Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-02
STORY OF TWO SLAVES.
A Southern Mans "reminiscences
Of Ante-Bellum Days
Two Colored Men Who Ran Wild in the
Woods for Three Years-Their Unex-
pected Return-Nob.e Specimens Of
Prosperous Africo.Americans.

at is strange fact" said gentleman in
HaWkln sviile, Ga, the other day to st.
Louis Globe-Democrat correspondent, yet
1t is true the negroes who were most per-
sistent in their efforts to elude masters
whom they hated and who were commonly
called runaway niggers,' are the very best
citizens we now have. ] 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 i'll 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 a pack of
hounds for the purpose Of capturing them
every time he gave them a chance to get
away.
"Do you see that old colored man in that
buggy driving around the cornera Well, that
is old Dempsey Clarke, and he is to-day 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 hardshlps fighting for existence, yet
he never did give himself up until his mas
ter, in despair, sold him to neighbor
named Brown, who was good to his slaves.
Then Dempsey and his brother came out Of
the woods and went to work on Mr..
Browns plantation, where they worked I'M
til the war was over.
Il remember the day that Dempsey and
his brother Bristow were brought in to
Hawhinsville. There was 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 Mr.. Coley, an
old planter who was rich in land and slaves.
When Mr.. Coley bid them in, Dempsey
said: We don't lack yer. Mr.. Coley, an
yer needn't buy US, 'kase we amt Or gwins
ter lib wild ye.'
"'Oh, well,' Mr. 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 pur-
pose.
''The trade was consummated and
Dempsey and Bristow were set to Mr..
Coley's plantation. True to their word
the third day after their arrival at the plan
tation Dempsey and Bristow took to the
woods. They were captured once, but be-
fore they were brought back to the pianta-
ton they again made their escape, and this
time for good, az they swore that they
back to Co,eys plantation.
II remember on one occasion a party Of
negro hunters struck the trail OF Brlstow
and Dempsey and chased them into the
cypress jun gle, and among the lsgoons just
below Big Creek near where the creek runs
into the Okmulgee. The swamp was almost
but the hunters followed their
dogs and approached within fifty yards Of
the runaway niggers.'
"When they were cornered tibet two slaves
opened fire upon their pursuers, and as it
was getting late in the evening, there was
nothing left for them to do but to retreat,
which they did. After trying to recapture
his slaves for three years, Mr.. Coley finally
gave up in despair and sold them in the
woods to Mr.. Brown, of Houston County.
Mr.. Brown was much liked by his slaves,
and as soon as 1t became generally known
hat he had bought Dempsey and Bristow,
he two slaves made their appearance in the
7lllage and gave themselves up to Mr..
Brown.
81 will never forget how they looked
when they came out Of that swamp. Their
lair and whiskers had not been cut, until
hey fairly met and it seemed to me that
Nothing was visible of Tho face except two
black eyes that looked wildly at me- l
lever saw two men so nearly like wild men
n my life, and their clothing served to
strengthen the Impress On made by the first
glance at their faces. Mr.. Brown gave them
lothes and cared for t hem, and in a short |
While they were perfectly at home on his |
plantation, where they remained until after |
he war.
q do not know where Bristow Is, but !
IN told that re is in Colorado, where he |
vent after the war, and that he owns |
arge mining interest there. He was a |
-ery bright negro, an q always would &C |
emulate. even IS slave. Dempsey re- |
named il Houston punty after the war |
nd followed farmin for living. He /
las accumulated Ii rge fortune, which |
ousists incipally in lands and hive stock. /
lis wife, whom he m arried as slave, is |
till living, and his dau ghters are OF at col
sge AS faithful sis We Of the old type, a
God citizen and a. hoi lest and upright bus
ness man, Dempsey las the respect OF all
vho know him"
CowPgR SAYS that - the tear that IS wiped
nth address may be followed. perhaps, by
smile" If II IS won ans tear the perhaps
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