Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-03-05
A STORY OF TWO SLAVES.
THE "RUNAWAfS" THE BEST MEN
 UNDER FREE CONDITIONS.


 A Southerner Makes Such Statement
 and Tells a True Story in Proof-Two
 Men Who Eluded Their Master for Three
 Years Arc Now well-to-Do Citizens.
 A few days ago gentleman in Flaw kinsville, Ga., said:
 ''It is a 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 ono whom they liked, or to keep pack of hounds for the pur- pose of capturing them every time he gave them 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 a neighbor named Brown, who was good to Ais slaves. Then Dempsey and his brother came out of the woods and went to work on MT. 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 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 a MT. Coley, an old planter who was rich in land and slaves. When MT. Coley bid them in, Dempsey said: We don't lack yer, Mir. Coley, an yer needn't buy us, 'kase we ain't CT gwine ter live wid ye.'
 "'Oh, wen,' 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.
 II remember on one 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 do but to retreat, which they did. After trying to recapture his slaves for three years, MT. Coley finally gave up in de- spair and sold them in the woods to MT. Brown, of Houston county. Mir. Brown was much liked by his slaves, and as soon as it became generally known that he had bought Dempsey and Bris- tow the two slaves made their appear ance in the village and gave themselves up to Mir. Brown.
 "I will never forget how they looked when they came out of that swamp. Their hair and whiskers had not been cut until they fairly met, and it seemed to me that nothing was visible of the face except two black eyes that looked wildly at nc. I never saw two men so nearly like wild men in my life, and their clothing served to strengthen the impression made by the first glance at their faces. MT. Brown gave them clothes and cared for them, and in a short while they were perfectly at home on his plantation, where they remained until after the war.
 "I do not know where Bristow is, but am told that he is in Colorado, where he went after the war, and that he owns large mining interests there. He was a very bright negro, and always would accumulate, even as slave. Dempsey remained in Houston county after the war and followed farming for a living. l He has accumulated large fortune, which consists principally in lands and live stock. His wife, whom he married as slave. is still living, and his daugh- { ters are off at college. As faithful slave of the old type. . good citizen and an honest and upright business man, Dempsey has the respect of all who know him. m."-Atlanta (Ga.) Cor. Globe Democrat.
 | A Woman's Tribute.
 A woman has more excellent way of bestowing favor than man. One day 1 ;p 1SGS Poco Popbo,,r u-oo c,,rpr;Sod