The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-08

Piled that on a certain occasion he heard a
noise in the heavens. and tat a spirit ap-
peared 10 him and told him that
''the Serpent was loosened and that
Christ had laid down the yoke ne
had borne for the sins Of men," and that he
NaD should now take II on and fight against
the Serpent for the time was fast al proach-
ing when the first should be last and the last
should be first" IL was further revealed to INN
that the time for beginning the great work
would be made known 10 him by "A certain
sign. but that this should be kept secret uIl-
til the sign appeared. -.
II may be remembered by some now living
that an eclipse of the sun took place in Feb
ruary, 1891. Nat Turner considered tins the
sign referred To-. He at once prepared himself
for the great event. A. soon rs this sign had ar-
peared the seal Of silence WIS removed from
his lips. and he forthwith communicated to
four Of his people in whom he mad the great
est confidence the work laid out for him.
These were Henry, Hark Nelson and SAM
Nat further stated that it had been ms inten-
ton to begin the bloody work on the 4th Of
July before. but that he and his acc0mphces
could not agree: that many plans had been
proposed and rejected. aud that his mind had
been so affected that he fell sick. At this
juucture the sign reappeared, and ne could no
longer hesitate 20 begin the execution OF his
mission. The last sign referred 10 by Nat
was a remarkable condition OF the atlnOs-
phere. which appeared several months after
the eclipse. and which continued through the
summer and fall Of that year. A /angely
colOred haze enveloped the earth. c<using the
sun To emit greenish light, which threw
over the face Of nature pale, sickly hue.
Spots appeared nj the same time on the disk
of the sun. adding thereby 10 the general
gloom. When the day declined, the blood
red ORC went down behind the murky horizon,
leaving behind him unrealized hopes for a
brighter day on the morrow. Inc minds OF
people felt the effects OF this pOrtentous phe-
nOmenon, and even the most enlightened OF
the community could not help giving
way 10 q certain degree Of supershJlOus dread.
IL was in the midst II this unaccounteble and
unexpected exhibition of nature that the
bloody outbreak in southampton took place.
Ii was quite natural that the mind OF the ig-
nOrant and fanatical leader. having all these
years been brOoding over his supposed des-
tiny should interpret this second shrOuding of
the sun as the sign intended specially for him
TO begin his work.
Nat Turner had been the favorite servant OF
his master. had been taught 10 read and write.
and WAS gifted with uncommon intelligence.
This. with his supposed power Of prophecy.
had given him high consideration among the
blacks rs preacher and a s0Othsayer. After
his trial he made a free confession, giving q
frank and clear account of his late attempt,
tNEn hbWI 10 lllF iAiAltANo ditN ANi4ctt VI f-'-
pie he had killed with his own hand and in-
sisted that when ne began the undertaking
he had perfect faith in his ultimate success.
When reminded Of his failure he replied that
the Saviour of man had been executed, but
that his cause had not failed.
After mis- trial and conviction Nat sold his
body for anatomical purposes. and spent the
money in gingercakes, whereby. after such a
fall and taking Off" his own ghost might
consistently verify the words of the poet In
the name Of the prophecies" He was exc
cuted at Jerusalem on Friday, the 18th OF No
yember. 1881. at midday. He went 10 the
gibbet without showing the slightest emotion.
not only reckless of his fate. but actually hur-
RED the executiOaer 10 the performance OF his
dnty. Thus ended the las: effort ever made
by the slaves in Virginia 10 recover their lib
erty by rebelling against their owners Much
might be said in this connection as TO the
effect of the events recorded IN the fore
going articles upon'the pubic MIND.
II might be told wpeOple OF all parties now
began to consider the policy OF getting rid Of
slavery in Virginia. and OF how leading men OF
the State afterwards formulated plans for
this purpose; how these were considered and
discussed. and how il came about that they
were finally abandoned. To do this would
require more than was contemplated IN pre-
pairing these papers. The writer has gone
into these detailed accounts Of the insurrec-
tionary movements among the slaves In W.
GINA for several reasons. First, because they
had never before been correctly given. and