The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-30
UNITED DAUGHTERS
 OF THE CONFEDERACY.
Incident of the Recopstructior
 Period in Alabama

An Incident of the Reconstruction Period in Alabama. The history of the South during the reconstruction is one of Yankee military oppression and tyranny. and 1t Is almost impossible for the younger generation to form an idea of the turmoil and agita- tion or those dark days. The people of Alabama suffered more during this time than in the four years of bloody war.
 Especially was this the case in what is called The Black Belt" and Military Posts" were established at intervals of twenty or twenty-five miles. There was one at Greensboro, and the negroes were impudent beyond endurance. One day d young man, MT. Tude Cowan, resented an insolent remark made to him by a negro.
 Immediately Yankee officer stepped up to him and slapped him in the face.
 The young man drew his pistol and killed the officer, and rushed into an office by which he was standing and hid him. self in a small dark closet under the old fashioned staircase.
 In less than thirty minutes the streets were filled with d black, slTging mass of howling negroes. headed by the Yan- kees searching for him. Two of the young man s friends, by the dim light of a candle; in that little, dark whole of a closet. shaved of his mus tache, disguised him completely, and placing him between them. walked boldly out into the mob. and unrecognized went the entire length of the town to a strip of woods. from whence young Cowan made his escape.
 The infuriated negroes soon discovered this and to retaliate entered every white mans house and seized every gun and pistol, thus placing the white people at their mercy.
 They also wont to young Cowan's home, dragged his younger brotis-r forth and said they intended to keep him as a hostage, and would hang him II his brother did not return.
 There is long street in Greensboro ter minating on d high hill. on which stands d handsome ante-bellum home. at present occupied by the family of Captain Hob- son of "Merrimac fame" Directly in front of this home. in view of the whole town, tall galfoWs was erected. for the execution Of the young
 The deepest gloom and despair hung like a pail over the entire community in anticips ton of the tea.'ful impending tragedy.
 The people were utterly helpless to render aid to avert the atrocious crime.
 By chance. some one remembered that General Marsh, who was stationed at Post about fifteen miles distant. was Mason. the town dispatched a messenger to this officer and by means we wot not or, IL was arranged that upon payment of ransom of 5000 the boy would be re- leased.
 Notwithstanding the poverty-strieken condition of the Southern people at that time. the amount demanded was raised and sent.
 It was never known for what purpose it was demanded; this transaction not be- ing generally known. therefore. promptly at the appointed hour. the negro mob nIaced A rope around the boys neck and dragged him through the streets to the gallows. ,.~
 A more pathetic spectacle was never witnessed than that of the gray-haireo father walking bv his son exhorung hlm to die like man!
 The reprieve arrived just as the boy ascended the scaffold.
 Years afterward, poor Tude CoWan cdnIe home. a physical wreck, and died. nu, Tom Cowan, our young hero, prospered and finally became proprietor or the flor- ence Hotel in Birmingham.
 During the tour of the notorious Genera. sherman through the South, he stopped at ."rhe Florence.
 A committee composed Of negroes WaIt- cd on him. No sooner d.d Tom Cowan hear of if than he marched into the par Tor and indignantly ordered Generai Snsr man and bis colored friends out, ana tnsy stayed not on the order or their soihs' but went at once. ,. e.
 Thus the whirligig of Time brings ID his revenge.