Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-08-08
dQOrtester DaiIp Spp.


Montgomery County, Alabama, were startled
by the announcement that the negroes on the
settlement had planned an insurrection, to take
place on christmas eve The discovery OF the
plot was made by planter, who, being one of
those who believed that the negroes must be
whipped sometimes with or without a cause,
had concluded to whip one of his slaves at the
above time by way of pastime- 1t must here
be remembered, that for some time previous,
and especially, after President Lincolns elec.
ton, the southern press had been doing its best
to create an excitement and ill feeling against
the warning the people against
abolitionists insurrectionistS, and incendiaries
assuring them constantly that the northern
ers intended to put an end to slavery by send
ing emissaries to tamper with slaves, and III.
duce them to repeat SD called 'JOhn BrOoCn
Raids" Thus, the most stirring accounts of
abolitionists and their dongs were set in cir.
culation, and were eagerly believed by the
frightened savocracy. The planter, in thus
whipping his negro without cause, except to
keep him i'll due respect of his masters supre-
macy, was acting according to the custom of
the greater number of shareholders. While
the punishment was in progress, the poor
slave asked
"Massa, why do you whip me / have tried
to do right, massa"
"Do you want me to stop 2" asked the mas
ter.
40 yes, massa, please massa ~
Tile master continuing the unjust chastse.
ment, said:
"Don't you know that have an excellent
reason to punish you? You have done some
thing very bad lately, and | will stop only if
you will tell what you have done" The poor
slave in his desire to satisfy the tyrant and
stop the lashes recalled all his old sins but
the confession OF these tailed to satisfy his
master, and stroke after stroke of the lash was
administered. With increasing agony the
slave prayed, 80 stop, massa, will tell all
you want me to. but don't know what you
want" He was then asked
Haven't you lately been speaking about Mr.
Lincoln 10 the niggers 2"
''Yes, massa," was the reply
Don't you conspire to make yourselves
free 2" Continuing whipping.)
eyes, massa. massa do stop, l emit
stand it, you kill me-"
Glow are you going to make yourselves
free z"
don't know, massa. 0 massa, stop, mas
sa They say Mr.. Lincoln is powerful black
man, and he will make us all free if we rise p
Don't you intend to kill all the whites 2" =
Eyes, massa o stop, massa -
By this time the planter had worked him.
self into such a state of excitement that he
continued striking his slave in most cruel
manner--asking all sorts OF questions which
his irritated state OF mind suggested-all of
which his victim would invariably confirm by
uttering, eyes massa, o massa don't kill
me!
Not daring thus to deny any question what.
ever, the slave confessed that he together with
several negroes whom he mentioned had CON
S pired to rise on Christmas eve, and that he
Intended to kill his master with an AK. This
confession iniuriated the planter; and, after
having carefully secured the negro by tyina
up his hands and feet, he proceeded to impart
the disclosures 10 his ncighbors, who, of
course, believing every word, became equally
excited, and ran for their guns and pistols
peeted--and kept the strictest watch over the
rest, threatening to shoot down any negro
man or woman, who would dare to disobey
any order from a white man.
The so called conspirat0rs were whipped
and examined in the same manner, and of
course found no other means of satisfying
their tortures than by copieSsing everything
they were asked.
The whipping was continued for four days
in Pine Level and on the surrounding planla.
TONS great number OF slaves were impli-
Gated as conspirators, and the most contradic.
tory revelations were brought to light, which
were made to correspond by skillfu ques
uonlng and energetic whipping. Several nun
dred negroes were thus tortured in most
barbarouS manner. Two committees-one on
whipping the other on recording confessions
were at work almost day and night during
these four days Of the horrible scenes which
L witnessed. l will relate only few Incl.
dents.
A slave. during the process, was asked by
bystander, Don't you niggers intend to get
married TO the White women?" The ques-
fTFtNn lN-,1rN -.
at last answered in the affirmative. Being
asked to give the name of the white woman
whom he was to get, he mentioned the wife
of Martin NOll, who happened to be present
Noll thereupon discharged two barrels OF his
revolver at the slave, and, strangely enough,
tailed to hurt him or any one of the dense
crowd gathered around; he then drew his
knife and jumped at him, ito cut tile throat
of the ID black son of a." The
crowd, or rather the owner of the slave, held
him back, and Noll then went to seek satisfac
ton by torturing other negroes This Martin
Noll is at present captain OF the Pine Level
company, now stationed in Virginia under
Beauregard. A Massachusetts man by the
name OF Baldwin, who was impressed by him
in Pine Level, lately deserted from him and
sought refuge in Fortress Monroe, and lis
statement was published in some of the New
York papers.
Another negro called Simon, blacksmith,
was implicated by a tortured fellow slave, and
as Simon was one OF the most intelligent ne
gross in town. The was very Shrewd and could
read and write better than the average of the
Pine Level Slaveocracy,) lie was suspected to
be one of the rngleaders.
He was said to have made a key to open
Mr.. Shaver's dry goods and provision store,
where the negro would seize arms and pow
der, and as a reward for this key lie was to
receive the store. The negro, phose forged
confession implicated him, told precisely the
spot where the key was concealed ON search.
ing, however, nothing could be found there.
nor in his hut or shop, to serve as evidence
against him. Yet Simon was tortured. He
was undressed, had lis hands and feet tied
and his knees were bent in against his chest.
and a stick put under them above his arms,
In this condition he was rolled on the floor.
and received $50 lashes-his blood, Of course.
flowing in streams ere the punishment was
over When one of the torturing brutes was
tired, he would ask his neigllbor to take his
turn while Others were counting the number
of lashes, and shouting in a diabolica way,
"Go on make him tell; go on!" But Simon
received the $50 ashes without uttering a
word OF confession or praying for pity, and
the brutes only stopped because they found
out that ii they went on there would soon be
an end OF his suierlnGS. When he had lit
tie recovered he was carried away. One Pur-
cell, young man, bookkeeper with Mr..
Clarke, noticing that Simon got sick, drew
his knife and held it at his throat, while an.
other member OF the chivalrv, one Levi Sha-
yer, pointed lis cooked revolver at his mouth,
both threatening to kill him at once if he dared
to vomit.
OF those who were whipped, almost all men
and women, bad their clothing torn off, many
being tied up like Simon, otliers being whipped
on both sides, until their bodies presented the
appearance of one vast wound.
%b, eli "A, 4