Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1888-12-28
4 HISTORIC FIGURE.


society Rfvalry-StOlen by p. q. Mon
and Buried I'm OblIvIon-A Remarks
BILE Historical Relic.
The mascot of the d. z. E. society of Yale
college, the little iron negro boy whose buried
form was unearthed from the rubbish of Psi
Upsilons hall at the recent fire, has history
that few people who have read the accounts
of the discovery would ever dream of. De-
tective Brewer, when he stumbled upon the
little fellows PROSTATE form, supposed it was
part of a hitohing post taken from some
court yard or stable yard and thought it OF
small moment at the time. He had not the
sliphtest idea that he had stumbled upon
anything of historic interest and little did ne
know the interesting part which this same
curious negro lad of cast iron, buried for
years, played in critical time in our coun-
try's history.
But SO the facts are.
Everyone is acquainted with the trying
times at the outbreak of the late civil war,
and their history is too well known to be re-
peated But it is just at this moment that
the Dixie. soeietY's ANTICIPATED mascot and
Psi Upsilon's cherished captive hnds It's held
of action. The silent, taciturn monitor OF the
dark quiet of the two societies mysterious
halls had its part to perform in the times
that tried mems souls and we'll, aye, admira-
bly,, bravely, loyalty, did it perform its duty.
No one can reckon of the extent of its ser
vice, and conjecture is all that is monument
tai of the little fellows faithful work.
He served the Union.
When the whole land was in culver and
flush of excitement and anticipation, when
Sumter had been fred upon, when the rebel
arm was fast drawing It's iron grasp over the
unprotected people of the North and even
threatened the Capitol at Washington with
horde of rapaoious troops, President Lincoln
finally granted the pressing request of Sena-
- ka1a nro6
Gov Andrews and order an advance of troops
to cover the national capital. All New Eng
land was astir with repressed emotion and
every means of raising ths enthusiasm of the
people to the highest pitch was resorted to.
The troops were sent, and the armed body
dispatched was the famous and glorious Sixth
Massachusetts,.
Their passage from Boston through New
England was a continuous progress OF en-
thusiastic greeting, and high ran the excite>
ment. sAnd it was on this prssage that the
little negro image fulfilled it's patriotic mis-
sion. The master mechanic of the Consoh-
dated road at that time, Mr.. NJ. NJ. Rounds,
had the figure cast in this city at the Con-
solidated chops. 1t stood about four feet
high and weighed about $50 pounds. 1t was
arrayed in colors to represent the typical
plantation negro youngster of the South. His
hands, which Detective Brewer thought in
the position of prize fighter, were made to
hold flag staff, one arm stretched out high
above the head, and the other out from the
waist. There were half inch holes through
each clenched hand, for a flag staff. His
face was turned upward, gazing at the flag
which he was destined to carry with tri-
umphant and satisfied smile.
This was his creation.
The engine that was to carry the train
from Boston, large and powerful one-left
here with the little negro boy fastened firmly
on the platform of the COW catcher upon its
front and proceeded to Boston, where large,
spreading flag, the stars and stripes of Amer
lea, was attached to a staff and placed in his
outstretched hands. In this way the train
with the Massachusetts, Sixth on board pro-
ceeded back through New England. A large
calliope was also fastened to the engine,
hurting forth wonderfully martial and patri-
otto music along the course. Everywhere the
train bearing the Massachusetts, Sixth regi-
ment was greeted with shouts, ringing of
bells, banps, trumpets, drums and every
means of enthusiastic demonstration. Over
all this uproar of excitement, the happy little
negro stood proudly waving the American
banner to the great delight and laundering
applause of thousands along the line of the
troops progress.
On towards Washington.
The long train reached New Haven early
Sunday afternoon and thence proceed
greeted the brave Massachusetts regiment in
this city and the town was alive with enthu-
siasm. Services in the old Chapel street
church were omitted in the afternoon to give
all a chance to welcome the train. The late
Rev. DIR. Eustice of Springfield was then pas
tor and was noted for his patriotism.
At Baltimore, as is well known, the troops
were fired on by a mob in sympathy with the
southern cause and the first Union blood OF
the war was spilled. But the dusky child of
the South bore the stars and stripes safely
through the storm of missiles that was
hurled upon the Union soldiers. It was
kept upon the engine until it re-
turned to New Haven and was then
after a short time presented by
Master Mechanic Rounds to Dr.. Paul Skif.
The doctor placed it upon his piazza, to
which it was firmly bolted, and whenever
the regiments returned from the field of wal
he put the Union flag in the hands of tbs
happy darkey and this was greeted with
cheers by every soldier.
But the boy was in danger.
The eyes of several members of the differ
ing and historic darkey boy and he was il
constant danger of being kidnapped-stoler
and carried off to the dark dangers of mystic
rious subterranean halls where the colleg
boys unfolded the profound secrets and as
tonishing mysteries of their jovisl fellow
ship. Many times had college men beer
epprehended in their attempts to kidnap tn
boy and the $50 pounds of iron seemed for
long while to be more than even Yale mel
could conquer. The policemen in that sec
ton were upon constant watch and DR.. ski
knew not at what moment he would find hi
cherished memento missing.
It came at last.
One summer morning at about 2 o'clocl
the Doctor was called upon to make an earl.
rxSa1 A. a IaGN
| darkey standing as usual in his place upo
| the veranda, but when he returned abou
two hours after, it was gone. The tracks c
wagon, evidently an express wagon
were plainly visible upon tn
sand which had been washed dow
4 to a smooth surface by q recent rain. Th
doctor traced the footprints of three men t
his porch and saw where they had taken hi
| darkey servant out to the wagon. The We
| randall where 1t had stood was wrenched
| pieces. He followed the wagon tracks up q
| far as Church street, but here the teams c
1 incoming milkmen crossed and recrossed ii
it was impossible to distinguish anythin
| further.
The boy was lost.
DR.. Skiff heard no more of him until abor
1 ten years after when carpenter who was il
| timately acquainted with him and who ha
| often seen the doctors treasured statue befol
his residence told him that he had discoVere
the long lost boy in D. K. E. ha
| where he had been at work on some add
tions or repairs to the society's building. Tt
| dark events and mysteries that surrounde
| the disappearance of the image were unknow
| to the doctor, but they have since come t
| light in one way and another. 1t was not ii
| the FIRE of last Saturday that the whole emf
| ma was solved however, but now everythin
| seems to be fully explained.
1 He was society mascot.
This iron child of the South was stolen b
d. z. E. men and exalted in the halls of the
society, enthroned and honored as gref
mascot. It was at this time that
received the royal flaming red jacket an
other gorgeous raiment. He was mounte
| upon q high pedestal, and watched ov,
with jealous solicitude, and it was pa
of the soeiety's creed that the ds
the dusky god was taken from h
throne the society would step over the verI
of misfortune and enter upon period
| failure.
But fate said otherwise.
| D. K. E. and Psi Epsilon were then tren
bling with clashing swords and in 1873
party of Delta men gained access to Pei u
silum's hall one night, ransaeked the plac
carried off many trophies, memorabilia ar
the like. This intensified the feeling b
tween the two societies and Psi Upsilo
burned for revenge. The members Of Il
society could do nothing Immediately as Il