The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-12-17
A Story of Two Slaves.


i few days ago gentleman in Hawk
insville, Ca. said
st is strange fact yet il Is true, that
the negroes who we're most persistent IN
their efforts 10 elude master whom they
hated and we're commonly called run
away nigsers. are the very best citizens
we nov have have watched many Of
them, but it has always turned out that
way. Negroes usually did rot run away
from their masters on account Of work,
but because Of i'll treatment or Of natural
dislike. and when they once took aver
sion to their master he might as well
make up bis mind TO sell them to some
one whom they asked or keep pack Of
hounds Cor the purpose ofcapturing them
every ila.e he gave them chance to get
aEay.
@Do you see that old colored man in
that buggy driving around the corner?
Well, that is old Dempsey Clarke, and
ne is to day one ofthe richest negroes in
Georgia He lived for three years in the
swamps Of Georgia because he hated his
master, and suffered untold hzrdships
fighting for existence, yet he never did
give himselfup until his master, in de-
spair, sold him to a neighbor named
Brown. who was good to his slaves.
Then Dempsey and his brother came ont
Of the woods and went to work on Mr..
Browns plantation, where be worked
until the war was over.
Il remember the day when Dempsey
and his brother BristoE were brought
into HawkinssiIle. There was a big
sale that day and several thousand slaves
were put upon the blocF, they were bid
in by a 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 deedn I
buy u, 'kzse we amt gwine ter lib wid
ye
~'Oh, well,' Mr. Coley replied, I've
got plenty of dogs, which meant If they
ran away he would capture them with
the keen scented hounds kept for that
purpose
The trade was cons1mmated and
Dempsey and BristoE were sentto Mr-
Coley's plantation True to their word,
the third day after their arrival at the
plantation Dempsey and Bristow took
To the woods Tney we're captured once,
but before they were brought back to the
plantation they again made their escape,
and this time for good, as they ssore
that they would die before they ever
would be taken back to Coley's planta-
ton.
Il remember on one occasion a party
of negro hunters struck the trail OF
Bristow and Dempsey and chased them
into the cypress jangie, and among the
lagcons Just below Big Creek, near where
the creek runs into the Okmuigee. The
swamp vas almost impenetrable. but the
hunters followed their dogs and ap-
proached within 50 yards Of the runaway
niggers.
When they were corne-ed the two
slaves opened fire upon their pursuers,
and as il Was getting late in the evening
there was nothing left for them % 10
but TO retreat, which they did. After
trying to recapture his slaves for three
years, Mr. Colely finally gave up in de-
spair and sold them in the woods to 4
Mr. Brown, Of Huston county. Mr.. Brown
was much liked by bis slaves, and as soon
as it became generally known that he
had bought Dempsey aud Bristow the
slaves made their appearance in the WI
lage and gave themselves up 10 Mr.
Brown.
Il viii never forget nov they looked
when they came out OfthesWamp. Their
hair and wbiskers had been cut until
they fairly met, and it seemed to me
that nothing was visible Of the face ex-
cept two black eyes that booked wildly at
me 1 never saw two men 50 nearly Ike
Wild men IN my life, and their ciothes
helped to strengthen the impression
made By the frs. glance at their faces.
Mr. Brown gave them clothes aud cared
for them, and in short time they were
perfec.lg al home on his plantation,
where they remained till after the war
u DO not knos where Brist0w 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 would always
accumulate, even as slave. Dempsey
remained in Huston county after the
war and followed farming for living.
lie has accumulated a large fortune,
uhicb consists principally in lands and
livestock. His wife, whom he married as
a slave, is still living. and his dAGgbters
are of at college. As faithful slave Of
the old type, good citizen aud an hon
est, upright business man, Dempsey has
he respect Of all who know him