San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-08-22
THE FATE OF AN OCTOROON.

"One day in March, 1843, while
looking through the jail at Licking
ton, KY says writer in the Phila
delphia Press, "my attention was at
tracted to one of the prisoners, 6
young woman of exquisite figure and
singular beauty. I asked the jailei
who she was, and to my surprise, fol
she was as white as a lily, he told me
that she was q slave girl named
Eliza, the daughter of her master
who few days later was to sell hel
upon the block for the New Orleans
market, impelled by the jealousy Of
his wife, because che slave girl was
superior to her own daughters. Then
I talked with the girl. I found that
she was intelligent as well as beauti
full, and I resolved to exert every ef
fort to save so magnificent crea-
ture from so sad fate. I told hel
that I would go to Cincinnati and dc
my best to raise the money with
which to purchase her freedom. I
hurried away and sought that old
hero and apostle of freedom, Levi
Coffin. He gave me prompt and gen
erous assistance, and in short time
we raised 5000. I then laid the case
before Salmon P. Chase, afterward
Senator, Secretary of the Treasury
and Chief-J Justice, who gave me 5000
more and went with me to see
Nicholas Longworth. The latter was
worth millions, but he was never
known to give dollar for anything.
We feared nothing would come of
our appeal to him, but decided to ap-
peal to him, as it cost us nothing.
"'Mr. Longworth,' said Chase, Of
ter we were seated in the little crib
which the millionaire called his Office,
do you consider yourself a Christians?
"I am not very good one was
the reply.
"'Well, we have case here that
appeals to both humanity and Chris
tianity. Mr.. Fairbank will tell you
about it..
II told the story. Longworth
listened in silence, and, when I was
through, hitcbed nervonsly in his
chair, drew his checkbook from
drawer and began filing out a check.
While he was writing Chase whis-
peel:
"sWe will get about $50 from
him.
"a moment later Longworth
around and handed me the
check; it was $1,000 You see the
niser, as they called him, hadn't
such q stinted nature after all. A
number of free colored people raised
and gave me 5000 more, and when I
went back to Lexington the day be-
fore the time appointed for the sale /
carried S2,275. Moreover, in my
pocket was an agreement signed by
Chase, Longworth and William
Howard, another Cincinnatian, en-
me to draw on them, If
to the extent OF $4,000.
The sale took place in the public
square and was attended by fully
:, 900 people; drawn there by the de-
scription Of the girls comeliness and
rumors OF the effort that was TO be
made 10 save her. The best people
Of the town were there, and q num-
Der of strangers from Boston, New
York and Philadelphia were also
present, curious aud hOrror-stricken.
But one man appeared 10 bid against
ne, q squat-fgured broad shOul-
lered. thick-necked. bullet-beaded
from New Orleans, who.
| vas told, made it his business to
attend the sales Of YOung girls and
Darchase them for q fate worse than
ieath. Eliza, when placed upon the
block, seemed ready TO drop for fear
nd shame. The auctiOneer began
iis work by pointing out her beau
ies, concluding With:
ssWhat am / offered Tor bert
aFTve hundred, / cred
The New Orleans nan ralssd nv
nd 500. Ibid 500. be szid $500.
5000. be 81. 900, 1 S11OO. be S12O0.
ybsu I raissd bis last bad 30 $500
BE I,o-iEiHuiEn turned % ne with