Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-07-11
TIE NEGRO lNsURRECTION:


Or, The Race with the Big Drum.
During the years 1833-'34 and '35,
Az r, Va, was the residence of few
choice spirits for fun and frolic and
whenever stranger happened to light
among them having any popularity about
him, or eccentricity i'll his character, their
wits were at once put to work, and he was
sure, sooner or later to become the object
of their spolt. About the year 1884, a
daPPer little man dropped in among them
from Lynchburg, who, among other Stri-
KING traits of character, was passionately
tond OF beating the Bass Drum. For the
sake OF convenience, we will call him
John. Well, John was one Of those pom
pOus little men, about as wide as long,
and rs near AS may be, the shape of an
old iaShIsucd Dutch-ovcu, with pair Of
legs abou! as vide as long and approach
ing IN curvature rs n pair of names, a huge
head with an enormous pair of ears, re-
semhIing antiquaLed pewter buliet~but-
tons, closely compressed lips. and stingy
looking nose, that presented the appear
Ance Of having been hastily pinched up
from a long face Of putty, by the thumb
and finger Such was Johns external
appearancc-thc very form and features
that rarely fail 20 accompany mind Of
suPrrStltlUuS cast or convenient eXciIabli>
ty. As before said. if pusscssed OF any
one passion more than another, it was his
tUndnr>S for The mUsic Of the Bass Drum
and ct making that mWSic himself.
About the period of which we are wri-
ting, the recollection of the horrors Of
" Nat Turner's Instruction" had not
died away in Tie locality Of their enact
mcut, without leaving fearful forcbodinrs
OF their re-cnaclment west of the noun
talnS, and John WAS one upon whose mind
such dire calamity WAS ever uppermost.
Scarcely a day passed that he dil not ci.
thcr think Or gabble of " Nat Turner's
LeSUrrcct'On." as he clA>sicrlly termed it,
with excited eve and cndaverous countc-
nance. This WAS enough for the lovers
OF fun. y scheme was ut once concUcted
10 give John q sweat, as well as Il fore
acknowledge Of his powers Of locomo-
ton, should occasion ever render it nrces-
sary for him to conclude that discretion
was the better part of valor," for, be it
remembered, that whilst he had Il most
courageous heart, no little man was ever
doomed TO wear more cOwardly pair Of
legs. Terrible forebodings were at once
whispered into his ears of {" rise among
the negroes" the NEE contemp plation OF
which brought the bristly hair upon his
head to a perpendicular, and made him
as wild and timid after the sun had gone
to bed, as Il startled fawn, after which
hour, nothing save his fondncss for beat
ing the Bass Drum could bring him from
his domicil.
These facts coming to the knowledge
OF his tormcntors, they at once agreed
upon grand sercnade to come of in the
vicinity Of town on some dark and gloomy
night, in which it was to fall to JOINS lot
to perform the important part of beating
the Bass Drum. They knew that this
would take, and made their arrangements
accordingly. The proper night at length
arrived. john was formally invited and
the company comprising half dozen or
more, started for the top of Gallows
!liil," where they were to practice short
time before ''discoursing sweet sounds"
to the sleeping inhabitants of the town.
In the meantime a few accomplces had
been secrcted Ill ravinc in the field in
whlchIhe musicians were to practice, with
guns heavily charged with powder, which
guns were to be discharged at the moment
certain tune should be commenced when
one Of the musicians was to feign himself
shot, and fall, and the cry Of " Insurrec-
ton - was to be raised by the others
All the prcliminayIes being settled, the
company vending their way up the hill =,
John with his big drum swinging before
him by strap of webbing passing over
his shoulders. Which was sewed tight
ana last to his coat collar by companion
VINO pretended to show unusual fondness
icr John, by familiary resting his hand
upon his back as they slowly walked
along.
At length they reached the summit
%here unhroken silence had reigned for
nourS' except the howl Of the night wind
or an occasional wall from an ow perch
ed upon the very tree that had performed
the office of gallows years before. The
place and the hour were just such as to
awaken awe in superstitious mind. and
at such place, and such time the mus
SIC commenced. There stood John be.
hlnd ms big copper instrument, with moth
ing visible of the outer man save his
mead ABOVE his eyebrows and his dumpv
Ht'ie ieeI hammering away with all the
oIghIheo solemnlty of an automaton orr
gan-grlnder. g In the course of human
events the signal tune broke upon the
ears OF the men in the ravine, when
bang bang j. bang! resounded firearms
and one OF the musicians fell. exclainoinr
-" R"n boys, Save yOur Eves If vou can
HmG G@ead Nan-the negroes hare Killed Daej''