S.L. Rafe addressed this letter to Lucy Chase. The letter describes atrocities committed against Blacks in Madison, Hamilton and Jefferson counties in Florida, along the border with Georgia. These counties are just west of Lake City, Florida, where Lucy taught during 1868-1869.
Transcription
[Note in pencil] The Com. can see this – about the murders
Catharine Harts James maried [sic] one of Caroline Paynes daughters Mrs. Spencer has moved home + sends her love She was so very sory that you did not return this Winter Mrs Martin, Hart, & Clark & many others send love to you The People generally are well & quiet here but there is much suffering among the Coloured people in the Counties of Madison, Hamilton & Jefferson. in consequence of the outrages pepetrated by the Kue Klucks there has ben no less than one hundred & twenty Blacks men, women & Children killed in the last three months, one poor man living on his own land procured by hard labour since the War sold this year eight hundred dollars worth of Cotton. Week before last a band of White ruffiens came to his house took him to the Woods and hung his Wife & daughter to the rafters a woman was shot down in her feild merely because she asked a man not to destroy her Watermelons. A party of people goin to a Picnick in a wagon passing through a thick Wood was fired into by person conceeled in the brush one poor man was killed while trying to save his Child a ball passing through his body & through the Child also killing them both you ask for the particulars but my Heart grows sick my brain swims I must cease I can only exclaim My God how long? Aunt manerva is not dead it was a son of hers, he was shot by a little White boy on the place where he lived they buryed him without leting his Mother or ayn any one know of his death But I am making my letter too long I am sorry that I cannot say anything encouraging for the Temperance cause some I believe are carefully observing there Pledge but there is know society formed some ar
The Library is progressing rather better I have added about a dozen books We loan perhaps three or four in a week since writing the above I have seen Mr Erwin he promises me that he will call a meeting, & try to form a Temperance Society next week
About the Land I think the peice you wanted is sold but ther is a forty first back of Mr Freeze Mill opisite our hous that belongs to the State.
Mr Rafe is well & joins me in love to you hopeig this may find you as well as it lives us I remain your Obliged Friend
S.L. Rafe
Day the Republicans are having stormy times the K K Ku Klucks are killing up the colored people sadly Judge Days life is threntend Mr. Erwin has been obliged to leave the town to save his life + so the school is closed – I had almost forgot to tell you John that owed you a dollar has moved away I don’t know where he is Plese write soon S. L. Rafe
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