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		I1LSLAV~~ 8T~DRIES	Page One
	~	  (Texas)		dl


~E~N SIMPSON, 90, was born in Norcroae~ Georgia, a slave cf~ the Stielazen family. He had a cruel lna8ter, and. was afraid to tell the truth about his life as a slave, unt il assured that no harm ~0uld come to hin. Ben now lives in ILadisonville, Texas, and receives a small old age pension.




	ttBoss, 11c3 born in G~eorgia, iii Noreross, and I~s ninety years old. My father‘s name was Roger St‘ielszen and toy mother‘s name was Betty. Massa F~arl Stielszen captures them in Africa and brung them to Georgia. He got kilt and my sister and me went to his son. His son was a killer. Re ~ot in trouble there in Georgia ~nd~ got him two good~stepping hosses and. the covered wagon. Then he chains all he slaves rouiid the necks and fastens the chains to the hosses and makes them walk all the way to Texas. My mother and my sister had. to walk. Emma was my sister. S~inewhere on the road it went to snowin‘ and. massa wouldn‘t let us wrap saything round our feet. ~1e had to sleep on the around, too, In all that snow.

	“Mas sa have a great ‚ long whip plat t ed out of rawhide and when one the niggers fall behind or give out, he hit him with that whip. It take the hide every time he hit a nigger. Mother, she give out on the way, ‘bait the line of Texas. Her feet got raw and bleedin‘ and her legs swol]. plumb out of shape. Then massa, he jus ‚ take out he gun and shot her, and whilst she lay dyin‘ he kicks her two, three times and. say, ‘Damn a nigger what can‘t stand nothin‘.‘ Boss, you know that man, he wouldn‘t bury mother, jus‘ leave her layin‘ where he shot her at. Tau know, then there ~ no law against kiUifl~ nig~~er slaves.
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