Arizona weekly enterprise., 1889-04-27
A STORY OF TWO SLAVES.
THE "RUNAWAYS" THE BEST MEN
 UNDER FREE CONDITIONS.

ana Ieils rue story m frooi-A"o Men Who Eiuded Their Master for Three Years Are Now Weil-to- Do Citizens.
 A few days ago gentleman in flaw kinsville, Ga, said
 Ut is strange fact, yet it is true, that the negroes who were most persistent in their efforts to elude masters whom they hated and who were commonly called runaway niggers,' are the very best citizens we now have. l have watched many of them, and it has always turned out that way. Negroes usually did not run away from their masters on account of work, but because of ill treatment or of natural dislike, and when they once took an aversion to their master he might as well make up his mind to sell them to some one whom they liked, or to keep pack of hounds for the pur- pose of capturing them every time he gave them q chance to get away.
 NOT AFRAID OF THE DOGS.
 Do you see that old colored man in that buggy driving around the corner? Well, that is old Dempsey Clarke, and he is today one of the richest negroes in Georgia. He lived for three years in the swamps of Georgia because he hated his master, and suffered untold hardships fighting for existence, yet he never did give himself up until his master, in de- spair, sold him to neighbor named Brown, who was good to his slaves. Then Dempsey and his brother came out ,1.,a I NJ Browns plantation, where they worked until the war was over.
 "I remember the day that Dempsey and his brother Bristow were brought into Hawkinsville. There was a big sale that day and several thousand slaves were brought in by the slave traders. When Dempsey and Bristow were put upon the block, they were bid in by MT. Coley, an old planter who was rich in land and slaves. When Mir. Coley bid them in, Dempsey said: We don't lack yer, MT. Coley, an yer needn't buy us, 'kase we ain't CT gwine ter live wid ye.'
 "'Oh, well,' MT. Coley replied, I've got plenty of dogs which meant that if they ran away he would capture them with the keen scented hounds kept for that purpose.
 "The trade was consummated and Dempsey and Bristow were sent to Mir. Coley's plantation. True to their word, the third day after their arrival at the plantation Dempsey and Bristow took to the woods. They were captured once, but before they were brought back to the plantation they again made their escape, and this time for good, as they swore that they would die before they would ever be taken back to Coley's plantation.
 SOLD IN THE WOODS.
 ''I remember on enc occasion a party of negro hunters struck the trail of Bris- tow and Dempsey and chased them into the cypress jungle, and among the la goons just below Big Creek, near where the creek runs into the Okmulgee. The swamp was almost impenetrable, but the hunters followed their dogs and ap. preached within fifty yards of the run away niggers.'
 "When they were cornered the two slaves opened fire upon their pursuers and as it was getting late in the evening there was nothing left for them to dc but to retreat, which they did. After trying to recapture his slaves for three years, Mir. Coley finally gave up in de | spair and sold them in the woods tc a Mir. Brown, of Houston county. Mir Brown was much liked by his slaves, and as soon as it became generally knowr that he had bought Dempsey and Bris tow the two slaves made their appear ance in the village and gave themselves up to MT. Brown.
 Il will never forget how they looked when they came out of that swamp Their hair and whiskers had not beer cut until they fairly met, and it seemed to me that nothing was visible of tht face except two black eyes that looked wildly at me. I never saw two men & nearly like wild men ill my life, ant their clothing served to strengthen tn, impression made by the first glance a their faces. MT. Brown gave then clothes and cared for them, and in short while they were perfectly at hom on his plantation, where they remaine' until after the war.
 'I do not know where Bristow is, bu I am told that he is in Colorado, wher he went after the war, and that he own large mining interests there. He was very bright negro, and always woul, accumulate, even as slave. Dempse remained in Houston county after tn war and followed farming for living He has accumulated a large fortune which consists principally in lands an live stock. His wife, whom he marie as a slave, is still living, and his daugt ters are off at college. As faithfu slave of the old type, good citizen an an honest and upright business mar Dempsey has the respect of all wh know him. Atlanta [Ga.) Cor. Globe Democrat.