Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-04-26

hihition. 1t was only wonderful to me
that we were not made i'll by the
double effort not to laugh and. II pos
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, a faithful en-
ploye OF the Atlanta postotfce. 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 the 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
TODD Georgia family were placed in
the care and projection of these faith
full servants The family instructed
them to do the best with these things,
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 &C.
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 fou-d
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
them ample provisions, they remained,
not ibid out" but ibid 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, Ca, Feb. 23.-With bowed
heads and fearful eyes, a 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 mere boy be-
came the property Of Mrs. Burrough
K. Harrison, being 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.
1.-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 a 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.
"rhen freedom came, but not to
| Crump. He remained and continued
through life Harrison, virtually as
much a slave as he had ever been.
Ante-bellum ties were never broken.
| though nominally he was free man.
Then passing years brought old
age and decreptitude. Crump's chill
dren wandered of, and two years ago
he became a semi-invalid. But he es-
capped becoming an object OF charity.
His white folks were 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 tn daughters, the
aged negro found welcome refuge.
There he lived, almost as one OF the
family, the hands Of southern gentility
administ ering to his every need. All
that he needed was provided.
Then on yesterday, at the age of
sixty.nine, he died. And today all the
Harrisons, brothers, sisters, nephews
and. nteces. twelve in number, gath
cred about his bier. And the elder