Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1921-02-24
soUTHERNER AND AMERICAN

The men OF this stratum. starting
from small things, accustomed &c
small needs. and free from the ham
pering influences or tradition were
slowly BAT surely accommodating Inc
property of the country, as they had
already appropriated the greater pars
of the business, and were gradually
forging ahead. while their old social
and intellectual Supporters were drift
ing or falling behind on the sea OF
life. They we're men who both knew
how TO and were willing TO work; but,
from the very nature OF their origin,
and the paucity OF their education AMI
social training, they were men OF
small things and ideas, and little fit
ted for starting new enterprises, or
entering into transactions OF a larger
nature requiring risks and dsrfng.
Had tho bulk OF such wealth as re-
manned in the country been with the
old time leaders, the task OF awaken
ing the people had been much easier.
For, though still dormant, there was
in many OF them yet the spirit OF
daring and enterprise that had con-
Quered the savage country in the days
Of old, and that had led and shaped
the destinies of the Nation from it's
foundation until the upheavai of the
Civil War. Once awake them, stir
their pride and they would lead again
as valiantly as in the days Of yore!
AS to Alabama, all my first efforts
met with skepticism and Indifference
rather than interest, and it was only
by dint OF porsistency and infinite pa
thence, combined with happy Incl
dcnt-that had almost proved my ut
ter disgrace and ruin in the com
munity-that finally secured the
necessary capital for our first modest
start.
.The incident referred TO was this;
A child had been murdered not far
from town. and the indications were
that the murder had been exception
ally brutal A negro. who had hither-
to borne an excellent reputation, had
been arrested for the crime on cir
curnstantial evidence, and lodged in
tho county jail. During the afternoon
Of the day of the arrest, had met the
sheriff an old ex-Confederate soldier
named Hank Johnson, and most ex-
cellent officer-on the street, and he
had told me that he feared there
.....,l.4 L. -, go 49, ~ ,,,.do lo4nH IN fht
evening to lynch tho man. as feeling
among the men about town was very
high and bitter. He went on to say
that while the man had to be arrested
on the evidence, he himself believed
him innocent: and that he wished to
remove him into the next county un-
Til the excitement was quoted, and a
fair inquiry could be held. To at
tempt to remove him in daylight, he
continued, would mean sure death &c
the prisoner, if not to himself, as he
intended TO defend his man to the last
in case OF any attack. He ended By
telling me that he would remove him
as soon as darkness fell, and asked
mo If would assist him, as In the
prevalent state of feeling in the COM
munity, he knew of no one on whom
he could rely. My old college study
of the Constitution, with its eternal
teachings OF law and right, came back
to me, and / told him that he could
count upon my help.
At dusk repaired to the jail, arm
ed with two good navy reyolyers. and
found the sheriff ready, with every
thing prepared for the flight. AS soon
as it was full dark. We slipped out OF
the side door of the Jail with the
trembling negro between us, fnutter-
ing all the time. go Cord didn't do
hit '.Fo' Cord / didn't done do hit,
over and over again, We made our way
without attracting any attention, or
hearing any ccmmotion, to place or
the outskirts of the town, where the
sheriff had had three good horses
brought by a trusty negro; and
mounting quickly galloped of with
the comforting feeling that We ran no
risks after all This comfortable
feeling lasted about half an hour,
when the quick ear of the sherifl
caught the sound OF horses hoofs or
the road behind ms.
I'VE are followed and may not gel
of SO easily after all, Mr.. Hamilton,
he said quietly; and this damned
niger is TOO skeered to ride we'll.
And then to tho negro he added saw
agely, Brace up dern you! and rids
Tor your life!"
The negro did brace, and we a..
rode; but the puFsHers seemed to gam
on as all the time.
"How in hell do you reckon they
got on our tracks SD soon? I tool
this road cause I thought they would
follow on the direct road to Russle
town il they got after US. = he sail
after q few minutes more of EarC
riding.
Il don't know" answered. unless
mob can smell a negro they are af
ter for four or Ave miles,
How they did get On our trail 81
promptly, | never did learn: bat /
I -,