Indiana Narratives

From Interviews with Former US Slaves. SampleShe remembers once an old woman slave had displeased her master about something. He had a pit dug, and boards placed over the hole. The woman was made to lie on the boards, face down, and she was beaten until the blood gushed from her body; she was left there and bled to death.She also remembers how the slaves would go to some cabin at night for their dances; if one went without a pass, which often they did, they would be beaten severely.The slaves could hear the overseers, riding toward the cabin. Those, who had come without a pass, would take the boards up from the floor, get under the cabin floor, and stay there until the overseers had gone.Typewritten records prepared by the THE FEDERAL WRITERS' PROJECT 1936-1938. Assembled by the Library of Congress Project. Work Projects Administration for the District of Columbia. Sponsored by the Library of Congress Illustrated with Photographs originally published WASHINGTON 1941