Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-10-17
PuisJrr5 C5ronrls telegraph.

Piis5url Cjr0ni,is telegraph.
A touching Incident occurred at the
Baltimore and Ohio depot in this city,
one day last week, that recalls quite an
interesting story Of the late war, aud
finally illustrates the attachment that
exists between the master and slave OF
anti-bellum days.
1t was a meeting between an old col
ored man named Dick Pomeroy, who
has long been a resident of Pittsburg,
and Mr.. James A. Allen, of West Nir-
GINA, a son OF the old negroes late mas
ter. The facts that brought about the
meeting are as follows:
There IS prosperous farming COM
mubity near Clarksburg. w, Va, made
Up Of the Aliens, Reynolds and other
well known families who carry on farm
ing on an extensive scale. AT the b.
ginning OF the war each Of these fami
lies owned quite q number of slaves.
Among the slaves ia toe family Of Mr..
Stephen Allen was a stout COlOred man
known as "Dick," who was 20 some ex-
tent weak-minded In 1851, when the
civil war began, the negroes ia that
community determined &C take adyan-
tage Of the situation and strike for
liberty. They believed that IL they
could reach free State they would be
all right and concluded TO make Pitts
burg their objective point. They or
ganizeC secretly, aud resolved 70
arm themselves in some manner
and II necessary fight their way
through. Od MES were made into
knives and old scythes converted into
swords, and one dark night start was
made down the river for Pittsburg. The
fugIives made quite q little army and
many Of them took their wives and
children with them. To hasten their
fight they appropriated a number Of
horses belonging TO their masters. The
next morning there was intense excite
ment In that neighb0rhOOd. A party
for pursuit was organized and the fugi-
tives were Overtaken near MorgantOWu.
They were compelled TO give up the
stolen horses, but were permitted 90 90
on their way 10 search Of freedom. They
ali driited into Pittsburg and most Of
them settled there
Among the tugItives was Dick. He
was very much attached 70 Mr. stephen
Allen, his master, and did not want 20
20, but the negroes forced him 20 go
with them. He lived 10 PiJ.sburg up
20 a few days since, but be never forgot
his home 10 West Virginia, and always
wanted 10 get back to bis old master
Not being mentally capable OF looking
after his own interests his lines 10 Pitts
burg were not cast ia pleasant places,
He was g good WOrkhand, but could be
as easily paid of at the end OF a weeks
hard labor with SO cents IS with a $40
bill. Ia fact Dick did not know the
difference. He slept great part OF his
time in stables and lived as best he
could.
His old master, Mr.. Allen, was much
attached to Dick and never forgot him.
This good man died in 1874. Before he
died he requested his sons to try aud
find Dick and take care OF him In his
old age. The sons tried to carry out
their fathers request, but IL was not
until recently that they could hnd any
trace Of Dick. Itappoars that when he
went to Pittsburg be changed his name
10 Dick Pomeroy, while the sons search
ed for him by the name of Dick Allen,
supposing that he would 60 by the name
Of their family. A short time ago Mr..
Origen Reynolds, who vas reared
IN the Allen neighborhood, and
who now runs a yard engine in the B. ~
D. yards at Pittsburg, saw an old color
ed mau driving a wagon on Smithheid
street, whom be took for Dick. Inquiry
proved that he was correct. Mr.. Bey-
holds told the Old negro Of Mr., Aliens
request TO his sons and thereby made
him the LappieSt negro In Pennsylvania.
A telegram was sent 90 James A. Allen,
a son of Dicks old master, and he came
TO PIttSburg. When he met Dick the
old man jumped up and down aud
shouted for Joy Mr.. Allen found Dick
dirty, ragged and hungry, but good
hath, a square meal and a new suit OF
clothes soon made that all right. The
writer of this came up with them o. the
train from PittSburg TO ClarksburR, and
will never forget the manner In which
Dick clung 90 his beneiactCr. Dick is
now comfortably fixed i'm his old home
which be left 10 search of freedom
over thirty wears ago. The request OF
his old master will be fully carried out.
He will have warm iresjde, O good
bed and plenty to eat and wear the rest
of his Hie He is not only one OF the
happiest negroes on earth, but is also
one Of the most grateful