Morocco. He said my
father claimed to be q MoorIsh prince,
and, with his permission, wrote to the
emperor of Morocco a letter in Arabic,
stating who he was, how and when he was
taken away from his native country, and
that he WAS now held as a slave and
where, giving his owners name and ad-
dress, and asking him to secure his re-
lease and that of his family. Mr.. Mer-
win took the letter to the Spanish consul
at New Orleans, who orwarded 1t to It's
destination. In about two years Mr..
Merwin received a letterfrom the Ameri-
can consul to Morocco stating that the
emperor had caused an investigation to
be made, and it was found that the state.
ment contained in Rshman's letter wal
true--that q price named Abdel Rlhman
disappeared about the year 1887, and his
fate was never known until his letter
was received. He also received a COM
munication from Henry Clay, secretary
of state, making inquiry about one Abdel
Rshman, 8 slave, who claimed to have
been
PRINCE IN TIMBUCTOo,
stating hat the emperor of Morocco de-
sired his emancipation, and to have him
sent home, and asking If that could be
brought about. Mr.. Merwin wrote back
that he could set Rahman and his wife
free If the government would secure
transportation Tor them. After awhile 1t
was so arranged, and they were sent to
Tlmbuctoo. in the course Of two years,
through the interceFslon and agency of
the emperor of Morocco, the rest OF the
family living about Natchez were eman-
cipated and sent to the same plsce. He
said father told them of another son,
Jacob, but they could get no intelligence
If his whereabouts, ana he was left be-
hind.
This Information was a dreadful dis.
appointment to me, Tor 1t banlchei all
hope of ever seeing my kindred again;
but 1t wss a satisfaction to know they
were ell free, and that my good father
waV restored to his country and to his
rights again.
Il returned with my master to my
Kentucky home, and lived there happily
With my family till the wsr came on
Master Woodford Joined the confederate
army and took me along with him. He
was In the quarterma.tar's department,
and we were with Johnston's army at th
battle of Shiloh. After serving at diff
ferent places we Joined Gen. Joe John
stou's army, which ia try ing to help
P~embertou, and is now at Jackson. A
few days ago | met q gentleman, an old
resident of Bowling Green, who knew
nee and my family well. He had just
returned from a furlough, during which
he visited his home in citizens drers I'M
discovered. While there some of his col.
cred people told him the FEDS had car
ried off a lot of the colored folks, and
among them my wife and two daughters
Il had but two children then, having
buried four, to st. Louis or Kansas
City. From that moment | determined to
make my way into the Union lines, and