Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-08-08
VOL. 16. NO. 1856


said to be :-Willam Rollo, a poor white man !;
Andreas Higgins, free octoroon; Simon,
the blacksmith a slave Ike Fang, dtcher,
called "Ditchey," a slave, and uncle Tom
slave.
William Rollo had been driven from Pine
Level four weeks previous to the insurrection,
because he was suspected of buying stolen
chickens from the negroes, and had gone to
Montgomery. Some negroes had said that he
was to lead tine insurgents from Pine Level to
Montgomery, where they would take posses.
sion of everything valuable, and where RollO
would be established as the principal store
keeper-alI the black folks having pledged
themselves to trade with him. This scheme
may seem incredible, but was generally belev-
ed by the gullible chivalry, who for months
htterward could not find anything ridiculous
i'll it. They at once dispatched two men to
Montgomery to capture the chief OF the con
splracy, who was so unconscious of the affair
that even after having been warned, he made
no attempt TO escape. Poor RolIo was not a
little surprised at being tied up with ropes and
dragged along by two terocious brutes, one of
whom was the before named Martin Noll
Nothing but the confession of the slaves, OBJ
tanned in the manner described above, was
brought as evidence against him and though
the southern chvalry exclude negro evidence
from all the courts, still drunken mob There
was neither judge nor jury,) condemned him
to be hanged, i'll company with the others who
were said to be ringeaders.
The gallows was erected in the middle of
the town, that the spectacle might strike ter.
ror into the slaves, and that everybody
might participate in the enjoyment. Rollo
was placed on car, and rope was then put
around his neck; he could hear his poor wife
screaming, and see her begging the brutes to
r,l ba I'll
but was actually pushed and kicked back-the
car was hurried off, and Rollo was left in his
agony-while his wife accused his murderers
anu entreated God to avenge her innocent hus.
band.
During the two or three following days the
Other so-called couspratorS were disposed of
III the same manner. Some prayed for their
lives, and some said that the white folks could
DO with the poor niger what they pleased.
Simon begged to be released of his pains as
soon as possible; he had previously begged to
be shot or killed in some manner, and said he
was glad to get out OF the SOUTH
The hanging would haze continued had me-
groes not been worth large sum in the mark
ct. The richest planters, men of influence
saved their negroes. and confined their punish.
ment TO repeated Establishments. Several of
the poor white men, who owned but one or two
slaves, whom the mob intended to hang. took
thein away to distant places, thereby saving
lhelr properly, no other feeling than cupidity
predominating. There never has been anv in
Vestigation Of the matter before the court.
none OF the mob was accused and nobody has
been blamed. ROllo's wife is now a begpar.
The owners Of the slaves did not even dare to
ask Tor a cent Of indemnity. The only inquiry
mo inc matter was made in some neighboring
townships, where more intelligent men at once
- fhG trnD & A..
ened to interfere if the Pine Level mob did not
stop their illegal proceedings. Sill, the ex
element lasted til Christmas. or course. the
slaves were not permitted to enjoy their holi.
days as IN olden times. Christmas eve tho
whoie whlte population was on the lookout,
tearing that tile Olg pine tree might yet burst
About IL clock, when the anxiety was at the
highest pitch, somebody imagined that he
heard snpciOus noise.
Imagine four or five hundred people-men,
women and chidren--mosty all armed, and
i'll trembling axnnciatinn n .,.,.,ss-y ,,,r1la4oits
that three men should &C out as reconnoiter
lug party. But only two of the chivalry of.
tered To CO. and finally German shopkeeper |
named d. Nj had to volunteer 10 make IN |
the required number Well knowing that il |
was humbug, he felt amused at the fear of |
his mounted companions After two miles
ride they came upon half extinguished camp |
IRE Iilere the before mentioned Purcell |
stopped, and remarked, with chattering teeth,
that the niggers must have held a meeting |
there. He pretended to see their footsteps
distinctly, and slowly advanced, cooked revoiy
err in one hand and bowie-knite in the other |
When about one hundred and fifty PAGES dis
tant from the big tree, Purcell proposed that
one of the reconuoitering party should dis
mount, and creep toward the tree as a scout
D. M went along to the tree, of course
without discovering anything, and stealthiy
enjoyed good laugh at his comrades. On
returning he reported that he had heard only
suspicious noise, which had also been the
case with his trembling comrades They hur-
rled home, reported the camp fire, negro foot
steps, and suspicious noise the latter in Ms
o. inion made by little pigs in the busiest.
During the whole night the Pine Level folks
were III dreadful anticipation of an attack the
whites were afraid OF the slaves, and the latter
were afraid OF their masters