The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-18
REMARKABLE NEGRO.
Born In Africa, He Can Speak In len
3 taneuiees, 5
] sss ~ A :
Ny stef46usry appeared In Alabama In
1874 and QuelIeda Race War.
4ast"- AZ .. = 81

There Is soon TO be released from the
state coal mines Of Alabama Nicholas Said,
one of the most remarkable negroes that
ever felt the sting Of lash. Said drifted
Into Choctaw county, Ala, In 1874, at
time when Kukluxisn was at Its height.
Ii was during the exciting days when Ben
Turner, former slave, was attempting 10
carve out state OF society To his own lik-
Ing. The negroes generally we,s much per-
turbed. Many were armed, and so men,
acing did they become that the whites were
forced to band together in self protection.
1t was the day following the assassina
ton of the entire family Sf Blakely Bass at
Bladon Springs that Said appeared upon
the scene. He came up from Mobile on a
Tomblgbec river steamboat He took In
the serious situation before he had remain
ed ut Bladon "a hours Somehow or other
he quickly won the confidence of the
whites Intellectually he was SO vastly SUI
perior TO the others of his race that they at
once became his willing listeners. Before
be had been In the county two weeks Tur'
ncr had boen hanged, and pence onoo more
had come. The negroes were his slaves
from that time on. He had already won
the highest esteem from the white citizens,
for it was he who had brought about an
understanding between the two races Tint
put stop toassnssination and house burn
ing In n little whiio no began teaching a
colored school, and In less than six months
he had more than 800 pupils
OF bis lie prior TO his arrival at Bladon
no onein thnt community knew anything.
His own story was that in early 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 over all the civilized world. OF his
parents he claimed To- know nothing except
that his father was one Of the South Afri-
can chiefs. He showed marks upon his
body which be said were the signs OF roy
atty. He said that Captain Simpson had
died at the port Of New Orleans just Us
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 master OF ten languages
His English was perfect, and, tested in
Spanish, French and German, IL was found
that he was equally good in these He
had dash about him that was fascinat-
ing. Standing silently and erect, nc looked
as il a 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 u CROW Xas straight and of silken fine
ness. 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 carriage 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 character.
istic of his kin.
He knew something Of political economy,
had studied tho principles of law, possessed
a sinattering knowledge of physic and had
read much on religious topics. well re-
member the conspicuous part he played in
the campaign of 1876. He took the stump
in behalf OF tho Tilden electoral ticket
and preached to his less ignorant fellow
men that the road TO safety and harmony
between the races lay in voting the Demo
cratic ticket. II was determined TO test
Said's influence. So In that election there
was fair count. OF the 1000 negro vot-
ers In the county less than 800 voted for
Hayes. On the stump he seemed as one
inspired. His sentences We're 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 hts right hand. It
was his adeptness in the art of writing
ones name so much like the owner of it
did that got him into trouble For his
first three oiIonscs no was excused But he
grew boldcr as the years went ON. Then
he got two years. When released, he began
his bad practices again. He was sent up
the second timo and was again pardoned
But the third time he caught merchant
for big sum and was sentenced for ten
years. His time will expire in March
Chlago Timcs-Herald.