The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1859-12-22
A Famous Negro Plot Of sixty Yean Ago.
s ''8s From the PhfladeipAia Pres..l

From the PhiladeIphia Press
The article 10 Thursdays Press, rela-
tive to the Southampton Tragedy Of ls-
81 eawakens recelIections Of similar
events, Of like character The follow.
ing episode, conr ected with one which
occurred at an earlier period, may not te
without iutcrcs, at this time: ~ -
+ About sixty years ago, it was discov.
cred that in the nei ghborhood of Rich
mond, Virginia, plan had been devised
by the colored people to spread slaughter
and devastation among the whites. Three
negroes had been seen by their master
riding out of his stable yard. This was
sufficient to create alarm. On their re-
turn, the then absconding blacks were
tried by the court of three planters.
Though no direct evidence was adduced,
yet enough was elected to induce the be.
lief that there had been an extensive
combination formed for dreadful purpos-
es. The Governor of Virginia offered
the sum of SO, 900, aud the gentlemen
Of the city Of Richmond $40, 900 more,
Il: a reward to any one who would give
information of the head of this project,
but no one was tempted to betray the
secret
A few days after the $4,000 reward
was offered, little African boy come in.
to grocery store in Richmond, and ask
ed for quart Of run. The grocer asked
him for whom he wanted it. He said for
his uncle Gabriel.
That African, when twenty one years
Of age, had asked his master h much be
would take for him. His master replied,
Gabriel, no money would buy YOU -
'sBut." said Gabriel, "should l buy my
self" 'In that case" said the master,
IL would take FIVE hundred dollars for
you - Then ] am ready to pay" said
Gabriel. '.Had I thought so" said the
master, II would not have made the
offcr-but, as | have said it. | will not
draw back" Gabriel was manumitted.
lie then commenced the learning Of the
English language, and in short time he
learned reading, writing and arithmetic.
lie Was intelligent, sober and amiable -
All people who know him esteemed in
highly He was twenty Eve years Of
age when the reward was offered.
Such was the man who sent his ncph-
ew for jug of rum, which cost him his
life. The grocer asked the boy where
his uncle Gabriel was. lie replied, 10
the Sally. Ann, vessel at the dock just
ready to sail for St Domingo. The gro
Ger told the boy to wait a little for his
return. Notice was given to au officer,
and Gabriel was apprehended, and then
put upon his trial He thought some
on. had been tempted by the great re-
ward to bctray him and he confessed the
whole. He SAID their plan was to fire
the city q, the end opposite the arsenal
Men were appointed to ring the fire bells,
and while the citizens were drawn off to
cxtinguish the fre they intended to seize
the arsenal rush into the city, and
slaughter all indiscriminately, except
few young ladies, who we're selected to
be the wives Of some Of the leaders. All
these measures Gabriel avowed as his
own device. He said that his earliest
thoughts were occupied by these plans
that he had traded and increased his
stock to $500 at the age Of twenty-one-
tsat he mado himself acquainted with
learning, with this sole object that he
had travelled expressly through the
Southern States by night, riding down
many horses, in preparing the Africans
for bis measures and that he had form
ed, in caves and remote places, depots of
arms. He also told the Court that had
not God interfered b7 great rain, that
so swelicd stream in the neighbour .od
Of Richmond, that his assembled band
could moi PASS, thc- would not, .. tha.