The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-05-05

Rev. William II. Singleton. the pastor
OF the African Zion Congregational
church, delivered an interesting address
last evening at the Boswottn Post hall
ON the story of his life. Mr.. Singleton
came to this oity few months ego from
New Haven, Conn. Considerable interest
had been manifested in the address which
he was TO deliver and the hall was well
flled with a good sized audience there
being . number Of citizens outside OF the
membership OF the post who were In at
tendance. After the regular business
nesting all assembled In the lecture
room. Gen Charles p. Mattocks, the
commander OF the post, presided and In
trod iced Mr.. Singleton. Gen. Mattooks
said that Mr.. Singleton was born In
slavery. Twas a man who was Interested In
the u. A. X. and was . member Of one OF
the posts of the order in the state OF
Connecticut.
A round of hearty applause GREETED
Comrade Singleton and he at once .ex-
pres ssd himsslf as much pleased with this
free cordiality. This was the first time,
he said, that he had been In the midst OF
the q. A. X. veterans since his coming
to this city.
81 wal. BORN" said Comrads Single
ton. "in North Carolina on the tenth day
of August, 1896, a slave. My father was
my masters brother and his name was
William Singleton. he did not like IL
because my mother gave me the same
name was sold by my mother When
four years old, and was bought by lady
in Atlanta, Ga. l remained with her for
seven years. One bright Saturday morn
Ing she logged me and ran away.
mes q young lady that morning who took
quite an interest In me. She asked me
what my name wss ana / told her that
didn't know. / didn't want to know my
name Just thep. She asked me where
was going aud said that didn't know.
She asked me who belonged to and
said ] didn't know. She asked me II
was fool aud said didn't know. i
was seven days In making my way back
home and daring those seven days had
only one meal to eat. ! travelled along
back to North Carolina begging my way
and slept cut doors. On arriving home i
met an old oolorsd lady OF the station and
asked her IL aha knew where my mother
was. She didn't know and then she also
asked me several questions to which l
replied that didn't know. Soon after
wards a white man with o cord captured
me and took me back TO Atlanta. was
sold again for fivs hundred dollars, and II
1 should take OF my coat l could chow
YOU the marks where l was struck. They
tried to give me q death blow but l was
80 tough that they couldn't kill me-
man asked me II l would go with him
and said that would. went horne to
get my CLOTHES, but forgot to go back.
went into the bushes and staid there for
a year. Then prize was offered for ma
and 1 was captured BY my own father
and sold for $50. I kept running away
and would run yet II q man should try
to sell me again. (Applauss.)
"In 1915 lady came up to me and be-
gan to talk with me-. She was itching TO
get the reward for my capture. Finally
got back to my mother's house and
there for two years. comrades, she had
an opening in the floor so that could 60
down under and slesp with the aogs. AS
1 face you tonight look on you oom-
rades as almost savior to me. You are
more than friend to me, friend that
stIcketh closer than q brother.
'In So was with the rebel army I'M
der Lieutenant Lyman, a cavalry of1ioer,
at Kingston, N. U. AT that place heard
the report and asked for pass to Gen.
Burnside. The pass was given to me and
then helped General BurnAide az we'll
as / could. In T63 General Miles. q one
srmed officer, went to NsWburn. N. o.,
to get coloFed brigade. became re-
oruitIng officer Of two regiments, the
First and Second North CArollnA ana
served for three years In company q as
first sergeant. l did my duty rs a soldier
and am thankful to be In your midtt to-
night as a warrior Of my race.
"My mistress nursed me as a son and
before she died she called all of Us slaves
together and told US that whatever We
should do We should be true TO our own
ers for the time would come wien we
would be free. might have been Iioh
man today for had the whols charge Il
my masters plantation and slaves. The
negroes In the South have been lainbiike
and kind hearted. but they have been
misused by men who have not themselves
| been we'll bred. had man who owned
me, at least he owned me for one hour.
He was red headed and because / told
him that dAa not want to live NTH a
rsd headed man he dashed me thil IT, nine