A SCENE AT CHARLESTON. (FROM THE DAILY NEWS.)

Evening Post, Issue 155, 7 August 1865, Page 2

A SCENE AT CHARLESTON. (FROM THE DAILY NEWS.)

The negroes of Charleston have obtained permission of the authorities to celebrate their deliverance of slavery by the advance of General Sherman's army, observed Tuesday, 21st March, as a day of rejoicing. The designated place for assembling was at the Citadel Square, and at twelve o'clock, not only the place within the enclosure, but the streets on either side, were crowded with men, women, and children, all preparing to form themselves into a procession. At two o'clock the number of people thus assembled reached 4,000, and shortly after that hour the coloured marshals took their position in the line, and everything was ready for the start. First in the procession came the two coloured marshals on horseback, each wearing badges and rosettes of red, white, and blue. Then the black clergymen of the different churches, carrying open Bibles ; then an open car, drawn by four white horses, and tastefully adorned with national flags. In this car there were fifteen coloured girls dressed in white — to represent the recent fifteen Slave States. Each of them had a bouquet to present to General Saxton, after the speech which he was expected to deliver. A long procession of women followed the car. Then followed the children of the public schools — or part of them — and there were 1,800 in line at least. They sang during the entire length of the march — John Brown's body lies a mouldering in the grave ; His soul is marching on ! Glory I Glory ! Glory ! Hallelujah I Throughout the march they observed good order, and showed by their joyful countenances that they thoroughly appreciated the improved change which has been worked out for them. They only ceased to sing in order that they might cheer General Saxton, Colonel Woodford, various groups of Union officers or sailors, or one or two Northern friends whom they recognised as their friends. General Saxton and lady were in a carriage at one street where the procession passed, and Colonel Woodford and lady at another; and one continuous cheer greeted them, mingled with cheers for an officer who they supposed to be General Hatch. The coloured people knew all these officers as their friends. General Saxton is their favourite everywhere in the Department, and they have all learned that General Hatch and Colonel Woodford gave them equal rights in the public schools-^an

_ __ _ _ advantage which they prize next to freqp dom. They were followed by an organization of about fifty butchers, who carried knives at their sides, and in front of them ditplayed a good sized porker. Next in order came the Twenty- first Reigment, United States colored troops, LieutenantColonel Bennet commanding, preceded by a band. The regiment turned out in nearly full force, and presented a very fine appearance. The Tailors carrying shears as the emblem of their trade, and the Coopers with hoops in their hands, turned out in large force. After them came the firemen, thera being no less than ten organizations represented in the line. They were dressed in red shirts, with belts around their waists, and made an attractive feature in the procession. The various trade associations, including painters, blacksmiths, carpenters, wheel-wrights, barbers, and others, all came in regular order. The most original feature of the procession was a large cart, drawn by two dilapidated horses with the worst harness that could be got to hold out, which followed the trades. On this cart there was an auctioneer's block, and a black man, with a bell, representing a negroe trader, a red flag waving over his head ; recalling the days so near and yet so far off, when human beings were made merchandise of in South Carolina. This man had himself been bought and sold several times; and two women and a child who sat on a block had also been knocked down at public auction in Charleston. As the cart moved along, the mock auctioneer rang his bell and cried out, '• How much am I offered for this good cook ?" She is an 'xlent cook, gemmen.' She can make four kinds of mock turtle soup — from beef, fish, or fowls.' Who bids?" " 200's bid." "Two hundred?" "2005." " 250," " 300", "350," "400," "450,'" Who bids?' "Who bids 500?" And so he went on imitating in sport the infernal traffic of which many oi the spectators had been the living victims. Old women burst into tears as they saw this tableau, and forgetting that it was a mimic scene, shouted wildly, Give me back my children! Give me back my children ? Behind the auction car 60 men marched tied to a rope — in imitation of the gangs who used often to be led through these streets on their way from Virginia to the sugar fields of Louisiana. All of these men had been sold in the old times. Then came the hearse — a comic feature, which attracted great attention, and was received with shouts of laughter. There was written on it with chalk :— " Slavery is dead." " Who owns him ?" " No one.' 1 "Sumter dug his grave on the 13th April 1861." * Behind the hearse 50 women marched dressed in black, but with joy in their faces. Various societies were represented. The procession was more than two miles and a half in length, and officers said it marched in better military style than the great procession on the 6th of March in New York. There was no drunkenness, no riotous disposition, no insolent airs, no rudeness. The great procession took one hour and twenty minutes to pass any point. On its return to the citadel, where a stand was prepared for General Saxton and the other speakers, there were at least 10,000 persons assembled. There were 4,200 men in the procession by count, exclusive of the military, the women and children. A shower of rain, which began to fall as the procession arrived at the citadel, rendered it expedient to postpone a speech. Rev. Mr. French led in singing a DosiSlogy, and the great assembly dispersed in an orderly manner after enthusiastic and prolonged cheers for General Saxton, the Yankees, the Star Spanglad Banner, and a final tumultuous and long contiued three times three for Abraham Lincoln. Charlestown never before witnessed such a spectacle. Of course, the innovation was by no means pleasant to the old residents, but for the most part they kept their thoughts to themselves. The only expression of dislike heard proceeded from a knot of young ladies standing on a balcony, who declared the whole affair to be shameful, disgraceful,

¦ The tATE Accident at the Grey.— The following, from the West Coast Time s of 26th ult., contains a few more details of this occurrence than our correspondent's letter of last issue :— " We regret to hear of a deplorable accident that occurred on Monday in connection with the present rush to the Grey. It appears that a party of five men left the Teramtvkau for the Grey River in a whaleboat, and were successful in getting safely over the Lar and out to sea ; but in attemming to enter the Grey the boat swamped, and all were drowned. We cannot too strongly condemn the foolhardiness — we can find no other term— which induces men needlessly to risk their lives to obtain the smallest possible result, and which is constantly leading to ocurrences such as the foregoing." A Sleepless Man.- -At present there is a soldier at the Chesnut Hill Military Hospital, Philadelphia, who has not slept for a single moment for fourteen years and six months. Why it is that he cannot or does not sleep, is as much a mystery to him as it is to many scientific gentlemen, who, having had their attention called to him, have been astonished in their attempts to investigate the cause. Upon one occasion, at his request, a number of curiously-in-clined gentlemen watched him for forty days and nights consecutively, in order, if possible, to arrive at the cause of the wonderful phenomenon. These gentlemen took turns with each other in the progress of watching, so that if he should chance to sleep hejshould be observed. Some of the watchers became drowsy, and it was as much as he could do to awaken them. This singular man was sent to Philadelphia by order of the field surgeon. He was admitted into the hospital at Cheanut Hill on the 10th of November last, suffering from chronic diarrhse, and rheumatism. He has nearly recovered from his physical debility. His appetite ia good, but yet he <loes not sleep. He retires to bed the same as other soldiers, but yet he cannot sleepHe simply receives physical rest. — Philadelphia Pres*.