The Narrative of William W. Brown, a Fugitive Slave | Page 4

found no consolation but in my tears. It was not yet daylight.

CHAPTER II.
My master being a political demagogue, soon found those who were
ready to put him into office, for the favors he could render them; and a
few years after his arrival in Missouri, he was elected to a seat in the
Legislature. In his absence from home, everything was left in charge of
Mr. Cook, the overseer, and he soon became more tyrannical and cruel.
Among the slaves on the plantation, was one by the name of Randall.
He was a man about six feet high, and well-proportioned, and known as
a man of great strength and power. He was considered the most
valuable and able-bodied slave on the plantation; but no matter how
good or useful a slave may be, he seldom escapes the lash. But it was
not so with Randall. He had been on the plantation since my earliest
recollection, and I had never known of his being flogged. No thanks
were due to the master or overseer for this. I have often heard him
declare, that no white man should ever whip him--that he would die
first.
Cook, from the time that he came upon the plantation, had frequently
declared, that he could and would flog any nigger that was put into the
field to work under him. My master had repeatedly told him not to
attempt to whip Randall, but he was determined to try it. As soon as he
was left sole dictator, he thought the time had come to put his threats
into execution. He soon began to find fault with Randall, and
threatened to whip him, if he did not do better. One day he gave him a
very hard task,--more than he could possibly do; and at night, the task
not being performed, he told Randall that he should remember him the
next morning. On the following morning, after the hands had taken
breakfast, Cook called out to Randall, and told him that he intended to
whip him, and ordered him to cross his hands and be tied. Randall
asked why he wished to whip him. He answered, because he had not

finished his task the day before. Randall said that the task was too great,
or he should have done it. Cook said it made no difference,--he should
whip him. Randall stood silent for a moment, and then said, "Mr. Cook,
I have always tried to please you since you have been on the plantation,
and I find you are determined not to be satisfied with my work, let me
do as well as I may. No man has laid hands on me, to whip me, for the
last ten years, and I have long since come to the conclusion not to be
whipped by any man living." Cook, finding by Randall's determined
look and gestures, that he would resist, called three of the hands from
their work, and commanded them to seize Randall, and tie him. The
hands stood still;--they knew Randall--and they also knew him to be a
powerful man, and were afraid to grapple with him. As soon as Cook
had ordered the men to seize him, Randall turned to them, and
said--"Boys, you all know me; you know that I can handle any three of
you, and the man that lays hands on me shall die. This white man can't
whip me himself, and therefore he has called you to help him." The
overseer was unable to prevail upon them to seize and secure Randall,
and finally ordered them all to go to their work together.
Nothing was said to Randall by the overseer, for more than a week.
One morning, however, while the hands were at work in the field, he
came into it, accompanied by three friends of his, Thompson,
Woodbridge and Jones. They came up to where Randall was at work,
and Cook ordered him to leave his work, and go with them to the barn.
He refused to go; whereupon he was attacked by the overseer and his
companions, when he turned upon them, and laid them, one after
another, prostrate on the ground. Woodbridge drew out his pistol, and
fired at him, and brought him to the ground by a pistol ball. The others
rushed upon him with their clubs, and beat him over the head and face,
until they succeeded in tying him. He was then taken to the barn, and
tied to a beam. Cook gave him over one hundred lashes with a heavy
cowhide, had him washed with salt and water, and left him tied during
the day. The next day he was untied, and taken to a blacksmith's shop,
and had a ball and chain attached to his leg. He was compelled to