Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-09-21
a THOUSAND SLAVES.
Tho Queer Story of Rich Southern
Planters Financial Ruin.

Tho Queer Story OF o Rich Southern
Planters Financial Ruin.
Before the war no species OF prop
erty was more popular in tho South
than slave property. The plantation
with many slaves was univHsally con-
sidered the leading Investment. The
land, to be sire, could not always be
turned into money, and there was a
tendency to hold on to an estate even
when the means Of the family had van
ished. When the determination to
sell an estate had finally, after much
sacrifice OF pride, been reached, GUS
toner could not always be found.
But slaves commanded the ready
cash at all times. II the neighboring
planters were not buyers the traders
were always looking for likely negroes,
which the Mississippi plantations con-
sumed with an insatiate appetite.
Slaves being thus easily converted into
cash. the ambition to own great
many OF them was -quite common, and
tho possessors of roll of black chat
tells long enough to have kept Bob
Toombs busy for a couple OF hours
calling of their names were consid-
cred fortunate beyond all others.
One planter living near Raleigh, N.
c., had an ambition TO surpass all
competitors. He fixed his limit at one
thousand slaves and bent all his ener-
gies TO the rounding-up OF his roll to
that figure. He bought all tho likely
slaves offered. He was rich man
and put all the money he had into
slaves. Like all rich men Of the South
In those days, he was the custodian Of
the spare cash OF his neighbors. That
was also put into slaves. This did not
diminish his credit, but increased IL,
for the more slaves he had the moro
evidence OF safety for their funds his
Creditors saw in his possession.
The roll grew longer and longer.
Every week d family or u dozen of in
dividual chattels were added. The
natural increase was also large, as may
be judged from the fact that the writer
was told by an ex-slave woman that
Bio Nhad borne twenty-five children.
When the number reached eight hum
dred the ambitious slave-owner saw
his darling project nearing success
full accomplishment But money began
to get scare and the ratio
Of inocasse dhnAished Still the
1aurcS nfountda. sra ntne hundred was
pRsot uodfAe tothssfuwly mounted
W the ninetfcs. .verS A,ftcred upon. As
Are wia hadAAhen begun the progress
was'slS~er. and at, ,tass only equaled
Sc natural dereascfis death and. run
aYays
The ono thousandth darky was many
times bought, but Zach time as he was
proudly brought TO tho plantation one
or two of the old ones died, or a lively |
young buck escaped. And SO II was
that although the planter many times |
was able at nightfail TO figure up Just
nine hundred and pinety-nine slaves,
and many times added tho one thou
sandth one on the next morning, he
hever was able at tnightfall to close the
account for the day with the full num-
ber.
This ambition proved to be the cause
othfs financial ruin. As victory after
victory crowned the Union soldiers,
jlave after slave departed, and at last
.ho emancipation proclamation anni-
lilated all value in slaves. And SO
when his neighbors asked for their
money he could only tell them 1t had
AIKEN unto itself legs and walked off,
v. Y. Press.