The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-08
A ROMANTIC MEETING
Between a Cousin OF Blaine and en-
Ancient Colored Woman.

Ancient Colored Woman.
COLUMBUS, June IA remarkable Incl
dent occurred at the Union station in this
city yesterday. II was meeting between
Mrs. Mary Gillespie Ewing, wife Of Judge
P. B. Ewing of Lancaster, o., and an aged
colored woman, who did not
having trotted George Washing
ton on her knee when he was a child, but
she was a slave on bis lower plantation in
her early days, aud claimed the distinction
of having rocked the cradle ia which slept
Daughter Gillespie as she expressed it,
who was none other than the wife of
Ephraim Blaine aud mother, OF Americas
great statesman, Hon. james G.. Blaine,
Secretary Of State, and aunt Of Mrs. Judge
Ewing. the lady with whom the colored
woman was talking.
While this meeting was purely accidental
and brought about under very peculiar cir
cumstances. poverty on the part OF the
aged oolored womaA being the prime cause,
and Mrs. Ewing's charitable disposition
being the secondary, it was remarkable
from the fact that one of Ohib's iilustrious
women was deeply Interested in this aged
colored woman, and those about could not
exactly understand why. But here she had
met relic that was really Interesting to
her, although they had never heard of each
othor before. Mrs. Ewing was interestea,
because she had met some one who was
familiar with the family history Of the
Gillespies back through three generations.
This remarkable colorsd woman is ia years
old, and her name is Martha Sniff. She
said:
lam none of your striped niggers, but
am full-blooded Guinea Niger. At the
age Of 8 l was captured with other natives
of my country, among them being my
parents and brothers and sisters, and
brought to Virginia, where was placed on
the auction block and bid Off at 5000 to Gen.
Washington, and was placed on his lower
plantation.
WITH THE GILLESPIE FAMILY.
''I was on the auction block twice after
that, and the last time ! was purchased by
Neal Gillespie OF Brownsville. Washington
county, Pennsylvania, tgreat%grandfather,
of James q. Blaine and Mrs. Judge Ewing.
MasterGtliespieh had q son named Neal, whom
l nursed to manhood, and when he married
went to live with them, they had son named
John and daughter named Maria After
we were set free | married, and we settled
in the wild west. Logan county. Ohio. /
was never sick moment In my life In fact,
Guinea niggers never get sick, but l am
getting tolerably old now aud am growing
somewhat feeble as approach old age.
This being the case me and my old man
have concluded to return to Washington
county, Pa, whence We came, thinking as
how we could get along better there than
as here, and we are now on our way there
/ remember very well the wars with the
British. and could relate many incidents Of
those wars II only had time, but as IL will
soon be train time won't go into details,n
As the aged and tottering woman pro-
gressed with her story Mrs Ewing became
more and more interested. and, after she
had finished her narrative, plied her with
questions, asking her about many family
incidents she had heard of, and the old
woman invariably answered her correctly
10 detail, in many instances giving her the
exact date Of the transaction.
THE OLD woMAN's FINE MEMORY.
After fully satisfying herself the old lady
was not an impostor, MRS. Ewing told her
that John Gillespie was her father and
Maria was her aunt. The old lady gazed
intently in her face for a few moments and
then said: "Yes, that's SO, see It now;
you have the same smile on your face Maria
had that is the Gillespie smile"
A remarkable memory was this to res
member through all these years the smile
which adorned the countenance OF Maria
Gillespie. When she discovered she was
talking to q member of the Gillespie family,
sue was overjoyed and unbosomed herself,
seeming to take great pleasure in relating
all her experiences with the Gillespies, and
she thought they were the kindest people In
the world. She was glad to again meet
Gillespie. but the meeting was not enjoyed
more by her than by Mrs. Ewing.
After the old woman had told her ro-
mantle story Mrs. Ewing purchased ba-
nanas for her and also got CUP Of tea for
her to drink with her lunch, which she had
along. Then bidding her an affectionate
good-by. Mrs Ewing went her way. While in
conversation with Mrs. Ewing about this
matter, it developed that James G.. Blaine
had been christened James Blaine, and
when he was IA years Of age he wrote 1t
James Gillespie Blaine. Mrs. Judge Ewing
is one Of the brightest samples OF the
Blaine-Ewing-Sherm colony, which has
made Lancaster and its surroundings famous
tho world ovar