Blake or The Huts of America

by Martin R. Delany

  CHAPTER 73

  Increased Alarm

  On the evening of “King’s Day” the disaffected whites sought by device to aggravate a tendency to insubordination of the blacks, hoping thereby to destroy confidence in them and turn the suspicions and rigor of the Captain General from themselves to the Negroes.

  To accomplish their designs, no act however derogatory to manhood and justice, equity and honor, was too atrocious for them to perpetrate.

  During the African ball this evening, a party of the rebels called at a restaurateur, where getting among them a stupid, demented slave whom for hours they kept stimulated with spirits, then aroused to a state of intense excitement by dreadful tales of horror, they placed him in a close carriage, had him taken to the door of the hall in which the ball was held, and when at the height of their amusement he was ushered into the hall crying, “Blood, blood, blood! Rise, Negroes, rise!” when being soon forced out he continued thus to scream in the street.

  Soon was the city in the greatest consternation; the streets in a few minutes filled with troops, and the National Guards were seen in every direction. The sound of the bugle, rattling and ringing of arms, hasty dashing forth and back of expert horsemen, made the scene one of portentous warning.

  The frantic black was shot as he ran through the street; fell bleeding, and arrested, the ball immediately surrounded, the inmates arrested and confined in Moro Castle. Arrests were continued during the night, with reports the most extravagant. And although the free black and colored inhabitants were generally safe in their own houses, but few enjoyed sleep that evening.

  Early next morning the sound of the reveille was heard and the troops hastening to their posts, while the city was alive with the excited inhabitants anxious to catch every word of passing gossip. The Captain General, ever on the alert and always suspicious of the dissatisfied rebellious American settlers, was early at his postdetermined, as was his wont in criminal transactions, to make summary work of the whole affair.

  The first step in the proceedings was to hear the story of the wounded black, shot by the gendarmes, wherein the Americans objected to the testimony of a Negro being taken before white men’s.

  This the Captain General declared was done in due deference to the Americans, that it might not be said that they had been disparaged by a Negro giving evidence against them. As no white man had yet testified, the Negro’s testimony was against none. He would, therefore, take the Negro’s first and theirs afterwards. There was nothing out of the usual course in those proceedings, except the order of taking the testimony, which gave them the advantage. Negroes in Cuba had the right of testimony; but a slave could not rebut the evidence of a freeman whatever his color, and all free persons in evidence, stood equal before the law.

  There had been nothing on the part of the Negroes done out of their usual course on the celebration of King’s Day. By all the evidence, even that of the gendarmes themselves, there was nothing to convict them of an overt act. But the testimony of the carriage driver and the wounded Negro implicated a number of white Americans as being conspirators assembled at the Hotel de Americana Norte for the purpose of getting up a “patriot” demonstration, by turning the attention of the authorities to the Negroes.

  “We’ll force the Captain General to terms whether he will or not. Can we but once get him at issue with the Negroes, his only dependence will be cut off, and if not they’ll be too feeble to be either formidable or dangerous,” said one.

  “The Negroes,” said another, “the only formidable enemy in the event of a patriot movement we should have to contend against, must be got out of the way. That can only be done successfully by getting the government down on them. This once effected, we are safe, as they will never again place confidence in those who once go against or deceive them.”

  “Never!” was the reply. “The Spaniards have taken great pains to prejudice them against us Americans by impressing them with the fear that should we be successful in taking the island they will not be allowed King’s Day, nor any of the privileges they now enjoy under Spanish rule.”

  “Then,” said a fourth, “the sooner the government is brought against them the better. Let it be done, by all and every means in our power, and I know of no more favorable time than this evening.”

  “Yes, this evening, by all means!” exclaimed a voice, “as we can’t tell what may take place against another King’s day. Let it be done at once, as we have a Negro in readiness to make the alarm.”

  “Come then and let us be at it!” exclaimed the crowd, rushing into the dining apartment where the black was confined.

  This the gendarmes testified that they heard, and following closely in their wake saw the slave put into the carriage, three of the Americans entering with him, drove to the doorway leading to the dancing hall, taken out by whites standing near the door, the three Americans remaining inside, when he rushed forth exclaiming the insurrectionary words.

  Instantly releasing the blacks from confinement and proclaiming the city again under martial law, the Captain General caused the arrest and imprisonment of every white in the least suspected of seditious designs. A “coup de main” upon the American hotel seriously implicated the proprietor and all the white inmates, resulting in a destruction of the establishment.

  But a short time was required to counteract the report of attempted insurrection of the blacks, which like a flash of light spread over the city. The report of their release from Moro Castle by order of his excellency the governor took the community by surprise, producing great dissatisfaction, but soon became reconciled in the security they enjoyed from the calamity of a servile Negro insurrection.

