St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 56

SUNDAY ST- LO IT I POST'DISPATQH-SEFTEMBER 2u. 1903. It fl if i JBil mmw 3 .1 couple efwomr 11 raSTTBH SCARFP OFF teNEGQ Willi! fill ttlll II 1 5 ili: I II 1 Mill VN.7XJf i i 'ivw i lis wmvkxwr "IT 4X 1 i 0 7a A- ft 9 JV (oo ds to Negroes look Sertoli sly an get out of it. They left their occupations, the school was closed and they left for other Missouri counties and for Arkansas, where they hoped to find an asylum free from the menace of anonymous letters. One of the letters was received by George Shaw, an old ex-slave.

He did not take it seriously himself, and refused to join all the exodus, but all the rest, as soon as they were made aware of the contents of the letter he had received, made their preparations without delay to get out of "Coontown" and leave West Plains forever. Announcement That ey Would Be Killed and Their Children Sold Into Slavery and Left Their Possessions Behind ill Their Hasty De parture From Their Homes. clared. Judge Olden put the blacks'at work clearing laid. The Olden fruit farm, the largest in the world, wa cleared and set in peach tree by these former slave.

George Shaw wa one of the negroes brought her? ly Judge Olden. In 1895 George went to Williford, tu work in a lock quarry for Edward Hely, who furnislrd a'l the stone foi the Mississippi river bridge piers at One morning a blast which George had set fail 1 Gt explode. took a drill and while attempting to uaw the shot it went off. negroes standing wru mortally wounded, one of them being George's son. But George got well.

One eye is destroyed iind'tV other almost sightless. In his breatt nd cheeks seal stones were buried in the flesh. The skin grew over theTii4 and they did not bother George nor prevent him from doin a big day's work. President Roosevelt's race suicide theory docs not to George Shaw. Four children have come to bles George's home in the last five years, the youngest bciiv but two months old.

George's wife has a history that is almost as interesting her husband's. She is a half-breed Indian. Her father, Stephen White, was a Creek Indian who owned lve and had a plantation on the Cumberland river in Tennessee. Man- White, the mother of George Shaw's wife, weighs pound. She has resided here many years.

Last winter she took the smallpox and the city authorities quarantined her in her cabin. She had little attention and one cold night her feet were fron. Amputation ws necessary and the surgeons cut off both feet. She survived the shock, but is still confined to her bed. "Ah put ma axe under de bed last night an' tells ma little chillen dat nobody's gwine ter harm us," said George the day following the exodus of the other negroes.

Rut scarcely a dozen remain and these have arms near them all the time. Some of them have asked the authorities to call out a detail of Company Second regiment, Missouri National Guard, to keep away the mob that they still think may come. Walter May and Will Shaw, the negroes who prompted the threatening acts of violence, were released bv th authorities from the chain gang and given hours to leavt town. Thoma has a wife and seven small children. Shaw is a boy who recently completed a sentence in prison for taking funds from a money drawer in the local wbili? performing the duties of janitor.

There are few negroes in South Missouri. Oregon Co inty citizens nil! not tolerate a negro in that county. Nona are found in Texas County and Shannon Court hn blacks. Only two negnws rcid in County. "Aunt" Ann and "Cncle" Andy.

fore the wsr lh.r were brought to Oark County by ncle" Jim pre fn.in Tennessee. They were s'axes then and after gainin: if freedom they settled on a homestead near their tier mater. O'd Andy has bei-onie totally blind and i Ann plows the field, cultivates the corn and 0.4 anil cares for her sightless In oilier. They reside on h' Fork, in the wildest portion of the Oaik WKST TWIN'S, Sept. Sj)ecial Correspondence of tae Sunday Post-Disoatch.

loons liastened to the.ir homes to quiet their fauSilies. Hod carriers on buildings in course of construction refused to continue climbing the ladder. Xegro cooks and their assistants at the hotels gave notice that they would leave as soon as the noon meal was served. "We'se calculatin' on gittin' out ob heah quick as we tr.e of them remarked. "Dar am er hoodoo 'bout an' 1'se gwine ter make tracks foh Arkansaw." All day long a continual stream of humanity, both black and white, passed to and from "Coontown" across the Frisco tracks to the business portion of the city.

