Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-11-27
WANTED TO KILL HIS MASTER.

But the Slaves Courage Vanished When
He Found Him Hungry.
Some OF my most interesting exper-
/ fences in the civil war were with my
colored regiment" said Colonel Koch,
of Chicago, the other day. Il want to
| tell you, those people have some stall
wart qualities. l never knew one
put upon his honor-to be faithless to
a trust, while their kindness of heart
under circumstances was certainly be-
yond the ordinary. We enrolled large
number from the Mississippi planta-
tions. Among them was rather mo-
Incorporating fellow, Frank Lawson,
who seemed to cherish more intense
resentment against his former envi-
| ronment than any member of his regi-
ment, and when the boys were sitting
around the campfires telling tales of
plantation life Franks voice could al
ways be heard above the others heap
! ing abuse upon young massa' who had
evidently been responsible for poor
! Franks getting many an undeserved
| fiogging. He always ended his remarks
by saying:
"'You boys just wait until l get
chance at young massa' and see if
| don't put one Of Uncle Sans blue pills
! clear through him
Frank was no coward. On our way
down the Yazoo river we were fire.
quently annoyed by the Confederate
cavalry. One day, when we were near
Liverpool Heights, l went out to re-
connoiter, accompanied only by Frank.
AS I started up the heights he remon
strated: Mighty dangerous to go up
there, cap'n.'
| eyes, l konw. Frank I replied.
You do not need to go. Stay here, and
if anything happens to me join the
| others at once and make for our boats
of you can go up there, cap'n, l
guess can go, too replied Frank, and
if you can die up there, sut'ny can die
with you
1--WE, therefore, assembled the heights
| together, where we found fresh tracks
showing that the enemy had very re-
Gently passed by. Not far away were
the bodies of two negroes who had ev-
| identity been brought there and bru-
tally murdered. We knew from their
underclothing, bearing Uncle Sans
mark, that they were Union soldiers.
| This kindled anew Franks hatred, and
| he vowed with clenched fists that if
ever he got chance at young massa'
| he would treat him after the same
manner
The next year I was stationed at
Vicksburg, where numbers of the Con-
| federate prisoners taken at Mobile had
been sent, and some thirty officers were
turned over to me for surveillance. l
put them on parole, giving them the
freedom OF the city. provided they new
er failed to report at roll call.
One day Frank Lawson came to me
and asked for the loan of 81. l was
good deal surprised, as he was
| thrifty sort of fellow and usually had
plenty of money about him. l feared
that the temptations of the city and
army life had proved too much for
him, and so insisted upon knowing
what he wanted the money for.
81 don't want ~ tell" said Frank,
| cr11iltv and am ccQd
Then, Frank" said l, Il can't let
you have the 81. If you are not will
ing that 1 should know the use you
are going to put it to 1 am not willing
to let you have it."
Slowly he shufT1ed up to me, and If
ever a darby blushed Frank certainly
turned red as he whispered You tell
nobody? You not let the boys get on
to it,"
No promised.
"You dun heard me tell of young
oners here, and want to take him out
and give him scuah meal"
But, Frank" / said, haven't you
always boosted of the way you would
do this fellow up If he ever fell into
your clutches?"
"Oh, yes, cap'n. That's all right:
but you see, massa is a prisoner now
and can't help hisself II I ever reet