The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-03
Ancient Ex-slave Piods Thirty Weary Miles to Attend the Funeral of His old Master
 Col. Biaksy.

Wkite-haired, feeble and bent with the weight of 8 years, Startling Stovall, ser want of the late Col. David T. Blakey. came to the Blakey home on South Law renee Street yesterday morning. having walked the thirty weary miles between Fitzpatrick and Montgomery in the hope of once again looking upon the face of his dead master before he was laid in the grave.
 Startling Stovall was the nurse and childhood companion of Colonel Blakey sixty years ago, at Mount Meigs. and his devotion for his master and sincere regard Of the master, was founded ir those early days. and continued unti death severed the tie.
 The sad news of the death of his friend and master came to the old negro at his home at Fitzpatrick Some of the old mans white neighbors saw the account of Colonel Blakey's death in Sundays paper and told Uncle Startling" that the beloved charge of his boyhood. the master of his manhood and the friend of his old age, was cold in death.
 Uncle Starling'' left his cabin home near Fitzpatrick before the dawn of Mon- day morning and started for Montgom- cry.
 It was a long walk, and the old man was feeble and the sun beat down hot and merciless, and the dusty road stretch ed away interminably. But there came to the aged regro, as mile after mile was tediously put behind him, recoliections of what the gallant old soldier who lay cold in death had been to him--play- mate, companion and friend-and he was. he says, upborne by 1t, and along he plodded. the food that was necessary to keep him to his seif-appointed task be- ing supplied by kindly people along the road
 When Monday night came on, he was far from the end of his journey. He lay down under the stars, exhausted, and slept. But before darkness had fled he was up again and upon the final stage of his journey.
 Early yesterday morning the old man came to his old masters home.
 But his journey had been vain. For even before he had begun his self-ap- pointed task to honor his master. Colonel Blakey had been laid to rest in oakwood. Keen was the aged servants disappoint- ment. and tears came to his eyes when he learned that he was too late.
 The children of his old master, however, received him warmly. He was fed and cared for. and the story of his devotion was given the closest attention. as he modestiy recounted the tale of his reso- lution and his long walk
 To him it never occurred that what he had done was unusual. To his mind the act was natural and simple.
 Uncle Starling'' was born the slave of Doctor Boiling A. Blakey. the father of Colonel Blakey, at Mount Meigs. He was 13 years of age when Doctor Blakey's s son, David T., was born,
 Startling was told that he was to be the nurse and servant of his little master. and he Loyalty discharged every duty to his young master, and bestowed upon him a devotion which time itself could not change.
 The affection of the servant was deeply appreciated by the master and through out his life a request of Starlings never went unheeded.
 In later years the negro became the property of Colonel Blakey, and he was slave of Colonel Blakey when the war ended, and Appomattox freed him.
 His freedom brought but little change in the relations between servant and mas ter. Uncle Startling declined to leave the Blakey plantation, and remained and worked as he had before. His home to this day is on a plantation that belongs now to the estate of Colonel Blakey.
 The old negro is of small build. and te1-mile walk. His head Is as white as ar open boil of cotton. In spite of his eighty-three years he is in the full pos- session of his faculties.
 He is now resting for few days with a daughter in this city before returning to his plantation cabin.