The Colorado statesman. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1895-1961, 1915-05-01
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Gen Bob" Smalls who died recent
ly at his home in Beaufort, s. c., was
one of the richest and most noted Ne
groes of his time Born in Beaufort
in 1889, slave. he spent his early
boyhood on the river and was made
pilot of the Confederate gunboat
Planter, which was used as dispatch
boat by the post commander of
Charleston. Under cover of darkness
one night in 1862. when all the white
officers of the boat were ashore, Smalls
took her out under the Confederate
guns and delivered her and her crew
of eight men over to the Union au-
thorities
He was well rewarded for this serv-
ice and made a pilot in the navy. He
was serving in that capacity on the
monitor Keokuk when the vessel was
struck SO times in the attack on Fort
Sumter on April Z, 1868, sinking the
next morning just after the crew had
been taken off.
Another story of his GOODNESS under
fire is related of Smalls in connection
with the Planter. He was on her deck
on one occasion when she was running
a gantlet of fire from the Confeder-
ate batteries, but another man was in
charge of her as pilot. Suddenly this
mans nerve broke completely, and he
left the wheel and hid in the coal
bunkers. For a few moments the
Planter was without a pilot. Then
Smalls realized what had happened,
t,lNr s,,f2 ~ III
brought the boat through successfully.
At the close of the war bill was
introduced into congress to make him
4 captain on the retired list, but the
bill was tabled on the ground that no
civilian had been made an officer on
he retired list for services rendered,
and that it would create a bad pre-
cedent.
Although absolutely poor and illit-
crate when he first arrived in the
Union lines, Smalls was both shrewd
and courageous in facing big risks
His sudden wealth did not spoil him.
He boarded it until he saw a good
chance for investment in buying up
the rich farm lands which we're going
lnder the hammer to meet unpaid
iaxes. His title to these lands was
challenged, but a decision of the SUI
preme court proved his claim to them.
Smalls soon entered politics. First
he was in the state legislature, and
then served several terms in congress.
While there he once got into trouble,
and it was a white senator from South
Carolina, representing some of the
bluest blood of the state, who helped
him out of the difficulty.
A state law in South Carolina made
it a penal offense for legislator to
accept reward for voting in certain
way for any legislation. While mem
Der OF the legislature. Smalls was guilty
of breaking this law in the case of
one bill. His political enemies found
it out and arrested him on the charge.
This happened just when he was go
ing to take his. seat in congress as a
representative from South Carolina.
He secured bail. proceeded immedi-
ately to Washington, and then claimed
exemption from the charge in the
state courts on the ground that he
was a member of the federal legisla-
ture. This claim was not allowed,
however, and had it not been for the
help of the South Carolina senator,
who, by the way. held the conven-
tional southern views as to the status
Of Negroes, Smalls' political career
might have come to a sudden close.
Although he never mentioned the in
cident in any of his photographed
writings, it is said that he never de-