The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-09
The Last Cargo of Imported Slaves.

From the Augusta, Gas Chronicle
Probably the most interesting character
hereaoouts is negro man vino was of the cargo
ofthe 'Wanderer," the last slave ship to bring to
this country load of captives from Africa. Lucius
Williams, he was christened by one of the young
ladies of the family into which he sold, or
"CmWalla, as beW called in Africa, lives in a
small hut on the outskirts of Hamburg the
river from here Since freedom he has earned a
wood and whitewashing He was a
little surprised when asked about
his early life but talks well once he has begun,
| curing to BE- questioned frequently, however. AS
umwalla, he was born in Guinea, according to his
story, not far from Liberia. One day, when he was
about ten years of age he was sent TO his aunts TO
carry her some pinders to plant. When he was
| going through the woods two strange black men
seized him and bound his hands He cried terribly
and they soon gagged him. They sold him to q
native, who took him to Liberia. There, for the
first time in his life, he saw white man. and he
was terribly frightened at him.
Among his people there were no Sundays. Some
of the men Of his tribe had two wivesand some had
three Ii was death to any one to show any designs
on the wife of q neighbor
Umwalla was then taken to the Wauderer where
large number of oapives had already been stored
away in the hold The passage over was fraught
with untold terrors to the young savage storm
was encountered, and for days the hold was fasten
ed up, and numbers of the negroes died from sick
ness caused by the foul air. There were number
oflerooious men among the cargo who had to be
kept in chains.
| When the Wanderer approached the South Caro-
lima coast she was sighted by government boat
and given chase. Duriag the night she dropped
pnchor of Poaasaligo, and the cargo of negro men
| and women was debarked.
Umwalla, or as he was soon afterwards called,
Lucus, was taken to Carolina plantation ne ar
Beech island, and put to work there
Lueius Is very fond of the ''white folks" as he
styles the family of his old master and mistress and
frequently calls to see them-walking several miles
to do So The style of punishment followed among
his tribe was TO break the culprits neck by sudden
wrench from forked stick.
Lucius tells in his quaint way of the interesting
features of slavery. Nonegro woman was permit
ted however gorgeous her toilet otherwise, to wear
veil or gloves. Negro men.were neither permitted
to carry walking cane nor smoke cigar on the
streets. They could not remain away from their
quarters after O'Clock at night without permit
from their master.
Lucius says he is glad he was brought to this
country, he has learned the way to save his SOUL
His anC estors took account of Sundays. Lucius
has suffered greatly from tho cold. He says many
OF those who came over with him died OF consump-
ton.
lie is not lonesome here, for on a neighboring
plantatlon-on Captain Ben Tillmana place-are
many negroes from his Old home, and they fire.
ouently meet and converse In African. They do
not attempt to part the language to their children
hess 9, and of course all vesges Of it, save what
they have engrafted on the southern patois, must
soon die our.
He was asked about the arnusements of his folks
at home and said the dancing here was very 1nucn
Ekeia Africa only there they had war dances,
which we're marches with chanting He says some
OF the songs sung by the field hands the air. are
very much like those OF his people, and when he
hears several voices singing together one of those
wild, weird rerans his thoughts carried across
the ocean to his home among the primitive scenes
of his youth.
Lucius was delighted with the picture Of himself
and opened his eyes in aInazement at the crude
likeness of him whiie he was talgng, showing how
he wears his goatee, plated after his African an
cestors custom.