The Black Man: His Antecedents, His Genius, and His AchievementsBrown, William Wells
History
The Black Man: His Antecedents, His Genius, and His Achievements
Brown, William Wells
African Americans -- Biography
In the other cabin, among the slave women, was one whose beauty at once
attracted attention. Though not tall, she yet had a majestic figure.
Her well-moulded shoulders, prominent bust, black hair which hung in
ringlets, mild blue eyes, finely-chiselled mouth, with a splendid
set of teeth, a turned and well-rounded chin, skin marbled with the
animation of life, and veined by blood given to her by her master,
she stood as the representative of two races. With only one eighth of
African, she was what is called at the south an "octoroon." It was said
that her grandfather had served his country in the revolutionary war,
as well as in both houses of Congress. This was Susan, the wife of
Madison. Few slaves, even among the best used house servants, had so
good an opportunity to gain general information as she. Accustomed to
travel with her mistress, Susan had often been to Richmond, Norfolk,
White Sulphur Springs, and other places of resort for the aristocracy
of the Old Dominion. Her language was far more correct than most slaves
in her position. Susan was as devoted to Madison as she was beautiful
and accomplished.
After the arrest of her husband, and his confinement in Richmond
jail, it was suspected that Susan had long been in possession of the
knowledge of his whereabouts when in Canada, and knew of his being in
the neighborhood; and for this crime it was resolved that she should be
sold and sent off to a southern plantation, where all hope of escape
would be at an end. Each was not aware that the other was on board the
Creole, for Madison and Susan were taken to their respective cabins at
different times. On the ninth day out, the Creole encountered a rough
sea, and most of the slaves were sick, and therefore were not watched
with that vigilance that they had been since she first sailed. This
was the time for Madison and his accomplices to work, and nobly did
they perform their duty. Night came on; the first watch had just been
summoned, the wind blowing high, when Madison succeeded in reaching
the quarter deck, followed by eighteen others, all of whom sprang
to different parts of the vessel, seizing whatever they could wield
as weapons. The crew were nearly all on deck. Captain Enson and Mr.
Merritt, the first mate, were standing together, while Hewell was
seated on the companion smoking a cigar. The appearance of the slaves
all at once, and the loud voice and commanding attitude of their
leader, so completely surprised the whites, that--
"They spake not a word;
But, like dumb statues, or breathless stones,
Stared at each other, and looked deadly pale."
The officers were all armed; but so swift were the motions of Madison
that they had nearly lost command of the vessel before they attempted
to use their weapons.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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