The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-18

eisffna OF beams c1rned beef. hard boiled eggs
and coffee to prepare them for their early morn,
ing tramp through the woods to their new
home. As fast As they finished eating they spread
ont on the road along which they had to travel,
which at this point ran parallel to the railroad
short distance. Then came the distribution OF
guns and cartridges, and every negro was clam
oring for gun. The guards were all armed
with good winchestors, but the negroes had 10
be content with oid-fashioned carbines OF ante
beiium days. They took them gladly, however,
and many were the EXPLANATIONS TO which they
xaye vent 10 az TO their intentions to any one
who should assail them. and references 10
aWhite trash" were frequent. They said they
did not want to march through the woods ana
into hostile settlement OF white miners I'm
armed, and there was much growing among
those Who got left when IL was found that there
were not enough csrbines 70 go around Many
of the men had arms of their own, for bright.
new revolvers stuck ont OF their pockets, and
some had handsome rides or shotguns.
After over an hours delay in preparing for the
start the men were formed in line on the road,
the white guards in the van and the motley AZ
ray OF negroes strung out behind In long,
ragged line. At last the order was given To
march, and the procession started at
swinging pace into the woods, every man carry
ing his gun over his shoulder, the few who had
none keeping close in the rear of the guards
One or two must needs try their guns ard sent
shots flying at random into the brush. the re-
port echoing from the great cliff on the left and
losing itself gradually In the depths Of the forest
as It broke through the still air OF the cloudy
morning. Soon after the start the road took an
abrupt turn TO the left, where Il had been lately
cleared and instantly the army was defling
through q dense forest OF fir and cedar, the
view being shut in By tan
gied mass Of underbrush. The scene was
an unaccustomed one to the negroes who were
only familiar with the prairies of Illinois and
Kansas, the rolling plains of Missouri or the
open glades of the southern forests. They knew
they were coming into town where the popn-
lation were bitterly hostile to them, and they
imagined that Indians would be lurking in the
brush to pick them of The forest possessed
for them all the imaginary terrors of the I'M
known, and they peered nervously into the re-
cesses OF the matted brush in search of skuik-
ing enemy. One old negro said, with an attempt
Ut laugh, "Wkar's dem Iujuns?" They were
treasured by their guards, and, AZ they went
on and saw no rifle pointed at them, and no
eyes glazing at them from among the branches,
their fears were dispclled. No sound broke the
stiffness except their own voices and footballs
and the distant roar OF Green River dashing
through its rocky cnasn.
At last, after a short ascent from the tabIeland
which they had been crossing, they came TO the
crest OF the hill from which begins the descent
20 Green river and full before them lay the
: steep mountains upon which the town OF Frank
lin hangs Mr. Corey had been firing their ex-
pectation with remarks on the beauties OF the
js.s, the fine fishing and hunting to be had,
nd all the other pleasures they would enjoy, as
fhts came in sight of their destined home he
! elxlaixnad, pointing TO the steep slope before
fhsnss Boys. there's the happy landl' and the
foremost gaxed for a moment at the scene in
ssicnt ps At having finally come within view OF
the n 4sstaat home. The word went down the
lin.s fhats the happy land, and all paused
20 loak q soss It. 1t was only one end of franklin
that the saw, and as they descended the hill,
making ono sharp turn after another,
,t was revenied to them by degrees.
the who's mountain side unfolding be-
fore them Ike panorama. There were
the houses store and schoolhousc, w h cb seemed
- II they must have been gifted with claws to
hans to their places. There were the houses
dotting the fiat in the lower town, the long
flights OF stairs climbing the face of the cliff,
TIE road winding around it, the gaunt forms OF
the freEtles hanging out in midair supported by
sifnhefs which looked like stills, and below was
the blaxing slack pile containing the accumula-
tiuns from years of working II all spread out
before them rs they wound in long line down
the steep road OF pebbles from the river bed. As
they turned the second bend in the road from
the bill top the report of rifle shot sounded
from thu valley and was taken as a signal
TO the miners that the invaders were
IN sight; but when the procession
reached the cluster OF houses near the
bridge not perspu MAS viaible, not face could
beSecn at the win4ows, and the occupants were
apparently ssiefH unconscious that the invad-
ers we assgazzy st their doors. IL was O'Clock
WIZ eocession reached the bridge, and IL
,-ss hsitea 20 allow the scattered ranks to close
nm The head Z was on the bridge and Ii stretched
s,nne two steep bends In the road until its rear
- ,ost to view behind third bend. They
.ed and Loo ked with admiration al the boil
suv waters who4f,e color gives its name TO Green
river. flowing bEetween precipitous rocks. aud
fed by the watesgfall which tumbles from the
hil,side over the mSpssy green rocks. When the
~.ct~ had closed Nlp the order TO march was
siven. and the newcomers entered the town.
They stumbled over tthe round pebbles of which
thc road ascending 4 from the bridge was COM
ro.ed. and at last cavhe out on the fiat where
the lower town IL bufit There they caught the
hrst view OF the white miners they had come to
xcpiAee.
Several houses wtlre passed In which no living
being was visible, belt at fence corner half a
dozen men were gat hered. They stared silently
ana sullenly at the black invaders whose COM
ing meant that they might soon be driven
from the place they had long made their homes.
Not a word was said on either side. but doubt
less a great deal OF thinking was done on both
aides, and not OF kind to stand inspection by
the angel who supervises the Bureau of Charity.
At the next house man seemingly just out OF
bed stood in the doorway, then came woman
who looked her anger az the dusky procession
The road turned to the right 70 begin the ascent
OF the mountain, ard q dog vented his wrath in
barking, while his master stesea from the door
way and said nothing, though one negro
threatened b shoot the canine disturber From
the hin ovesA aklDg the upper town crowd of
pcrhaps aast 3 nacu locked down on the scene.
At last anger f,fnd expression in words aud a
wafnan shouted "Look ut the niger slaves"
Tho eAthnt was regarded as joke by those at
vhnr. 4 wz aimed, and was passed from mouth
n. -essAth with laugh. Another woman let fy
~ scilsy OF denuuciations which had as little
feet as the first verbal shot. Tho negroes
med up the hill toward the store and as they
yehed they began 20 dedantly whistle
1rching Through Georgia" the rattle of the
kle drum and the tum-tum OF the banjo keep
Etime: but the Hill was so steep that all their
sth was needed for climbing and the music
to stop. They marched TO the store from
eh they were distributed in quarters in the
yempty houses and other vacant buildings
ewomen and children had in the mean.
gone oil to Seattle with the baggage and
transferred there To the Columbia & Puget
"a. Their train arrived at Franklin at II m
they were hnloaded at the store. whore
husbands and fathers were gathered 70
meet them.
The invaders had no sooner reached the TOWN
~ m the guards were stationed as sentinels AZ
various points about the town where the two
t. ses were liable to como into close contact
Re whites soon began minglius with TIE
groes, stating the situation 20 them from
& sir standpoint and trying 70 persuade
e. sna 10 leave, but their persussions did NOT
so fru to meet with much ENCOURAGEMENT Tho
~ yroes scattered over the town, wandered
y pund il, gathered in groups to rossin or
~ oiled 70 the river 10 admire the scenery snd