The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-22

his sword, to be sent home TO the
| young mistress, with fond words OF his
devotion to the last; he had better re-
turn home. But no, he attempted
thattnight 10 slipthrough the lines to-
wards the federal army; he was
brought back and sentenced to be shot
al shutdown. How he vas saved, as a
miracle, by the recognition or the Of
fieer of the firing squad, and sent back
70 Wilmington, need not De told.
He had formed another desperate
resolve-he would go TO Orion in the
night, and in a frail bateau attempt
to pass the picket boats at Fort Ander-
son and Fort Fisher. and reach the
bIockading fleet beyond the bar. Per-
haps when they heard his story they
would take pity and send him north,
when he might resume his search. He
had crossed the river by the Market ST,
ferry and was passing through the
cotton yard, where several blockade
inner were loading their outward
cargOes, when a new idea came to
him; why could he not go as a stew
ard on a steamer, and, with his wages,
reach the north by way of the West
Indies. With deferential humility he
approached the captain of q steamer,
which shall be nameless. He was not
an American, neither was ne a man in
the sense of the noblest work of God;
he was the embodiment of a personal
devil; ne laughted the old man to
scOrn; he had carried away. on pre-
viOus voyages runaway niggers, who
he said, had slowed away, and had
been obliged to pay for them on his
return; the next one he caught at sea
on board his ship wOuld wish he had
never been born; he didn't need a
steward, and he did not doubt his tale
Of the young master was a lie. AS the
poor man turned away he was drawn
aside by a kindly steward who had
overheard the conversation, and, after
much discussion and apprehension,
he agreed to arrange a secret passage
to Bermuda. That night he was stow
ed away, where it was hoped that the
cruel process of fumigatiOn for the
discovery of fugitive slaves and de-
serters from the army, then in vogue,
before sailing, would not reach him.
Cramped by the narrow space which
forbade lying down, and deathly sea-
sick, on the third night he crawled
out for fresh air, was detected and
seized by a passing sailor and reported
to the captain. Infatuated by his rec
OgnitiOn Of the stoWaway, he actually
stopped the ship and set the poor
wretch adrift in a leaky boat, without
oars or food, or water. 1t was on the
second night after that ne heard the
mysterious bell and shrieked aloud for
deliverance.
Although these qualities were not a
common possession, this remarkable
instance of a slaves devotion to his
owner, was not exceptional. There
were hundreds and perhaps thousands
of such examples, especially on the
part of those whose duties were of a
domestic nature. 1t was not the evOlu-
ton of gentle traits of character, for
this mans grandfather had lived and
died a savage in the wilds of Africa.
1t was the result of daily contact with
refined and kindly peope whom he
served, whose characteristic urbanity
was unconsciousy initiated, and whose
consideration for others, which con-
stitutes true politeness, was reflected
in their servitor's devotion.
l. AoSC q POAl0AOACl at tOu W11O IL
"a years of age. He was the personal
servant in his youth of DIR. Porcher,
of Charleston. He is as polite as a
cultivated Frenchman might be, but
he is sincere in speech. He can tell
you in polished language, and with be-
coming Difference, of the grand people
OF the exclusive set of Charleston of
long years ago, and his sOlicitude for
your health and for that Of everyone
connected with you whom he has
never heard of is shown in expressions
Of old-time gentility, but he belongs
to a class that is passing away.
[ have up to this time refrained from
mentioning the fact that We had on
board las passengers, three important
personages Of the old navy, whose
duty, as they saw it, impelled them to
resign their commissions in a service
which was dear to them, and cast
in their lot for veal or voc with the
fortunes of their native state which
had seeded from the union. They had
served with distinction afoat and
around the world upon a noted con- |
federate vessel, and they were
under orders to report to Secretary
Malloy at Richmond. At the time Of
which [ write there were in Nassau
and in Bermuda certain spies said to
have been in the pay OF the federal
and they socetimes sue |
ceeded in passing themselves, dis
guised and under assumed names, as |
sailors and fremen, but more fire. |
quently as stewards on the blockade !
runners who were not careful enough |
in the selection OF their crew. By |
this means much valuable information |
was communicated to the authorities |
at Washington, and the mysterious
loss Of several fine blockade runner
was attributed to the seditious in
f1uence of such persons in time Of
peril. There were also in each of our
foro;o, Dor+c IF Tof.,ro q for foro+;oc i