The morning news., 1897-02-19
A REMARKABLE NEGRO.
Born in Africa, He Speaks Ten Lam
guages and Is a FOrger.

From the Chicago Times Herald.
Birmingham, Ala.-There is soon to be
released from the state coal mines of Ala
bama Nicholas Said, one of the most re-
markable negroes that ever felt the sting
of a lash. Said drifted into Choctaw
county, Alabama, in 1874 at time when
Ku-Kluxism was at it's hight. 1t was dur
ing the exciting days when Ben Turner,
a former slave, was attempting to carve
out a state of society to his own liking.
The negroes generally were much perturb-
ed Many were armed, and so menacing
did they become that the whites were fore
ed to band together in self-protection.
1t was the day following the assassina-
ton of the entire family Of Blakely Bass
at Bladon Springs that Said appeared upon
the scene. He came up from Mobile on
Tombigbee river steamboat. lie took in
the serious situation before he had remain
ed at Bladon twenty-four hours. Some
how or other he quickly won the conf
dence of the whites. Intellectually he was
so vastly superior to the others of his
race that they at once became his willing
listeners. Before he had been in the coun-
ty two weeks Turner had been hanged and
peace once more had come. The negroes
were his slaves from that time on. He
had already won the highest esteem from
the white citizens, for 1t was he who had
brought about an understanding between
the two races that put stop to aSsaSSna-
ton and house burning. In a little while
he began teaching a colored school, and in
less than six months he had more than
800 pupils.
OF his life prior to his arrival at Bladon
no one in that community knew anything.
His own story was that in early boyhood
he had been captured in Africa by Capt.
Simpson. who belonged to the British
army, and that he had been made body
servant to the captain and had followed
him over ali the civilized world OF his
parents he claimed to know nothing ex-
cept that his father was one of the South
African chiefs. He showed marks upon
his body which he said were the signs of
royalty. He said that Capt. Simpson had
died at the port of New Orleans Just as
they were preparing TO sail to his African
home. Thus being left alone, he decided
to see more of America before going back
to his native land.
Said was a master of ten languages. His
English was perfect, and tested in Span
ish, French and German Ii was found that
he was equally as good in these. He had
a dash about him that was fascinating.
Standing silently and erect he looked
if master hand had carved the figure
from some piece of black stone. Except
as to color, he possessed none of the Afri-
can features. His hair, while black as
the wing of a crow, was straight and of
silken fineness. His facial features were
classical; his lips came squarely together;
his teeth were even and were as white
as pearls. Being black man and living
among his race, to the whites his car
riage was in contrast with the others,
refreshingly graceful and pleasant. He
was uniformly courteous, and possessed
none Of the evil habits which at that time
were characteristic of his kin.
He knew something of political econo-
my: had studied the principles of law; pos
sessed a smattering knowledge of physic
and had read much on religious topics.
well remember the conspicuous part he
played in the campaign of 1876. He took
the stump in behalf of the Tilden cleo
toral ticket and preached to his less gno-
rant fellow men that the road to safety
and harmony between the races lay in
voting the democratic ticket. 1t was de-
termined to test Saids influence. So in
that election there was a fair count. OF
the 1000 negro voters In the county less
than 500 voted for Hayes. on the stump
he seemed as one inspired. His sentences
were short, clear cut and logical
Said had more accomplishments than
those mentioned above. He was an expert
penman. He could write two different
sentences AT the same time. one with his
left the other with his right hand. IT
was his adeptness in the art OF writing
ones name so much like the owner Of IL
did that got him him into trouble. For
his first three offenses he was excused.
But he grew holder as the years went on.
Then he got two years. When released
he began his bad practices again. He was
sent up the second time and was again
pardoned. But the third time he caught
merchant for a big sum and was sem
fenced for ten years. His time will expire
in March.