Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1904-03-02
GRANDMA'S STORY.
BIZ Marion G.. Woodward.
(Continued from last Weekly

brutally murdered and their hom,
plundered and burned"
"After this piece OF information,
knew that there was no hope, and W
must face the fact that we were il
peril-deadly peril. But what coult
we do nothing, save commit Oursel
yes into the hands of God, which w
did"
"About ten O'clock a great blaz
shot up from the east, and l knew tina
Mr.. Blakely's beautiful home was
thing of the past. 1t was an old tim
colonial home, valued more for its an
! tiuuity than fer its intrinsic value.
"Straining my ears, could hear thei
hellish orgies as they danced arount
the scene of their diabolical crime.
watched until the blaze died down ant
there was nothing left to see, save th'
reddish glow upon the heavens which
reminded one of the land of the mit
night sun. As 1 watched this phe
nolnenon J wondered how many peo'
pie over the state were being hurlet
into eternity by these maddened de-
MONS"
90! Nemesis. thou goddess Of JUS
tice, why tarryest thou so long? Has
not the lfe's blood of our heroes pait
for the insurrection of the south
Must women and children die 2"
'sThe reddish glow had hardly faded
out of the east, before began to see
dark shadows, stealing towlrd the
house from all directions. then be-
gan to think my days in this world
were limited, and wondered in what
manner they would put me to death
Would it be horrible or would they
favor me with an Easy death 2"
"Thinking I would do some good
act before 1 died, I suggested, that
Uncle Aleck and his wife leave the
house while there was yet time, assur-
ing item that the time had come when
their aid could only keep me for q
brief while. But the old man only
SHOOK his head and grasped his rifle
more firmly"
81 thanked God, even in the hour OF
danger, for the loyal heart that beat
under the black skin of L1rrle A eek.
Long years before whenl as slave
of my father, he was t. very i'll
with fever, and did NO ow when
I helped to nurse him tL I was cast
ing bread upon the waters, that would
return a hundred fold"
"U 1cle Alexis wife, Aunt Caroline,
my old black many on whose heart
had slept many weary hours away,
when baby. held me in her arms as
she used to do of yore, and in that re
fuge | can almost say felt secure"
"Some people seem to think that the
south does not appreciate the services
of the old time colored women, but
they are mistaken. and like some
author has truly said, there will come
a day when the south will erect a
to the old black many OF
long ago.
"rhere was quietness for O few
like the calm which precedes
a storm, and then blood curdiing yell
rent the air. 1t seemed TO me that the
house was attacked from all sides, and
that it would be lifted from IFS very
by these infuriated ne
groes. Window glasses were broken,
and the doors were completely demol-
ished."
"In q few moments the lower floor
was swarming with the blood thirsty
savaees, whose cries Of skill de white
debils,' SO terrorized me that almost
became insane. l tried to break away
from Aunt Caroline. wanted to
scream, but could not. God seemed
to have turned his face away, as he did
that memorable day from Calyary's
A ss1i,s indeed itsa true ssshegE
good that night.
Aunt Caroline was also terror
stricken, but she displayed wonderful
courage under the circumstances.
TIncle Aleck was in the next room,
and it would be necessary for one TO
pass through that room before enter
ing our room. ,,,s
Never to my dying day shall I for
pet. how noble the old man looked as
he guarded the intrance of our room.
His naturally bent form, seemed more
straight that night. and on his oid
wrinIlsd face, saw written determi-
nation"
"While. Uncle Aleek was member
of the African race, yet, IN my mno.
I never associated him with tne ne
eroes. Tt seemed to me that he was
on higher plane of civilization than
they"
aDown tie stairs the hends incar-
nate. were making havoc of the furnl-
ture. chinaware, and all other things
which they could destroy. 1t seemed TO
me that hell had been turned loose on
the earth. The falling china-Ware,
and the awful oaths OF the negroes,
created din that was dea(enlng. But
above the din, / could hear the stento-
rian voice of the leader as he gave ol-
rections." -.
aAfter the mob had finished their
work of devastation rush was made
for the stairs, and few moments
later, they bursted the door OF Uncle
Alexis room and demanded admls-
sion to ours.
Uncle .Aleck refused and the in
furiated negroes exclaimed. Git outen
de way Niger I'll burst yer brains
OUT and before Uncle Aleck could re-
ply, pisto! shot rang cut and Iheard
him fall"
"Forgetting my own danger in my
indignation, + threw open the door
and exclaimed, pro. .pudor (oh fol
shame y negroes to murder an old man
who has never done you any harm.
was interrupted by hearing a shout
and in few moments all was in con
fusion. Negroes were running in al
directions"
"It was a band of Ku-Klux who had
suddenly appeared on the scene, which
stopped the pandemonium."
"One would think that skirmisf
would have occurred. but not.so. This
negroes were on the lookout for these
riders of the night, and scattered in
all directions just as soon as the ku'
Klux were sighted"
1--WE lifted Uncle Aleck tenderly
and placed him upon bed and watch
ed beside his bed all of that night anc
the next day. In the afternoon | saw
his lips moving and bending over the
bed l heard him say, Ise gwine home
aid before I goes, want you promise
dut 1nnt