Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-11-30
"Do you really think SO. Jim p

do you really think so, JimY'
ITO be sho, Marse Charlie. Marse
Newton, dar, he knows dat most o. de
niggers in Oakville amt struck a lick
o. work in three days. an cose dey amt
got no money to buy nothin' to eat.
Dey's jes' been livin' on whisky, an
mean whisky at dat, an when hits ont
| of 'em dey's jes' as boiler as a gourd
When dark comes dis night half of 'em
won't have nothin' to put inside of 'em
but ole crusts an later skins. You az
me will dey go down to de courthouse
to good supper! Marse Charlie dem
hongry niggers II follow me down dar
like drove o. razorback hogs"
Political trickery was a new business
to Lawton. After the plan had been
agreed upon he did not know how to
begin.
See here. Mr.. Lawton," said Dick,
seeing his embarrassment, 'this is no
work for you. With Jim's help. I'll take
charge now"
Eyes. Marse Charlie, jes' leave dis
niger business to Marse Newton an
me. We gwine trap dem niggers lax
pattridges."
"A little pen work is all we need from
you, Mr.. Lawton," said Newton. Write
me few orders on the groceries and
livery stables, and you may go home"
1t was now dusk. Conspirators de-
light in darkness AS night came on,
with its silence and secrecy, the plot
appeared so easy of accomplishment 1t
seemed almost as much of q frolic to
Newton and Jim as q poker party or
possum supper But they dissembled
their glee.
"Ain't you lost, nigger" said Lucul-
lus, as he met Jim on the street. go
home, boy! / done got all yer votes
You gotter learn to play on dis horn
fore You kin ketch niggers." And Lu-
cullus waved a whisky bottle in the
twilight.
Oats so, Lucullus," replied Jim.
"You got EN- dis time. Pm gwine home
an let de debbul have his day"
BY midnight Newton and Jim had all
things ready. There was no red tape
necessary to get possession of the court
house. 1t was used for assemblies of
all kinds free of rent. Any one could
obtain the key from the sheriff by ask
ing.
The negro hunt began at / o'clock in
the morning after the arrival of the
midnight train. When the omnibus and
cabs returned from the station to the
various stables, Jim Lawrence and his |
negro confederates were waiting at the |
doors with orders from Lawton, and in |
cabs were dashing over the streets Of |
Oakyille In all directions.
who's dat at my door?" exclaimed
old Jerusalem
Wake up, wake up, niger! Is yer
gwine miss 1t all" said Jim excitedly.
"What ] gwine miss, JIM"
"Ain't yer hyerd, man, bout de big
supper Marse Lawton's givin' de culled
folks down at de courthouse? De ia
bles is jes' breakin' down. Oars sar-
dimes, an salmon fishes, an Washing
ton pies, an pickles, an ginger cake,
an crackers, an all de seegyars yer kin
smoke. Marse Lawton's sont carriage
for yer. De niggers is jes eatin' away.
Jump in dem britches."
wait, Jim, till l get drink of wa
ter I'm jes' Albumin up inside"
"Water!" said Jim scornfully. Oars
two bar'ls o ice lemonade waitin' for
yer at de courthouse. Dar-dat's right
Drive on"
From cabin to cabin dashed the cabs
and omnibus then to the courthouse
and back again for another load Six
negroes were packed in one carriage
and three on the box.
Scenes similar to that at old Jerusa-
LENS cabin were repeated again and
again.
Sometimes Jim would exclaim:
Hurry up, Niger, an jump in dis
De barrooms is all shet You
gwine git no more free whisky from
Cunnel Jackson till de mex lection.
But Marse Lawton's got supper for
yer l kin smell it clean here Jump
In, niger, jump in"
And not negro hesitated.
Never before hid Oakville heard such
a popping OF whips and rolling of
wheels at that hour Of the night Peo-
pie were Weakened from their deepest
slumbers and went to the windows to
look out.
"Alice, my child. what can all this