The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-07
ABE THE BUNTER.
A Negro Whose Head Was Hard
or Than Grindstone.
no Is Century Old Yet Continues to
Utilize Ills Sturdy Skull as n Batter
Ing Ram-A Review of Ills
I.ifc.

1t may be an open question, writes
Williamstown correspondent of the Bos-
ton Globe, who is the best-known man
in the vicinity, President Franklin Car
ter of Williams college or Abram Par
sons, better known as abe the Buntcr."
Certain it is that Abe is known to
thousands and that his fame is fully
earned. 1t was no scratch hit or lucky
bunt that gave Abe u place in the inches
of fame. The Lord was kind to Abe in
giving him an unusually thick skull and
horn about an inch long on the frontal
bone, but he has developed the talent
given him and has made the most Of
his opportunities.
Abe the Buntcr is an exceedingly jolly
old negro, who lives in the part of this
town known as White Oaks, and claims
that he was 104 years Old last 4th of
July.
The story of the old negro runs like
this: His first rccollections were those
of Il pickaninny on a plantation in
South Carolina. His masters name was
NIcInstcr. There Abe lived until lie
was Ii years old, as he thinks.
Up to the time of his sale as a slave
from the auction block, together with
his mother and three sisters, his most
vivid rccollcctions are of trials of hunt
ing with Il young ram. The ram would
take Il position, lower his head, and
with 4 burst of speed start for Abe,
who always met the ram half way, the
two heads coming together with great
force, but the ram, us Abe tells it, YVES
always beaten.
by the sale Abe was separated from
his relatives, and sold, as he thinks, to
Stephen Miller, of Claveracl, y. Y.
Here he staid for five years, and then
ran away and went to Sheffield, Conn,
where he worked for James Curtis as a
house servant. In running away from
Miller he was pursued by dogs, and cs-
capped only after killing one.
From Sheffield Abe went to Old Stock
bridge, where he lived for number of
years, working for Gen. Williams, the
Carriers, Bradlcys, Brewers, Crosbys,
Cashier Adams and Mai. Eurrill, all of
whom arc now dead. Long before the
war he located in Williamstown, where
he has worked for many people. Boys,
since he came here, have become gray
haired men.
All the past years he had continued
bunting, until he was confident that
nothing less than blow from trip
hammer or n pile-drivcr would break
his skull.
The first act, however, that brought
him fame occurred many years ago.
Abe was then living over blacksmith
shop on Water street. In the night he
Nv oil o.
getting out on the street found that
Harvey Coles store was on fire. The
door was locked the key was missing,
and. at the suggestion of Mr.. Powers,
Abe Went at it head first, and after re-
pcatcd attacks it yielded.
This gave Abe great prcstige-a stock
in trade. so to speak: but with the con-
fidencc thus acquired he passed on to
greater victories.
1t came about in this way: Abe and
his wifc's brother were at South Will
Jamestown one day and they found
Farmer Blake having trouble with u
two-ycar old bull that lie wanted to
kill. The bull was In al inclosure and
paving the turf in great shape. and, by
his almost human believing, asking for
some one to swing rcd cloth in front
of him.
Abe offered to make the bull lower
his colors, but took Il big drink of cider
brandy before he began the act. lie
then entered the inclosurc against the
earnest protcstations of Farmer Blake,
who asked Abe among other things:
"Arc you dashed fool enough to 90 in
there with that wild bull throwing dirt,
with nothing TO kill him with?"
1t was another case of David and
Goliath. The big bull and Abe both
hunted, and while Abe was shaken bad
ly the bull was stunned so that his
throat was cut forthwith Abe does
not say so, but doubtless the cider
brandy was called upon to assist in the
celebration that followed.
Then the students tempted Abe to
show his prowcss to them. lie was
blindfoldcd and something placed in q
bag. Then the bandagc was removed
and he was told that if he could break
the contents of the bag by bunting his
head against it 4 valuable present
would be given him. The contents of
the bag proved to be big cheese, and
Abe had no difficulty in smashing it.
lie was then blindfoldcd again, and it
was assumed that another cheese had
been placed in the bag, but instead .
big Grindstonc, an inch and Il half in
thickness, was substituted
The first bunt failed to shattcr it, but
Abe, realizing that his reputation was
at stake, went at it again and broke it
into four pieces vivid my niggcr-hcad. p"
For this act he was given five dollars
in money, two big chooses, two pounds
OF tobacco and assurances from the
college Toys that if he was sick as Il re-
af La L..