The herald., 1897-02-16
A REMARKABLE NEGRO
A Black Forger Who Is Master of Ten Lam
guages

There is soon to be released from the
state coal mines of Alabama Nicholas
Said one of the most remarkable ne
groes that ever felt the sting of mas
ter's lash. Said drifted into Choctaw
county, Alabama, in 1874 at Il time when
kukluXism was at its height. 1t was
during the exciting days when Ben Tur
ner. former slave. was attempting to
carve out state of society to his own
liking. The negroes generally were
much perturbed Many We're armed
and so menacing did they become that
the whites were forced to band together
in self-protection. 1t was the day fol-
lowing the assassination of the entire
family of Blakely Bass at Bladon
Springs that Said appeared upon the
scene. He came up from Mobile Oh
Tombigbee river steamboat. He took
in the serious situation. before he had re-
manned in Blandon twenty-four hours.
Somehow or other. he quickly got the
confidence of the whites. Intellectually
he was SO vastly superior to the others
of his racet hat they at once became
his willing listeners. Before he had
been in the county two weeks Turner
had been hanged, and peace once more
had come. The negroes We're his slaves
from that time on. He had already woE
the highest esteem from the white cit
Zens, for it was he who had brought
about an understanding between the
two races that put stop to assassina-
tion 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 Bia-
don, no one in that community knew
anything. His own story was that in
boyhood he had been captured in Africa
by Captain Simpson, who belonged to
the British army. and that he had been
made body-serVant to the captain. and
had followed him all over the civilized
world OF his parents he claimed to
know nothing. except 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 Captain Simpson had died at
the port of New Orleans just as they
We're preparing to sail for his African
home. Thus being left alone, he de-
decided to see more of America before
going to his native land.
Said was a master of ten LANGUAGES.
His English was perfect and tested in
Spanish, French and German it was
found that he was equally good in these.
lie had dash about him that was fas-
cinating. Standing silently and erect
he looked as if master hand had carved
the figure from some piece of black
stone. Except as to color he possessed
none of the African 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 We're
even and were as white as pearls Be-
ing black man and living among his
race, to the whites his carriage was in
contrast with the others, refreshingly
graceful and pleasant He was uni
formly courteous and possessed none
of the evil habits which at that time
We're characteristic of his kin.
He knew something of political econo-
my; had studied the principles of law;
possessed a smattering knowledge of
physic, and had read much on religious
topics. | well remember the conspicu-
Gus part he played in the campaign of
1876. He took the stump in behalf Of
the Tiden electoral ticket, and preached
to his less ignorant fellow men that the
road to safety and harmony between the
races lay in voting the Democratic tick
ct 1t was determined to test Said s
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. When at
tempting to lay particular stress upon
a subject, and gesticulating with his
arms, the eye could almost see sparks
dripping from his finger tips.
Said had more accomplishments than
those mentioned above. He was an ex-
pert penman. He could write two diff
ferent sentences at the same time, one
with his left hand, the other with his
right 1t was his adeptness in the art
of writing ones name so much like the
owner of it that got him into trouble.
For his first three .offenses he was eX-
cused. But he grew bolder 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 country merchant for
a big sum and was sentenced for ten
years. His time will expire in March.