It was a busy day for the second-hand dealers and draymen. The former bought goods for a song, while the latter reaped a harvest hauling trunks and furniture to the depots and downtown stores. Some of the blacks left thir furniture in their homes and took the first train, caring little where they went, just so they got far from West Plains. Others who had teams put a few goods on their wagon, gathered tip their children ami calling the dogs started southward to Arkansas to pick cotton. Kverything was sacrificed.

One negro sold three cows and calves for a trifle. Another deserted a growing corn crop of 40 acres. Carter Woodson, who has been a familiar figure on the streets of West Plains for 20 years, where he peddled leaf tobacco, lost no time in nailing up hi storage house and leaving on the first' train. The negro school, in chajge of Cora Moore, recently of Cairo, 111., closed on hearing the news. Mammies came and took their picaninnies home and even the teacher sought a place of retreat to await the first train going in the direction of Cairo.

Prof. L. L. I.omax, who taught the school last year, waited long enough to sell his household goods and draw his savings out of the bank. He went south on the first train.

But there was one negro who wouldn't leave. He laughed at thn inore superstitious ones that had declared "dey wuz scarder dan er rabbit an' wuz gwine ter run." This negro was George Shaw, who had received the last letter lo move. After passing through the experiences that have fallen to his lot it is no wonder that George proved a stayer on this particular occasion. George Shaw is SH years old. When a small he was captured in Africa and brought to the I'nited States with his grandfather and grandmother on a slave-trading vessel.

apt. Alec Shaw, a Georgia planter, bought George and his grandparent. George remained with (apt. Shaw 39 year. Twenty years ago R.

F. Olden, a pioneer of south Missouri, went to Mississippi and brought to West Plain on hi return a car of negroes. These were the first black who Monk up their residence here after freedom was de- 4k OOXTOWN," that portion of the "Gem City of the Ozarks" where the nejjro population of this, city have long resided, is now deserted. WO anonymous letters depopulated "Coontown" at West Plains, Mo. Where lately was a village of a hundred and fifty families birds and bats are the only occupants of the had seen the work done by "White Caps" and "Ku Klu.x" at other places and did not want to see a repetition of the horrible scenes.

lint the whites persuaded a majority of the negroes to remain. The excitement died out and "Coontown" regained its usual quietude. This serenity lasted scarcely a week. One morning fieorge Shaw, the sage of the colony, got a second warning through' the mails that accomplished the purpose intended in the first notice of evacuation. The second letter was in the s-ime handwriting as the first, and read: "West Plains, Sept.

4, 1903. "fieorge Sha "Please don't forget the notice that yott niggers received some time ago to leave this country by the first of September. Now George tell all of your darker friends that they want to be making preparations to leave this country because we mean for you trt go and you must do it. Remember there are 350 of us whites and we have got the rims and ammunition and the backlone to back what we say. Now George be sure and smead the news among your colored brothers and don't let the sun go down on you after the fourth of September in West Plains." "Yours in earnest." With in an hour after the general delivery clerk at postoffice had handed George Shaw the fatal letter, every inhabitant of "Coontown" knew it content.

Colored washwomen, who were rubbing the clothes of the whit! folks at the homes of the latter about town, quit their work, and "Missus" had to finish the job. Porter in sa Riuls chirp in the grave-like stillness where formerly laughter and soiift ehocd. Hut few of the K0 negro families who once resided here remain and these are hourly expecting the visit of an avenging nemesis. Three weeks ago Walter Thomas and Will Shaw, negroes chased two white girls for half a mile until they reached a house in the suburbs of this city. The negroes used abusive language and threw rocks at the girls, but cou'd not stop them in their flight.

