The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-23
BLACK TERROR OF THE BAYoUs.
A Runaway Slave Whose Death Made
Holiday in New Orleans.
From the New Orleans Times Democrat.

From the New Orleans Times-D emocrat
A the period when the institution of
slavery, viewed under its most humanita-
rian aspect, was in it's most flourishing
condition in Louisiana, one of its salient
features was the frequency with which
the African bondsmen would HE them
selves to the swamps to escape thralldOm
| for a time and enjoy a season of compare
tive freedom. While yet a boy | remem-
| Der distinctly the proximity of the woods
to the sparse habitatiOns that fringed
the town. Marais street was then
deemed the border land between terra
tirma and trembling prairie"-an impen-
ctrable morass, beyond which none but
| experienced hunters or fugitives from JUS
tice ventured to enter. In the thickest
part of these reCesses, along the margin
of some sluggish bayou, were to be seen
occasionally some rude huts hastily
thrown up with willow branches and Sc
curely sheltered from wind and rain by
latanier leaves deftly laid on. These
were the usual habitations of the runaway
negro, until driven away by the profess
SiOnal runner" with his pack of trained
blOOdhOunds
Even when not pursued, they were fire.
quently compelled to emerge at night
from those solitudeS in quest of food
Hence it was that New Orleans, de-
spite the efforts of the police, became the
theater of nocturnal thefts, robberies and
assassinations, with accounts of which
our local papers were usually filled
With the spoils and money thus obtained
a cabaret was always ready to supply
the runaway with powder, shot, whisky
and such other articles as were required
for his most pressing wants. IL was only
when the city extended its habitable lin
lis beyond CLAIBORNE street that these
bold refugees sought new quarters along
the borders of the lake, in the rear of ST.
Bernard and Jefferson.
One of these / well remember from the
terror which his name alone impressed
upon our youthful hearts. His reputation
for audacity and deeds Of ferOcity was not
unlike that of a duSky FRA Diavolo."
and to tell the truth, one cared much to
meet the bandit alone in the woods.
This slave, named Squer was owned by
Gen William DeBuys, than whom no
kinder and more humane man ever lived.
The general, in fact, had petted this slave
too much Fond of field sports, Gen
DeBuys had made Squier his hunts
man and usual attendant. He in
Obliged him in too many of those
douceurs which favorite servants were
wont 10 enjoy, and these acts of kindness,
instead Of generating gratitude and love,
only resulted, such was the negro's saw
are nature, in producing a spirit of indie
pcndence and INSTRUMENTATION To run
away from an INDECENT existence into one
of strife and constant danger became
chronic disease with him, and, although
frequently caught and punished, he would
relapse as often into his inveterate habit.
On one occasion when pursued by patrol
of white planters, headed by Mr.. Fley-
tas, he bra ely stood at bay and defied
capture until he was laid low by heavy
charge of buckshot. From the effect of
the wound his arm was amputated, and
hence his nickname of Bras Coupe" by
which he was universally known.
On April {, 1897, the following notice
appeared in one OF the city prints The
negro Squier, notorious for the crimes
and crueitios he has committed in the
neigh borhoOd of the Bayou St. john. has
a last atoned for them. Yesterday two
men belonging to the guard of the First
municipality were hunting rabbits on the
land Of Mr.. L. Allard, on the other side
of the bayou. Impelled by the ardor of
the chase one of them pushed into the
swamp somewhat further than his com
radc What was his surprise TO be