Western cyclone., 1886-10-28
THE STORY OFAN EN-SLAVE.
Reminiscence of Forty Years Ago and
the Change Since Then.

Reminiscence of Forty Years Ago and
the Change Since Then.
Hawkinsville (Ga) Dispatch.
Recently, while we were seated III the
shade discussing some trivial matter, a
citizen we'll posted in the affcirs OF
Hawkipsville for the 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 his brother Bris-
tow were as likely young negro men aa
could be found among the slaves on any
plantation. They we're put on the block
at public outcry to the highest bidder
before the court house door in Hawkins
vile.
Among the bidders for Dempsey and
Bristow was old Jonathan Coley, who
was rich in land and slaves. Dempsey
and Bristow said to Mr.. Coley:
"'You needn't buy us, Mr.. Coley, case
we amt agoing to live wild ye.'
%, well,' replied Mr.. Coley. I've
got plenty of dogs; which meant that if
they should run away he could capture
them with the keen scented hounds used
in those days.
"Sure enough the old man Coley
bought Dempsey and Bristow, and as
good as their word, they took to the
woods as soon as they could escape from
his plantation. They were captured
once or twice, but made their escape
again, and Immediately took up their
life in the woods.
II remember that on one occasion a
party OF hunters with their negro dogs
struck the trail of BristOw and Demp-
sey and chased them into the cypress
jingle and among the lagoons just below
Big creek, four miles from Hawkinsvllle,
where the creek empties into the Ocmul-
gee. The swamp was almost impene
trable, but the hunters followed their
dogs, and approached within fifty or a
hundred yards of the runaway niggers'
as they were called They proved to be
Dempsey and Bristow, who by some
means had obtained a gun or pistol, and
defed their pureue=s. Dempsey and
Bristow we're stout men and they swore
they would die before they would he
arrested.
"Among the hunters were Tobe Nc
Griff, brother of the present ordinary
of this county. Mr.. McGriff fired one
shot at the fugitive slaves and they re-
turned one shot. 1t then became evl-
dent that they were armed and had de-
termined not TO be captured alive.
'EThe hunters withdrew and left DemP-
sey and Bristow in the swamp, and they
remained in the woods three years. AT
last old man Coley, despairing of ever
getting any service out of them, sold
them in the woods to Bryant W. Brown
Of Houston county. Mr.. Brown told his
slaves that he had bought Dempsey and
Bristow, and they at once left the woods
and went to his plantation, where they
remained faithful servants until the close
of the war.
"I don't know where Bristow Is,
whether living or dead, but that is old
Dempsey out there in that buggy, and
he is now known as Dempsey Clark. lie
owns plantation of four or five hun
dred acres in Houston county, and has
several good mules and horses. lie is a
good farmer very industrious and man
ages we'll. He has good credit among
the merchants OF Hawkinsville and Per
ry, and he has two daughters attending
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 manya good man.
..u..,.r ~ uIII,S nnNnrn CEN