THE BLACK PRINCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 392, 26 May 1881, Page 2

THE BLACK PRINCE.

I A remarkable man died the other day near Washington. He was an aged/ negro r By name Hannibal Brown, but more generally known as Prince Ranuibal, and wa?, it is believed, the -only, negro in the United States who was or slaveholder. He was brought to America in 1820 from Africa. He allways affirmed that his farther was a< king, who" wore jewels and owned many men. He was tall and commanding irtappearance, and while always deferen--tial to white people, required all hitr colored brethren to treat him with the respect due to a prince. Hi» formermaster received such convincing proofs of his royal birth that he emancipated him long, before the war. Prince- " Hannibal then went to work as a blacksmith and made much money, which as fast as he made it he invested in slaves,, from whom he always exacted the homage due to his rank. He was devoted to the cause of the South duripgthe war, and gave both time, and to the cause, believ'Pg firmly in vn right to own slaves, which he said he inherited from his uative country. He invariably refused to shoe,horses to*

soldiers, and whenever they tame to him would go to bed and complain of being ill. Ho was a short time during the latter part of Ihe war imprisoned on suspicion of giving aid and information to the Southern soldiers. As everything he had was invested in slaves, the war left him penniless, and in his later days he with difficulty earned a living by blacksmith's work. He lived alone in a small cabin,, being visited by no one, as he would not allow ; coloured people to come near Irim, For week he had not been seen. On the I ■evening of the 7fca ult, some people in the neighborhood went to'the sa&afl cabin and looked through the window. There ojgas - " Prince Hannibal sitting back in his chair, his arms folded, his head drooping OB his breast—dead.