The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-25
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HAD A KING FOR A SLAVE.
Old Col. Bat Harris Tells story of
the Days Before the War.
From the Chicago Times-Herald.

From the Chicago Times-Herald.
Old Col. Bat Harris lived down in Ala
bama, near the Florida line, and more
reckless daredevil could not have been
found in ten states. The war reduced Bat
to comparative poverty and he found it
necessary to entertain the travellers who
stopped in his village. His table was
simple enough, but his charges were elaib-
crate. knew that the old fellow had
been quite picturesque character in his
day, and one night when we sat by the
fire spinning yarns and telling anecdotes,
1 made an effort to draw him out.
did you ever hear of that negro took
from the Wanderers cargo of slavesG'
asked the colonel suddenly.
NO" l replied, tell me about him."
Bat laughed heartily, and seemed to be
greatly amused.
We'll" he said, II will give you the
story. but there was a time when you
would not have told it to
anybody. You know all about
the Wanderer of course. She
brought the last cargo of slaves that ever
came to our shores from Africa. A
United States revenue cutter captured her,
and the parties engaged in the venture
were prosecuted and the niggers were sent
back to Africa by our government
1.-THE blacks were brought through
Montgomery in charge of several United
States marshals, and were placed on a
steamoat bound for Mobile. 1 was in
town that day and the boys bantered me
to go down to the boat and kidnap an
African.
1T had about ten drinks of red LIQUOR
under my vest, two pistols and a heavy
cane, and l felt able to defy the gov
eminent and whip 1t in a fair fight So
told my friends that if they would
stand around and do what they could to
hinder the marshals from nabbing me |
would go on the boat and pick out one of
the Africans and take him to my plan
tation
This suited the crowd exactly, and we
took another drink and went down to the
river. Two or three hundred citizens were
there, and many of them walked about on
the boat and examined the strangers and
tried to talk to them. We went on board,
and after while picked out a splendid
looking fellow. about 30 years old and six
feet high.
II got him off from the others and gave
my followers the wink. They all closed
in around me and my man, and we were
on land before the marshals suspected
anything. The spectators on the river
bank saw what was up and got between
us and the officers. The marshals quieted
hoNh Ano HOlsy CROWD and left
on the boat before they were positively
certain that they had lost one of the
blacks.
My prisoner walked along with me
willingly. He seemed 10 be glad 20 get
on shore again. put him in my wagon.
and two Of my neighbors got In with me
and we started for my plantation.
three-days trip.
well, sir, that blessed darby showed
that he understood our signs perfectly.
but we could not make him do a solitarv
thing. We had to do all the work. take
care OF the mules, cook the meals. carry
water and all that sort or thing. / was
tempted once or twice to give him a
whipping but / was afraid that II would
then go harder with me IL the govern
ment prosecuted me. You see the whisky
had died out and began to feel a little
when we reached the plantation qave
Ben as we called him, a cabin to him
SER, ana told the overseer to put him 10 |
work next day 1t was no use. Rem
would not work, and we let him alone a |
few days. Then l got mad and went to |