Both of the negroes were arrested and upon leing convicted were given a year on the county roads, with an additional fine of each. This was the beginning of the trouble with the blacks which resulted in their exodus. The day following the trial of the negroes. Pony Thomas the wealthiest resident of the colony, received a letter through the mails that set every tongue in "Coontown" wagging. The letter read: "West Plains, Aug.

15, 'Ponv Thomas: -Nigger, take warning. You one and all must lw out of this country by September 4, or old ni'geis will be killed and their children sold as slaves. Yours in Several negroes took warning at once and left. They houses. The anonymous letters were sent through the mails to two of the leading negroes of the town.

They threatened that unless all the negroes left the town the adult3 would be killed and the children sold as slaves. Although it is not certain whether they emanated from an organized body of whites bent upon driving the negroes out of the conummity the negroes took the warnings seriously and by every means at their command they left the place as fast as they could, abandoning real and personal property. Panic stricken, their only thought was to get out of "Coontown To them the letters were a3 a doom spoken against the town and all that remained in it. and no sacrifice was too great to 4. MOW TO SUCCEED IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.

JuSl2ii 4 I ma 1 Mjelf Wt, jentertlar's Ten tboii-i. year own mat tney nave a8 many ll3ea, have conf( tJon, to yourself till the hour ir proportion. One reaaon why men waste these captains of busing. My young strike arrives, and then strike with all energy so pro, Igal ly is because their in- friend, it is simply because thev have not vour might. Play vour game like a lord.

In some men "rulrtier shoes; Fourth The fourth great quality in char- tense pursuit of their bu.iness make, them and constancy. In ago I catal- they call lose all sense of the proportion of th'ngs. ogued the qualities that make up character such men continue long, but they never acter, the iovellnsi ore in the list. 1 Intel- up character such men contir lt a man have the courage of Ms in relativ importance as follows, says the achieve hishly. Do not try to cultivate this lect.

Not that it is r.ol so valuable rs Philadelphia Evening Post: quality If nature has been so kind as not the but Iris a aburdant und. with- factories, and nt by Khuff! rg the rzi.iia of tride. II. grammar Is de.ee. i.e.

but ejementfil vltnl'ty do r.i'if I gisid hs a walk In the fresh air t' poisoned and ateamli atmoaphere of "How have I sucee ldt" re In anawee to a one y. "(ih. by having the nerve to dfc.da ufon rt an. im.l by hiring t'i l.ralr.y W'" to ill niv I run ,1, es ab Imyrr In to a ilty a a crumb of what I re-i ze f-m th an4 TVe s'-t uecrt hy. lr.

It Is will, thit re-ve. 'tin'," hirst: Sincerity, fidelity, the ability to be endow you with it. It Is not a mnsterriit out the others, so useless What true true to friends, true to Ideas, true to quality. Have the courage not only of your hear the str I hU'-stines say 'i ideals, true to the truth, true to your task convictions that is not hard but have the the mrk- -Trains are cheap;" Who shall deny that the martvrs Nero courage of your conceptions. The man will that Is what we hear them siv.

And they thought I repeit it. Courage is where we fail, not intellect. We hear much about Intellect, about "brains." aa the rather coara expression Is. ft Is not that which is needed; it Is courage. Knter into conversation the next time you are at the club or In a hotel or restaurant, or wherever you meet mirneT Old not experience joys in the con- never have a destiny worm conaioer.rs tru Many yearB Hrt brim suming uame more delicate and sweet than who is not wiping 10 pui mar.

r- InlsllAhml llOnfttltV almnet BV fliiiUnir out one's limitations Is not nuiinl. of M)ure. what society Till! iu to do. or what men will Permit to do. Inn what nature will l-TTiit j-imi to do.

