The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1902-10-02
Burning Of the Wade Residence.
Newelllon, La, Aug 81. - ?
tIal..r ID nrniIln


Newelllon, La, Aug 81. - 2
Editor Reveille:
In your issue OF the 2S.h, inst, there
appeared letter healed Burning Of
Judge Wade's Residence" and signed
"Reader," that brings a. he NJ morv
scenes, incidents aud events Uf the past,
connected with the old home, Prospect
Hill, around which sacred spot many
million memories cling. SO often e.
laled TO rs by my faths', I.aac Ross
Wade.
This great tragedy in his life was a
favorile theme, when we were gathered
around the irrside. especially in tie de-
clining years ui his life.
Il would require many columns OF
your valuable space 10 write complete
history Of all the circumstances and
evens leading up 10 the burning Of the
Prospect Hill house aud subsequent
events connected Herewith, SO l will
content myself by giving the Reader q
lew facts lelaling 70 The burning Of the
house and. The cause thereof
AT one a. M April IS, IS4S, this house
was sci on ere by some Of The Prospect
Hill slaves and completely destroyed IN
a very short time. My father, mother
aud three small children, I,sac. Dunbar,
and Cathfine, now Mrs Newell OF this
place, my mothers niece, Miss MARY
Girault, Of Grenada, my fathers sister,
Mrs. Adelaide Wade Richardson, aud
threr small children, Martha, about 6
years old, Cabei, and Addie, now Of your
town, his brother, DR.. Walter Wade,
and his business paituer, Mr. Bailey
(his given name l do not remember) J,
were asleep in the house at the time.
The coffee for supper on the night OF
the FIRE had been drugged BY the cook
and the older members Of the family
drank IL, except DR.. Wade aud Miss Gi-
ranlt. The house was a large two story
house, and DR.. Wade, Mr.. Bailey, Mrs.
Richardson and children and Miss Gi-
raull occupied the rooms in the second
story. DR.. Wade was the first occupant
to discover the FIRE and Immediately set
to work to arouse the family. This he
found a dificnlt task and probably
would not have succeeded, owing 10 the
size Of the house, had II not been for
the assistance Of one of my fathers own
slaves and body-servant, Major, who
was faithful and rendered every assist
ance in his power.
They all succeeded IN escaping save
Martha Richardson. Miss Giraull, who
occupied the room with Mrs. Richard
son, did not drink the drugged coffee
so was active and alert, and discovered
that Mrs. Richardson was dazei and stu
pefed. She took charge Of the two
Younger children, Caleb and Addie, and
requested Mrs. Richardson to bring
down Martha, the eldest. She did not
discover that Mrs Richardson, IN her
dazed condition, had left the child in
bed, until they all met in the yard.
When this was discovered Mrs. Rich.
ardson, terror stricken, frantically ap.
pealed for assistance and volunteers 10
20 with her 10 the second floor TO save
her child. To this appeal brave and
faithful slave. Thomas, responded. and
started with her up The steps TO the Sec
ond story, but before ascending very fai
the steps sunk under them into the FIRE
They both were rescued from the flames
but badly burnt. Mrs. Richardson wal
pulled out by her hair The next morn
ing the child's heart was found, anG
was buried in the family graveyard onl'
few PAGES from the spot she met be
tragic death.
When the family were aroused NJ.
father went 10 the outer doors TO opel
them that all might escape. The iron
door was hard 10 open, but after som
effort succeeded IL throwing 4 open
but did NOT 90 out Miss Girauli imni'
dialely ran through the door, and TO he
horror there stood Esau, one Of the e
tate slaves, with drawn Ak, evideni
for the purpose Of killing my fathe
! who he exr sctrh to pass out tina, dos
! as il WIS nearest his room. Miss 6
. rault bounded out unexpectedly an
seeing Esau with the drawn AK. quick
remarked, Uncle Esau, are yon here
help us by cutting away the door
\ He replied, "Yasum Mistess," az
walked off My father afisrwarC
learned that Esau had been standing
the front door for some little time a.
did not make any effort % arouse the
or knock the door in, aud that he h.
gone there for the purpose Of killi1
my father should he escape from u
flames. Esau. with or 7 other leader
we're burnt or hung. This was all dol
by The neighbors. without my father
knowledge, as he was then with b
mother, RS. Ross, at Oak Hill, tV
miles away. He did not know Of Il
vengeance taken upon these gull
slaves until It was reported TO him
the overseer, Mr. Peter Stampley,
man we'll known TO many of your old
citizens, and who. probably, has d
scendants in your county now II won
not be amiss for me to state that II
father heldsMr. Slampley In the highs
esteem as he proved himself 10y
brave aud efficient in this hour