The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1913-10-30

the workman SeCClOn anu cdfnpeQ
while we were building the bridges.
Among the hands we took up there
with US was an old darkey by the
name of Flander, who was once a
slave and was owned by DR. D E
Evans. Just after the emancipa-
ton of the slaves in the South all
were led to believe by the carpet
bagger that the Republican politi-
clan would soon give all the freed
men forty acres and a mule and
many of them held to that belief for
forty years. About that time times
were quite hard with the freed men
and freed women. They were quite
often on the 20 from one place to
another, rain or shine, to hear the
great promises of the carpet bag
gers, but many of them had to
work hard. Money was scarce with
the white people, who were not able
to pay high wages, and ,as | said, old
Flander was helping US to build the
bridges at Muldrow's crossing. He
was a good hand and quite strong,
although he had hand with OILY
one finger, but he was hard to beat
with an ak, lifting with hand spike
or even picking cotton, and was also
a great wrestler. Flander had a large
family and worked hard to support
them, still looking for the mule and
the forty acres, though. The wealth
er was quite hot while we were
building the bridges and on a GER
tain day l had Flander in the mud
and water almost to his neck plac-
ing the piling under the bridge. 1t
was heavy work and the old fellow
would do his best, not sparing his
strength while at work. He had
been tugging at heavy lightwood
post until he was almost out of
breath. Although he was in deep
water l could see the sweat running
down his face and off his bald head.
l was standing on the embankment
above him trying to direct in a way
to help him. At last he cast woe
full look up at me and exclaimed.
my God, Boss. po man hab hahd
time in dis wull." But poor Flan-
der worked for me long afterwards.
Just below the crossing few miles
is Shaw's lake, noted place for
Yarmouth fish in the spring. l will
skip over from there to Home lake,
a distance of several miles, as that
part is nothing more than a dismal
swamp. The branches of the different
runs come together and make Home
lake a fine fishing place. Many
people from Sumter and the sur
rounding country camp and fish
there during the Yarmouth season
from April until some time in May.
Home lake is about IL mile above
what is called the head Of naviga-
ton where the Bull savannah road
crosses Black river swamp into the
fork, a near way to Manning from
the Workman section, and passes the
place my old friend, Josiah Fleming,
of poetical fame, once lived. Poor
old 'Siah and his wife, Aunt" Eliza.
are long gone hence. Their sons were:
Joe, Eli, John, Ben, Harvey and one
they called Governor. The daugh.
ters were: Norah. Betsy and Sarah.
All are gone save one, Sarah. When
l was young and before | was
grown Sarah made the most Of the
clothes l wore, did all the mending
and knitted my socks. They we're
all very poor people but thought a
great deal of Conrad" Betsy had a
little dog which she named for me.
So my friends can see that | was
honored and loved even when was
young. The family had another
dog. think his name was Rover.
Aunt" Eliza was plain old timer
and if anyone angered her would
curse you blue. was passing
there one day and heard her going at
a pretty high rate, so enquired of
her what was the matter. Why"
said she, the hogs got into the
watermelon patch and l called for
the dog, here Rover, here Rover,
here Conrad, and devil son of a
b of dog would come" Poor
Sarah, she isstill alive. heard from
her a few weeks ago and she inquir.
ed of Charlie Epps about me.
Charlie said, "A very old woman
asked about you and said she want
ed to see Conrad once more"
think must 60 and see the old
friend.
Now a little more about Black
river. left off at the head of nay.
igation, called so as the Govern.
ment had the river cleared for pole