The Washington times., 1901-11-24
THE LAST SLAVE SALE.
Closing Scene In the Auction of HUI
man Beings.

/
man beings.
Il think l was the last man in the Uni
ted States to sell negro" said Peter Til
| ton, leaning back in his chair and pulling
comfortably at his pipe according TO the
Inter Ocean, cit was this way: when
the war broke out was living at Bolivar,
Mo. Things were not very comfortable
there after a while. for both the Union
and Confederate sides were well repre-
sented. andano one knew one day what
might happen to him next. / owned sew
eral slaves and was suspected of having
Southern sympathies. only wanted to be
let alone, but some people would not have
1t that way, SO quietly removed 10 Iili-
nois. where ! had relatives and could live
in peace.
After while things settled down out
there little, the Unionists being in con-
troll, and In 1862 paid a visit to my old
home to look after some business mat
ters. When left my slaves scattered;
Proclamation, aad /, of course, had no
further control OF them On my return I
found but one OF them, Dave, an old fell
low. strong and hearty and with plenty of
sense. He had always been fayorite in
the family. and although he had been run
ming at large for q long time, was not very
happy.
''Ae that time story had gone abroad
to the effect that all men loyal to the
Union would be paid for the slaves they
owned at the rate of $1,000 apiece. and
the story was generally believed. /, how
ever, did not believe that would get pay
for my darkies, and would probably have
never given the matter a thought had l
not run across Judge Burr Emerson, who |
lives in Bolivar and who was the judge |
of the circuit court. The judge evidently |
believed in the story about Union men |
getting paid for their slaves, and he pro- |
posed a trade. 1 told him that Dave was |
the only one OF my darkies left.
Do you think il / buy him he would |
stay with me-
OF course, answered. AT any rate, |
you might ask him.
so we agreed on price. which was |
$500 and new carriage which the Judge /
owned and did not need. and / went to |
find Dave. He was working here and |
there where he could find anything to do. |
and was not very we'll satisfied.
".Daye, said. 4 have chance to sell /
you
40 Dat so. Massa Peter
:. Yes, and 1 explained matters to him,
and being smart darky he took in the
and readily agreed to the sale.
/ promised to give him few dollars. /
After giving him careful instructions as
to what he should say. took him to
Judge Emerson's office.
" Dave said the judge. I am thinking |
Of buying you.'
" / hope you will. Massa Judge. Massa
Pete. he done gone away and left me, and
l got no home and no place to stay
'''You will stay with me, then. if buy
your"
"'Cose will. I'll stay with you as
long as you got button on you coat
"'AlI right, then, se will make the
trade
so the papers were made out and
signed and Dave became the judges prop
erty. He paid me $500 in money. and
gave me an order for the carriage. which
was In store ut Jefferson City. sold the
carriage for $500. SO l realized $500. less
the few dollars 1 gave Dave, out of that
trade.
What became OF Dave?"
-"oh. that's the best part Of the story.
Some time afterward / was again in
Bolivar. l met Judge Emerson, who
greeted me with the remark that the mig
ger had sold him was damned rascal
What did he dor l asked.
".Why. said the judge, i bought him .
on my place in the edge of town and he
seemed contented enough.
TWO or three months after | bought | .
him company of Union cavalry came by .
he place. He was plowing in the field
~ the road, and he stopped them to ask
( he was not free. They told him yes.
md were indignant at his being kept in ,
,ondage. They told him TO come with
hem and they would protect him. He
sked If he should get horse. OF course
hey told him yes. and what did he do but
ret my fine saddle horse, on which rode
he circuit. my best saddle and bride,
sith all the other rigging. and ride away
Tith the soldiers. When they reached
own they halted in front of my Office.
md looking out 1 saw Dave among them,
eated on my best horse. l went out and
lsked him what he meant. Ia
Il am pressed to, Massa Judge" he
eplied. "Dese Yankee sojers say got to
20, and Use afraid to run away from
em"
But my horse,' exclaimed. 'what
10 you mean by taking him? You must {
cave kim
e Deed can't leave him, Massa
Judge. My feet's sore and l can't walk
De hoss is pressed, too" and the rascal
,rinned in my face.
81 could do nothing" continued the
udge. for the soldiers would protect him,
nu IL maoe any russ 1 was certain to | d
,et into trouble which might be serious
70 l sat there and saw that grinning 4
arkey who cost me $500, ride off with
ny s4oo horse. and have heard nothing
rom either since
"I think" added Mr.. Tilton, that Dave Z
ras the last niger sold in the United 4
tates. 1 have never heard of later
ale And he refilled his pipe.
did you ever hear of him again?"
Mr.. Tilton shook his head
Il never did, be said but he got along q
II right. for he g'as a smart darkey"