Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-23
TWO RUNAWAY NEGROES.
Forty Years Ago-A "Reminiscences
of Slavery Days.

From the Hdukinsuilic tGG.) DisDatch.
Last Saturday morning, while we were
seated in the shade discussing some
trivial matter, citizen, well posted in
the affairs OF Hawkinsville for tho last
forty years, said:
"Do you see that old colored man IN the
buggy driving around the corner? Well,
that is old Dempsey Clark. About forty
years ago he and bis brother Bristow
were as likely young negro men as could
be found among the slaves on any plan
tation. They were put on the block and
sold at public outcry to the highest bid
der before the court house door in Haw-
kinsvile.
Among the bidders for Dempsey and
Bristow was old Jonathan Coley, who
was rich in lands and slaves. Dempse
and Brstow said to Mr.. Coley;
You needn't buy us, MIR. Coloy, case
we amt agoing to livewid ye.' oh, well, ,
replied Mr.. Coley, Pve got plenty of
dogs;' which meant that IL they should
run away he could capture them with the
keen-scented hounds used in those days.
''Sure enough the old man Coley bought
Dempse and Bristow, and, as good as
their word, they took to the woods as soon
as they could escape from his plantation.
made their escape again, and immedl.
ately took up their life in the woods.
81 remember that on one occasion a
party Of hunters with their negro dogs
struck the trail of Bristow and Dempse
| and chased them into the cypress jungle
and among the lag0ons Just below Big
creek, four miles from HawkinsvIlle,
where the creek empties into the
Ocmulgee. The swamp was al
/ SHnna irxayA antr oh 10 hut Nhn hfrva far
| followed their dogs, and appr0ac he'd
within fifty or hundred yards of the
runaway niggers,' as they were called.
| They proved to be Dempse and Brlstow,
who by some means had obtained a gun
or pistol and defied their pursuers.
| Dempse and Bristow were stout men, and
they swore they would die before they
would be arrested.
Among the hunters was Tobe McGrif,
a brother of the present Ordinary OF this
county. Mr.. McGriff fired one shot al
the fugitive slaves and they returned the
shot. 1t then became evident that they
were armed, and had determined not to
be captured alive.
THE hunters withdrew and left
Dempse and Brist0w IN the swamp, and
they remained In the woods three
years. At last, old man Coley, despair
Ing of ever getting any service out OF
them, sold them in the woods to
Bryan W. Brown, of Houston county.
Mr.. Brown told his slaves that he had
bought Dempse and Bristow, and they at
once left the woods and went to his
plantation, where they remained faithful
slaves until the CLOSE OF the war.
II don't know where Bristow is,
whether living or dead. but that is old
Dempse out there in that buggy, and he
is now known rs Dempsey Clark. He
owns q plantation of four or five hun
| bred acres IN Houston county and has
several good mules aud horses. BE lie .
good farmer, is very industrious, and
manages well. He mas a good credit
among the merchants of Bawkinsville
and Perry, and he has two daughters at
tending college in Atlanta"
We have only bit of advice to offer
old Dempsey: If he is out Of debt and
owns farm, just keep out of debt. A
good credit has ruined many good man.