The Colorado statesman., 1912-04-27


sible, not to breathe"
AN ATLANTA CASE
The recent death, and the circum-
stances attending .hereunto, of Julia
Grimes in this city, can be very ap-
propriately mentioned in connection
with the above. Julia was the wife
of Cornelius Grimes, faithful en-
ploye of the Atlanta postoffice, and
was very much respected by numerous
white people of Atlanta. In fact, over
her remains, at her house before the
burial, and at the funeral ceremonies
in the church, numerous ladies', some
of very high social standing, wept pro-
fusely over the sad event 1t is said
of her that she probably had more
white friends than any one occupying
her position in the city. Those who
knew her say she attempted on all
occasions to do what was right. She
was tie daughter of an ante-bellum
slave, trained as a house servant by
her own mistress. The family resided
In North Georgia, and when Sherman's
army went from Dalton on its famous
raid through Georgia, they left home,
fleeing to South Georgia. They put in
the hands of this faithful servant and
her sister household valuables consist
ing of jewelry, glass and chinaware;
in fact all such articles as were, in
those good old times, necessary for
the comfort and pleasure of the we'll
to-do Georgia family were placed in
the care and protection of these faith
full servants. The family instructed
Nh~,, -. IL. IL.
and save them from the Yankees, if
sible." AS Sherman approached
their place of residence these servants
filled up an old-fashioned white-top
cupboard two-horse wagon and start
ed south. AS they neared Kingston,
in Barlow county, the thought oc-
Cured to them to seek safety in the
Barlow Saltpeter cave. This cave had
been the recess from which hundreds
of thousands of saltpeter, for gun
powder purposes, had been made
for the Confederacy. Here they found
cooking utensils of all kinds. They
appropriated to their own use as many
of these pots and ovens and skillets
as they needed and took refuge in
the Saltpeter cave. Carrying with
|
not hid out" but hid in," for over
two weeks. During all this time not a
soul of the outside world knew where
they were with their mistresses' house
hold valuables
AS soon as thought safe, they
emerged from their darkness and
made their way back, carrying with
them every single article entrusted to
their keeping. The white family were
not only joyful at their return, but
were very much surprised, and for
this fidelity, the former slaves were
suitably rewarded, not only during
slavery, but for many years after be-
ing declared free, they lived with
their former "Marster and Mistiss,"
enjoying the confidence and love OF
each other.
This brings to mind the following
extract from The Augusta Chronicle:
ATLANTA CITIZENS HONOR OLD
ANTE-BELLUM NEGRO.
Atlanta, Ga, Feb 23.-With bowed
heads and fearful eyes, dozen prom
inent white people attended the fu-
neral of William Harrison, an old ante
bellum negro, here today Excepting
the undertaken, not a member of the
old mans race was present. Every
thing pertaining to the rites of burial
was looked after by his white friends.
William, who was better known as
Crump, belonged to the Harrison fam
lily of Stewart county. He was born
in Virginia, but when a mere boy be-
came the property of Mrs. Burrough
K. Harrison, being a gift from her
father. He grew to manhood a slave.
and in boyhood was the companion OF
Captain Tip Harrison and all the 9TH
er Harrison boys.
The war came and all the Harri-
son boys went to the front. Mrs. Har-
rison, then a widow, was left at home
alone with girls-and Crump. But in
the latter she found protector as
true and faithful as any knight OF old.
Visions of freedom weakened not his
fidelity. and he toiled by day to pro
vide sustenance for his mistress and
her children and by night was ready
TO defend them with his life.
Then freedom came, but not to
Crump. He remained and continued
through life a Harrison, virtually as
much a slave as he had ever been. |
| Ante-bellum ties We're never broken, |
though nominally he was a free man. |
Then passing years brought old
age and decreptitude. Crump's chill
dren wandered off, and two years ago
he became a semi-invalid. But he es-
capped becoming an object OF charity. |
His white folks We're left, and all he
had to do was to come home
The Harrisons had moved to At
lanta, but at the home of Mrs NJ. H. |
Harrison, one of the daughters. the |
aged negro found a welcome refuge |
There he lived. almost as one OF the
family, the hands of southern genunty
administering to his every need All |