  Few people in the world lead such a life as the white inhabitants of Cuba, and those of the South now comprising the “Southern Confederacy of America.” A dreamy existence of the most fearful apprehensions, of dread, horror and dismay; suspicion and distrust, jealousy and envy continually pervade the community; and Havana, New Orleans, Charleston or Richmond may be thrown into consternation by an idle expression of the most trifling or ordinary ignorant black. A sleeping wake or waking sleep, a living death or tormented life is that of the Cuban and American slaveholder. For them there is no safety. A criminal in the midst of a powder bin with a red-hot pigot of iron in his hand, which he is compelled to hold and char the living flesh to save his life, or let it fall to relieve him from torture, and thereby incur instantaneous destruction, nor the inhabitants of a house on the brow of a volcano could not exist in greater torment than these most unhappy people.

  Of the two classes of these communities, the master and slave, the blacks have everything to hope for and nothing to fear, since let what may take place their redemption from bondage is inevitable. They must and will be free; whilst the whites have everything to fear and nothing to hope for, “God is just, and his justice will not sleep forever.”

  The general orders issued by the government were stringent, bearing directly and heavily upon all Americans resident or transient in the colonies. All who visited the island were required at quarantine to obtain from an officer a passport for landing, couched in Spanish, French and English. For this during the restrictions two Spanish dollars each were paid, ordinarily the price being only fifty cents Spanish, by which police regulation large sums were realized to the revenue on the arrival of every steamer, especially the California mails touching there, the passengers of which were generally curious to go on shore.

  The government continued its rigors, sparing none on account of age, position, or family; the high and low, rich and poor, all faring alike; consequently many were made to feel the force of the strong arm of the law: among whom were several connected with some of the first families of the United States.

  Thus, the expense to those who connived at the prerogatives of the Castilians, Spanish colonists, and Negroes was far greater than they had reckoned in their calculation; the first installment being paid under a pressure, it was reasonable to suppose that the full share
when demanded would be hard to meet.

  For the time it had the desired effect of checking the extravagant political experiments and military adventures in Cuba, the stock becoming depreciated, shares were rated far below par, so that the brigand jobbers were at a loss to meet the second installment of rebellions.

  For a time political brokers suspended operations in all of the conclave exchanges in the United States, whilst their marauding agents in Cuba repudiated not only the claims against them, but really denied their own identity. The concern proving a bankruptcy, ruined many more in the fall with themselves by the final execution of Lopez on the garrote with his many American followers.

  CHAPTER 74

  American Tyranny–Oppression of the Negroes

  The severe ordeal through which the rebel party had recently passed tended only to awaken in them against the blacks feelings of the bitterest resentment. Smarting as they were by the wound, still bleeding from the disappointment lately received under trying circumstances, they determined on taking a stand in which, could they not succeed in attaining political equality with the Castilians, at least would enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that they stood above the Negroes. This superiority, they were satisfied, was not to be attained by the elevation of themselves but by putting the Negroes down.

  For weeks subsequent to the evening of the last King’s Day, the blacks had to withstand the most trying difficulties. Every place of Public entertainment, saloon, hotel, coach, cabin passages or what not–the greater part of which being controlled by Americans–were closed against Negroes and mulattoes.

  On entering the public market, did a white but appear at a shamble or a stand, though the black was first, he must await the serving of the white, and at his or her bidding, stand back at a “respectful” distance; and on passing along the sidewalk, at the command of a white, every black man was compelled to uncover his head, and leave the pavement for the street. The rule applied to the sidewalks was afterwards restricted upon both sexes. On entering shops and storehouses their hats had always to be raised, and females on entering such places were subject to the coarsest of treatment.

  Every day brought to the ears of the unhappy blacks fresh news of some new outrage, but as yet this had not been extended to the better class among them. They were doomed, however, to enjoy but a short respite of this kind, as one evening the whole population was thrown into a ferment of feverish consternation.

  Placido, in passing along one of the principal thoroughfares, stepped into a book dealer’s establishment, the proprietor of which was an American, formerly of Baltimore to whom the poet was, of course, unknown. He was known to have Negro blood; it was enough to know that he was a mulatto. “Take off your hat, sir,” abruptly ordered the bookseller.

  The surprise came so suddenly that the poet stopped short in front of the counter in a kind of gaze of bewilderment. Before he could recover himself the man had leaped over the counter, knocked off his hat, kicking it into the street and seized him by the collar of the coat. Though physically weaker, the poet grappled with him, until nearly exhausted he let go his grasp.

  As the dealer relinquished his hold, the sacred fire of Heaven which burnt divinely in the poet’s soul, blazing as fearfully from his eyes as a lightning flash from a thunder cloud, he gave him a look of godlike defiance.

  “Do you look so at me, you black villain! Insulted are you–angry, hey? I’ll please you!” The poet still said nothing, but kept his eye firmly fixed on him, terrible as wrath. “Look pleased, sir,” indignantly continued he, “look pleased, I say, laugh, I bid you; you black rascal, laugh!”* when dealing him a well aimed blow he sent the bard of Cuba staggering prostrate upon the pavement in the street.

  A respectably dressed white man passing at the moment, supposing the person to have stumbled and fell accidentally, ran quickly to his relief, but on observing him to be colored, although stunned and bleeding upon the earth, he hurriedly passed along without extending a finger of assistance.

