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

qcaace The illusion was of short duration.
4 law days after the incident described above;
Air. Banianin Phipps was taking Il stroll
on a Sunday morning. gun IN hand, rs usual
I'm passing through the woods he was attracted
10y the uuaccounIanle shaking OF bushes at Il
spo! not lar oil. His curiosity was excited 10
T. know the cause OF the commOlOn III 50
quiet and retired place. Upon getting nearer
he discovered the head Of negro man. VINO,
totally unconscious of his presence, seemed IN
tent upon covering himself with newly cut
! b0ughsof trees. The noise madein tins opera
ton had prevented his hearing theappr0ach of
Mr.. Phipps. The latter. bringing his sunto bear
upon the astonished negro. demanded To know
who lie was. Seeing the couidnot escape the fire
OF Phipps' cum he made haste TO reply that he
was Nat Turner and would surrender II he
would not shoot him. Upon being ordered 10
give up his arms he threw ont an old sword,
megcdfrOmunderh MS Mdlngplacc and tame
Is allOwedhs captor tosecme ms hands behind
/ him. The prisoner had dug out den at the
foot of d large fallen tree. and was busy pro;
tectlng 10 from observation when discovered
| bv Alr. Phipps. This fortunate capture took
place on Sunday. the a0th of October, near the
! Cr0ss-Kcys and was done by one who had
never Joined any OF the parties III search OF
the noted fugitive. Curious u say, Nat was
taken on the land of his late master. Mr..
Travis, thus adding another instance Of that
strange fascination which at times attracts the
murderer % the scene OF his atrocities. Natal
terwards said he hadneyer been fvemiles from
his home since the failure or his attempt. Mr..
Phipps took care of ms prisoner at ms own
home until the next day (M0nday(, when, as
sisted by "a few other persons, he delivered him
TO the jailOr 40 Jerusalem.
The Joy of the community was great when
II was known that Nat Turner had been taken
and was safely lodged i'm prison. Crowds came
% look at him to interchange Opinions ana
give expression 10 their feelings. stranger
who was in Jerusalem at that time awards
much praise 20 the people OF Southampton tor
their iusDcafance on that occasion. Not the
least personal violence was offered the PMS
Oner. whom he described "as indeed one of
the most miserable objects he ever beheld-
detected, ragged and elnaciated."
In the Governors proclamation Offering q
reward for his arrest, Nat Turner IS described
rs being between thirty and thirty-tve years
Old. five feet six or eight inches high, weighs
between $50 and 100 pounds rather bright
complexion Int not mulatto, broad should
ers. large. Hat nose. large eyes, broad. Hat
feet. rather lu0ck-knced. walks brisk and ac-
tive. hair on ire top u the head rather thin,
no beard except on the upper lip and the mp
al the chin. a scar on one ol his temples, also
one ON the back Of the neck. "A large knot on
one the bones OF his right arm near the wrist,
produced by blow" One who was present
m his examination before the committing
magistrate saws he was of darker hue than
described by the Governor; that his eyes were
arge and deep set, and had rather sinister
expression"
The truth is Nat Turner was one of those
phenomenal developments of the negro race
who now and then appear among them, Illus
tlatins the peculiar traits Of that mysterious
people. Although physically strong and ac-
live he was subject To seasons Of gloomy de-
pressfon. when lie became tacltiirE aud mOgose
iurige these periods his perverted imagina-
ton caused him 20 believe himself intended
for some great purpose not yet disclosed to
him. Ii was said that when quite child his
mother had overheard him telling OF events
which had occurred before he was born.
which so impressed her and Others that they
predicted great things in the future for him.
Soon after reaching manhood he became a
preacher, and finally professed to have
the gift OF prophesy; said he had seen
signs, had cOnyersed with spirits, aud
amid HASTINGS and prayers and watchings
had acquired supernatural powers in curing
diseases. and even in controlling the weather
Being endowed with such gifts, he considered
himself especially called 20 superior righte-
business by the Almighty. For many years
past he had not been allie 10 determine for
what great purpose he WAS intended. but
that about two years before it was revealed
TO him by certain signs that his mission was
the emancipation of his fellow slaves. When
asked what were these signs he promptly re-