The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-25
A STORY OF TWO SLAVES.
THE "RUNAWAYS" THE BEST MEN
UNDER FREE CONDITIONS.

|
a Southerner Makes Such q Statement
and Tells True Story In Proof-1wo
! Men Who Eluded Their Master for Three
Years Are Now well-to-Do Citizens.
A few days ago gentleman in Haw-
kinsville, Ga, said:
''It 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 i'll treatment OF
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, OF
to keep a 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 liz
that buggy driving around the corneri
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
of the woods and went to work on Mr..
Browns plantation, where they worked
until the war was over.
81 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 i 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 neednt
buy us, 'kase we amt err gwine ter live
wild ye.'
"'Oh, WE'LL 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 purpose.
'The trade was consummated and
Dempsey and Bristow were sent to Mr.
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.
81 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, Mr.. Coley finally gave up in de-
spair and sold them in the woods to
a Mr.. Brown, of Houston county Mr..
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 Mr.. Brown.
Il 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 me. 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. Mr.. 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.
II do not know where Bristow is, but
I am told that he is in Colorado, where
he went after the war, and that he owns
large mining interests there He was
very bright negro, and always would
accumulate, even as a slave. Dempsey
remained in Houston county after the
war and followed farming for living.
He has accumulated a 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 a faithful
slave of the old type, good citizen and
an honest and upright business man,
Dempsey has the respect of all who
know him. Atlanta (Ga.) Cor. Globe
Democrat.
Wcman's Tribute.