Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-09-20
IN TnE ARMS OF HER OLD SLAVE.
Tho Misfortunes and Finni Death OF sarah
beach, Once a Relgnsng Belle OF y,r
Nashville Union


Nashville Union.
Anew days ago several weeping colored
women followed plain pine coffin up the
shady lane Of st, Paul's Episcopal church.
Baltimore, graveyard and saw deposited
in the grave the remains Of woman who
was once a reigning Virginia belle, and
whose charms were extolled throughout
all Southern society. Born in allluence
and raised In luxury, she died In OBJ.
security and abject poverty, almost starv-
ing to death, Fiction writer's
seldom tell more romantic story
than the narrative of Sarah Beach's
life. Thirty years ago, when she was
about seventeen years old, she was the
acknowledged belle of Accomac county,
va. She was then being educated ut a
fashionable boarding-school In New York
state. She was possessed OF lovely face
and figure, whichY as she grew older,
brought msny suitors for her hand. Her
father, William Beach, was one OF the
wealthiest men on the eastern shore OF
Virginia. He owned thousands OF acres
and scores Of slaves Her vacations
were spent at the family mansion,
where her slightest wish was law. After
leaving school she entered society, and
spent seasons In Richmond and other
leading cities Of the South. She reigned
queen IN society. Finally, when about
twenty-one years old, she married dash
ing New Yorker named Thomas Bailey
When the news OF her marriage reached
her father he was greatly incensed and
refused to see his daughter again
The newly-marrled couple had but little
means, but struggled along happily
for q few years, when the husband
died, leaving his widow almost
pennlless, with two children, a
girl and boy. Mrs. Bailey went to
Baltimore with the hope Of returning TO
her Virginia home, but the war had
broken out, aud the family had become
scattered, and she was unable to locate
them. One Of her fathers slaves, Emma,
a girl about her own age, had married.
however, and was living In Baltimore,
and Sarah found her. Through their
united exertions the widow found some
employment at teaching dressmaking,
when her boy died and was buried in st.
Paulis graveyard. The daughter grew
up, married Mr. Charles Baughman, OF
Philadelphia, and removed 10 that city
with her husband, where, II Is said, she
still resides.
Mrs. Bailey remained In Baltimore uu.
I'll about two years ago, when by the
death OF an aunt she Inherited $1,000.
The daughter urged her mother TO 40 10
Philadelphia, which she did, and there
opened a large boarding-house, The
venture did not meet with success, and
they were compelled TO move into a
smaller house, where failure again met
them, until finally, all the Inheritance was
expended, the furniture sold, and Mrs
Bailey was again destitute Then she
was taken Ill and removed to the hospi-
tai, where she occupied bed In the
charity ward. Feeling that she would
like 70 see her old friends In Baltimore,
and being sufficiently recovered TO travel,
she returned to that city three weeks ago.
The trip was, however, too much for her,
and she arrived sick and penniless. She
called upon one or two OF her old friends,
but they we're unwilling 10 take her In.
She then thought Of her old colored play
mate and slave, Emma Bloxam, and with
the aid Of two little colored girls hunted
her up. Emma did not at first recognize
her, but invited her In, when she fell,
fainting from hunger and fatigue, upon
sofa in the modest little parlor. As soon
as Emma found who she was, she lavished
every possible attention upon her, but
death had set its mark upon her, and she
gradually became weaker and died 10 the
arms OF the former old slave who had
been her nurse In infancy.