The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-09

Aurtal Rites Praeticed by the Blacks
ON ..Wacea naas Neck"


letter TO the Atlanta Constitution.
WAcHAsHAW. 4. c.--Oid Daddy Hard
times had died. Or may be well enough 10
1 tmark just here that the names used in
this narrative are genulne-theFe Is no ro-
nance in this story Daddy Hardtimes
Vas a leader" and ,nan of Importance
n the community. IL Africa be had proba-
| w been Prince Something bat he never
had any ether name than Hardtimes In
lhis country, His demise was the signal
Ter a gathering OF the host from three or
fuur adjoining plantation VILLAGES for be-
iag leader IL VAS necessary that he
should have big send-or at hts funeral.
Hardtimes was fisherman. lie died as
the evening went out That night his fol
low ers 10 the number OF probably forty.
lat with the corpae and sang m0urnful
dirg~s Tire following day was passed in
tbs same manner. As evening approached
THE hosts began 10 gather. Negro funerals
On the Neck are held after nightfall AS
the sun was sinking behind the treetops
she procession to the graveyard was
! nrmed. Daddy Hardtimes' body in pine
box, was given the place OF honor, the
! hesrxc tan OK cart being preceded only
/ - two banner bearers. one of whom ear
fed a hammer OF yellow and the other a
banner OF blue calico. Following The cart
same another banner - red. and N inter
walls along the line which Followed were
] banners of white. but there was not one OF
black The graveyard VAS Two miles away
rs the sun sank the procession moved TO a
l slow. monetonous chant.
| Safnpit Goback Was tho master OF cere-
aenies lie marched az the left OF the
/ cart, and the retinue Of mouFners kept time
with both his singing and his marching
Z Se chose his songs 20 mark The time az
the march step From TIE slew monotone
| the song presently became more animated
n "A rR.r,
| ssmplt struck lnto a rather brisk tune
| de Mass Jesus come Is away.
v tSwing low. chariot. swing low
!, Don lei Brother Har.lmes' soul so stray
| tswing low. chariot swing ioall
j. There We're probably dozen staraas
4 fsmplt sang the verses soius and the cor
| iegs took IN the refrain swaying their
lcdles and keeping step with Tho time of
!. TIE music. AZ each verse the leader wocld
| make his time ltlie faster su8 call upon
/ 'he other 80 catch ~ FASTER, faster"
eaSs would shout. Each succeeding song and
4 ssrse VAS mere spirited than he one
ehsch preceded 81. until when tie bury
M ground was reached the mouru~ss
| ssre IN jog trot with Precipitation
| streaming down their faces. tneir breath
sesisrg hard ana their eyes bright with
/ tysh.mcnt.
/ The hacks az The Neck nnva. put shade
| INTO sarth 10 dig Q grave uptu the corpse
/ = literally on the ground Arrived az the
| ssavsyafd. beautiful oak grove On the
septng hank 81 the river Daddy Hard
/ tines body. ia is pine casing WAS Il pcs
lee upon the ground. and the mautners
| struck big rsng around A. vita hands.
Al. feand as children DO wA,a playing
sTraS around a rcsy" That AIS 80 keen
I sat ''psai,-eye" and ths deylj .Plat,-eve''
| ssshe particular imp and favorite ~ the
! sest and EsSf 20 the q VI himsaif the
Mess feared sriri, IN the cetuauolo.,V %
4 NE Naccanaw Neck blacks "rAtt-.ye"
3 the sceat ssa fsctofun1 ~ his slsanse
4 FASTER. He spies car opportunities - slim
sc open srANes and Csatuee sous. To.
y known according - the -h.ssogs -
I as Neek the seal of tAa departed docs
4 ~ tease tie presence OF The baIy untn
'se funeral h4e ueoa comp.es.ss n me last
.bsaosel g, earth,
I sew@N@r. neither "Flatt-ess" nor his
/ .Sss'sf can so tnroush a -ias made o. ,ne
sAne<s hanaS - ecVeuG believers na- can
- isaera'e ire s.@r'ns ~ religious sonxs.
II zee pss'FofsistfCs e the digging II the
..ANe snia ihe arrival az re body. there
~ > precautionary measure. and the
.HAiAs II ras around aeth corpse aad
ssNe space Is fer the purpose q making
'shfahee GcNb'y sure
4 fsas .aot t0rehvS h4d f,een called trts
4 Ssis',iea tY ,hs trse tho cov.rxe reach
&c eagS 'uc sroand ana tte eclipse was
~suSa2ra aHa the ttux stFaek These
/ "4i.ct AK i't gp taa grove Nisn
1 - - @'-.ss 'eua r, ral. aa1 tanE ei-s-S
49, shade "a auan- she frers The
So. ri~ toFo.ra Is eire.e nlsSgae tae
So -.et aaa>-le Wifa .e.ase hsnEs
vx,ss'''4fS 'ae cayrse ana grave place
sssiF eyes l.s.--s.t Nt,h -x....r.....
/ a. i@' f.a tu3 .he!r teeth.
/ = krsre>S tvls. as ......e ..-- .... IT. $50.