  The wounded part immediately inflaming and swelling, became discolored and painful, accompanied with lightness of head and dimness of vision. Putting up his hand to the part, and feeling the extent of the cruel mutilation, the left molar bone being badly wounded, picking up his hat, with sacred eloquence in touching tones he exclaimed,

  How long, O gracious God! how long

  Shall power lord it over right?

  The feeble trampled by the strong

  Remain in Slavery’s gloomy night!

  When, walking feebly on, he turned into the first byway, lest, ere he reached his humble abode he might meet with other summary corporeal abuse, and the majesty of heaven again be compelled to yield before the mandate of hell.

  The divine aspirations escaping the poet’s lips reached his oppressor’s ears, and the wretch who with perfidy had just stricken him to the earth, was now touched with sympathy at the outrage perpetrated by his own hand.

  “Listen, listen!” admonished he. “He’s a praying! He must be a Negro preacher. I’m sorry I used him so badly. Ill try after this to be more careful. I knew several of them while doing business in Baltimore, and always found them good religious black men. They are good customers, always buying costly and large works on divinity, and other books whether or not they read them. They are indeed clever black fellows, and know their place. Which way did he go?” Going to the door he looked every way, but the sorrow-stricken poet was out of sight.

  On entering his study, where sat in waiting Blake, Montego, Antonio, Blacus, and Gofer Gondolier, the mutilated and crippled bard exclaimed:

  “At last has it come! At last has it come!” falling exhausted upon his couch.

  “Good heavens! Placido, what is the matter?” cried Blacus, to which there was no reply.

  “My God! What is the matter?” exclaimed Montego.

  “Enough’s the matter!” interposed Gondolier. “These devils of ‘patriots’ as they call themselves, have been murdering him as sure’s you’re born, just as they’ll do the whole of us if we don’t begin first.”

  “Gondolier, I’m surprised!” replied Montego. “And——”

  “So am I,” interrupted he. “General, pardon me–but I do hate them reptiles so!”

  “You are wrong, Gondolier. We should not ‘hate’ our fellow man, as God made us all,” admonished Montego.

  “I don’t care if he did, General; they hate us, an’ I’ll do them as they do us. They don’t care if God did make us: they don’t treat us any better on that account,” rejoined Gondolier.

  “They don’t all hate us; there are some good ones among them, as well as other people.”

  “Good ones, hey! I don’t know where you’d find them; I’m sure it wouldn’t be among the whites of Cuba. But we’re neglecting our murdered brother there, disputing about them serpents which the Scriptures told us long ago should have their heads mashed,” said Gondolier.

  “Never mind, he dozes now,” admonished Montego in a whisper, looking round at the couch where lay the bleeding poet.

  “We must know something more about this,” said Gondolier, “find out who these devils is that have been beating out his brains.”

  Justin Pampo, the black surgeon, was called in, who, on examination, pronounced a serious contusion of the cheek, with slight concussion of the brain. On recovering sufficiently to relate his grievances, a thrill of terror and almost irrepressible indignation were manifestly felt.

  “This is certainly a serious state of affairs; and that, too, without a medium of redress,” said the surgeon.

  “Yes,” replied Gondolier, “and we ought to by this time be able to redress our grievances. Some men are born to command and others to obey; and it is well that this is the case, else I might be a commander; and ef I was, I might command when orders should not be given.”

  “This is you failing, Gondolier,” said Montego; “and one good reason why you should not hold command. I want no better under-officer, as orders received would be strictly ex
ecuted.”

  “Yes, General, I know my ‘failing,’ and it’s useless to talk to me about ‘policy’ and nonsense when a bloodhound is tearing out my vitals. ‘Discretion’ at such a time. Give me a revolver, knife, club, brickbat, or anything with which to defend myself, and I’ll put a varment to flight. If a tiger, hyena, or any other wild beast should attack you, ought you to take its life immediately, or stop to argue the best method of getting rid of danger? ‘Self-preservation is nature’s first law’; an old truth my grandmammy taught me many years ago when a child sitting in the chimbly corner. I haven’t forgot it yet,” rejoined Gondolier starting from his seat toward the door.

  “I am now satisfied that we must do something,” concluded Montego.

  Placido was removed to the residence of Carmino, the architect and civil engineer, when a council of the seclusion was ordered to be held.

  The consternation succeeding the spread of this intelligence was indescrible. Females who heretofore held up their heads as ladies of the first rank in society, lost their personal pride and seemingly self-respect, and might thenceforth be seen with dejected spirits, downcast countenances, shying along, giving the entire sidewalk at the approach of every white, frequently going into the street. Men of position and means had also begun to lose their spirits, and children cowered at the sight of a white child.

  Among the restrictions in the new Negro laws, the blacks, without regard to age or sex, were compelled to salute all white children, by the appellation of “master” and “mistress.” Though the people generally despaired, their leaders were firm; and the maltreatment of one of the ablest and best men among them had well nigh cost the whites in exchange for the proud edifices of their extensive city, a smouldering heap of ruins. Succeeding this despair there was a reaction. A new vigor seemed ever to actuate, and a new impulse given to these faithful men and women determined to be free.