The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-03-11

- A-'S-fS AS'.Ash -~tN"
tlOn Views.
The Pittsburgh Post contains the fol-
lowing interesting sKetG, concerning
q man who is well known In this por-
ton OF West virginia;
Mr. Gilbert s. McFadden, whose In
interesting account of his personal eS-
perience in the south and California so
years ago, In given below. Is a native
OF Washington county. He will be re-
called by the old-,lmers there as an
active, energetic man, thoroughly hon
est and honorable, man OF decided
opinions and always willing. even an
SlouS 10 defend his views o. any sub
ject IN rOugh-Hnd-tumble argument.
McFadden. the fighter. was known oil
over Washington county years ago. He
wasn't y uuarrelsams, but born hight
or, and could give Corbet; and F'ltZsim-
mons pointers OH prompt action in mat
ters pertaining to pugillsm lie was
man OF commanding appearance, who
would attract attention anywhere, He
was a giant in strength, and az all
time prepared to try his strength In
lifting or wrestling contests. common to
the young men OF his day. Now past
70, no Is pRtrlarChNl in appearance, yet
stlll possesses much OF the tlre ana Hls-
or OF his youth. His "reminiscences are
decidedly interesting. al times fasclnat-
ing. He has many relatives and friends
in Pittsburgh and Washington county,
who vii recognize In the Interview the
sturdy Gill" as he Is still fnmtitnriy
known.
III has been stated" said NJ. Me-
Fadden, that / left Arkansas rather
suddenly, That Is true. and under the
circumstances no one VIII have the
temerIty 90 Hccusa me OF COwardice.
never run where chances are even.
left that region without much cere-
u1ony. upon the suggestion OF Uncle
Peter colOred.
II will commence at the beg ming OF
nv adventures IN the south and you
Will understand the. situation better,
My first experience was IN Louisiana.
Carol Parish. my par lor, and bu'lt a
house for Mr.. Shaply owen, large
planter, and within few days OF It's
completIon-about January I, lII--one
OF Owens slaves set It 0tire. The entire
building with our tools were burned.
and our clothes were stolen. I WAS LEFT
1900 miles from home with cash assets
OF SS,45 and well. scuiied suit Of clothes,
walked from 'Bunches Bend TO Lake
Providence La. and there met MIR. 4. 3.
Caldwell, Il lawyer, who died in Wheel
ing a few years ago. Mr. Caldwell was
ABOUT to marry. and wanted 4 house
built My partner and l undertook thc
lob. which We apIShed in good shape,
while working on the Caldwell
house an old Frenchman named Barra-
que, from the Arkansas river. landed a
raft OF lumber with u dead Frenchman
on board In front Of the Caldwell pro-
perty. At that time my partner had a
broken leg B9rraQue came 10 me and
asked me 10 make n coffin for the dead
man TheIs agreed to do, never think
ing OF the disease that had carried the
man on. The old FTenchman and Crew
Left the raft and went into the town
CLake PrOVidenceJ ] made the coffin
from the lumber on the raft, and when
completed I called couple Of colorcd
men to aSsis: me to bury the remains,
When il was disclosed that the man
had died Of choienl. CONSERVATION and
4 panic reigned. and II was aditiicult
matter TO prevent the population lynch
ing the man who was tn" probable
agency in bringing the dangerous iu-
fectiOn into the neighborhOod.
The Frenchman was a good sort OF
fellow, In spite OF the fact that he
carried chOleTa-lnfected corpse
around with him and he wanted me to
90 TO his plantation. where he glaran-
ted me work Barraques plantation
was located IN the Arkansas river
countrT, on upper Plum Bayou. My
Job there was building gin houses, cot
ton presses and dwellings for
the whites and quarters for the slaves.
my politics or religlon-Ot the latter
there was very iittle-werc never dis.
cusSed until went to work for Colonel
James Smith. an extensive planter haV-
ing about $50 slaves. remained with
Colonel Smith over a year His plan
fatiOn fronted on the Arkansas river
about IL miles, and was located four
miles above the post OF Arkansas ar
old French town. During this time,
probably six months after l went to the
plantation, the old geGtlemPn, who was
about 10 years old, proposed that lay
OF work for a day, q he would like me
TO write his will OF course ! consented
and when completed he asked me to
read 1t to him. He dictated the Ian
guaEe used IN the requests. The first
bepuesr read IA follows: I, James
Smith, being OF sound mind and body,
do make this my last will and tesla
ment First-T Will and bepueaih my
soul to God, the one who gave II. etc,
Then he distributed the slaves, mules,
lands and all pertaining to the planta-
ton.
"when the will was completed read
II TO the colonel, and he seemed much
pleased with IL. He was so delighted
with the paper that he ordered his body
servant, 'NIcojcmus, 20 20 10 Mrs.
Smith and have couple OF pint tum-
blers OF 'nathGlum' made for him aud
myself. Mathlglum Is q preparation OF
peach brandy and honey. with enough
brandy In II 10 raise tn" hair little
After partakinE az the delightful drink.
which seemed TO have a sort OF eXhili-
rating Influence upon your humble SER
VRnt, the colonel proposed that | should
read the VIII over Igeiu. ibid as he
requested, and then he asked the how
thought II would do. Right here was
where | pu; my foot IN IT, My reply
was, ] doubted II God would take the
first bcquest on his hands. The colonel
few to pieces ~ my reply. and IN a few
days the episode was apparently for
gotten.
"A few days after the will episode
Joe slave, stole q plus OF tobacco
from the coat OF plastcrcr who was
working In the new house ] was build
inE for the colonel The colonel sent
for the oveTscer to come In from the
cotton field and settle with Joc,whIch
he did by buclcIng and gaGging and
beating him with n paddle Of pecan
wood with several small holes burned
through Il. The paddle was applied by
the OVerseer $50 times, with about four
horse power, and the inhumnn treat