You have no other master tliei ti.itnro. Niiture's limitations only aie ih t'onn ls of your sui So far as your i eess 1 cotirenie.t no man. n. of 1. 11 sin letv.

not even all the world of humanity. Is vonr master, but nature Is. "i'-ieta r.Hi"i!"r lion fit" Is Just ns appllra-hle to lawvers and mechanics ami enKln.ers as to tnts. More failures, rtinr" imli iiti-n- ha In en caused by the old idoi that man may make himself what 'i will than uv any half-t rut li that his eiij.t Into our common speech and lii-T. A man nuiy himself what he win witli.i thu i.niitBtions nature has uismt him.

Having foind out what one can do. a man put himself to it and do it with is miKht There is nothing so Impoi rant for a man. a yiiuiift America. ts lik resolve not exhiust himself and physically. hataoev er I hy hand rlmietli to do It wtlh thy might." unit, See.t Ihmi a diligent la I.

Is RMflerve. also, memoes me power in wan. ever mrtiiea epicure or lover? quHtnted with one of the g-eit of America, who has become such by by rclslt.g cattle, by ererdg will say to me. Yes. but I will answer In the language K.

le.iiastes. "To every thiiiR there is a season and tim to every purpose under the heaven. Take stated vacations. ,1 should advise every young man. who expects to run a long race, to resolve, after he has gotten himself established, that he will take two months" period of absolut vacation every year.

Let him make th' part of his biMtneaa just as he makes sleeping a part of business every day. What matter tf another lawyer gets the case that would have come to you. or another real esti.te denier yeenres the corner lot on which yesi hive had vonr 'e. or another opemtor makes th provable deal which would Imve given you fame and fortune? You have secured and preserved that which they most prolmbly have lost. Yfiu have mad.

an Investment in youth- You have purchased power. You have taken stock in length of years. You have equipped jour-se'f with new nerves, a rested heart, a refreshed brain, a hearty stomach unit a swi- mt-d In a sound And you have dine tl.an all IM; vmi have rerred jour yerspecliv ou hava correclrU jour nny suDjeci ou in ou will it- Second land firsts and that ia almost as crucial a tet of Godlike n.ualiry that dreads not- t), i.n- a. courage itself. Many a Lattle btnazed at the Information, the onsinal thought, the keen analysis.

en the. constructive Ideas of most of th- men there. ADVERTISEItlENT. anal.viable thing in man that mukes him bas been lost l' There was execute his cone ption. no matter how In- the greatness Fate in the order of One of the moM fertile minds I have ever UR( cn aha urd It may appear to others if the American fleer of the Revolution, who GRAY HMl.rtli?IUritiJ known is nothing but unsuccessful law-er In a country town: yet his Intellect is It appsars rational to him.

and then stride said. "Walt. men. until you see the whites ahead to his next great d-ed. regardless of of ir eves." Time is undoubtedly man's as tropical and as Accurate, too.

as wai th gooslps. JTfe. by wALNUTTA tiiic i -ti in greate-t allv. nai is jouin noiuH m-j whip hand the world. Thatlswh; youth Napoleon's or Gould's.

How Is it that all Thinl the power to hold ones bMir i-'m. a at- ie- i uiuti.iH 4 earn lliene no m-- -i iinri III Check. SS a general disposes his can aT'r'l to nf. wsuul Utlilrt. to which tneir mer thinking entitles them? army in an engagement In which the fate in.

i. irr i H. bUi Tel S7f I say to which li'uii lvlt It is ais. wn to dare. illi vi.i.th.

tool' tmw Is n.er. i. B-ion of powei. but with wlin egc. a Omi SlS.

me empire or the world may depend will put them beside Th's power of reserve Involves' enee affairs ou wiU find Talk all ou pleas, but keey i0ur larg- them, bcaue 111 tiik rwinr litimvti ove if wi-. T. i.oii, ho, St. AAJiUl. foi i oil.