Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-03-11
NAT TURNER'S GRIMES.
a CHAPTER IN THE LIFE OF BEN
c. DUGGAR.
The Novel Method by Which he Put Els
Enemies to Flight.


1882 the tariff was revised by congress,
and that body, instead of diminishing
the duties, as the people of the south
ern states desired, and hoped it would
do, Increased many of them. The
reprehensible act was very odious to
the Couthern states, which they con-
sidered unjust and greatly initiating
against their interest. They, ever
willing to submit to tariff amply
sufficient for revenue, but, for valid
reasons were utterly opposed TO, and
with that genuine patriotism which is
an eminent characteristic of the
southern people, bitterly denounced
this obnoxious act. And this was the
cause and theme of that memorable
debate which occurred in congress be-
tween the eloquent and sagacious
Colonel Hayne, senator from South
Carolina, and Daniel Webster, of Mass
achusetts.
The state of South Carolina, holding
the doctrine advocated by Colonel
Hayne in the senate and convention
of the people of the state was held and
adopted the measure known as the
Qualification Ordnance" Intense
excitement prevailed, and the dark
cloud of civil war was brewing. In
the meantime fragrant and incendiary
speeches were made in the north, and
circulated by the press; and cavils
upon the southern people for not sub
mitting as vassets to the north. During
this time Nat Turner, negro preacher
living near Jerusalem, Virginia, i'm
bibed the spurious doctrine which was
borne upon the noxious breeze from
the north, emanating from the slime
pools of depravity. Nat was a good
slave and trustworthy negro until his
mind was poisoned by the baneful
hetrodoxy Of meddlesome and ia
natic people of the north, who is a
source of aid upon whose shoulders
rest the heinous crimes of Nat Turner.
Nat Turner, only exhibiting that
short-sightedness and british DISPOSE
ton, which is characteristic of the negro
race, cherished the idea that the north
would stand TO him and protect him in
whatever he did.
Therefore, styling himself the Moses
of the slaves deliverance, and the
leader of second Exodus from bond
age, gathered around him all the
negroes in the country.
The negroes armed and fortified
themselves, and would sally forth like
ravenous beasts to prey upon whatever
they could find. The number was in-
creasing daily, and this insurrection
would have resulted in a terrible con-
flict between the whites and blacks
throughout the south, had it not been
for Colonel Duggar, who, although
subordinate officer at the time, was the
principal man in suppressing it.
Nat commenced his work by massa-
cring in the most horrible manner a
lady teacher, and her school of twenty
five children. This most atrocious
crime, without parallel in a civilized
country, spread like wild fire.
President Jackson, being engaged
with the affairs of South Carolina at
that time, sent orders to Colonel Dug
gar to suppress Nat Turner's insurrec-
ton at once; but before the order
reached Duggar he was upon the scene
and had Nat and all his men in chains.
When Duggar reached the place
where Nat and his men were fortified,
Duggar's men wanted to charge right IN
upon them and butcher them like sheep.
But Duggar, with the usual GOODNESS
which he possessed at all times, quiet
ed his men. After thoroughly recon-
offering the place where they had
fortified themselves, he saw that he
could not take them without heavy
loss, as there were several hundred
negroes, well fortified and well armed.
He tried to induce them to come out
and give up, but without effect. So
he decided to besiege them in their
stronghold, and perish them out; but
it was soon made know TO him that
they bad rations enough to last them
many months. Colonel Duggar then
decided to resort to strategem, IN
which he is an expert.
Duggar knowing that the negro is
the most superstitious race of people
living, and that even the name of
ghost frightens them to death, resolved
to try his luck upon tactics hitherto
unpracticed and unknown.
He hired twenty-six negro BOYS to
meet him in the woods some distance
from Mats fortification that evening
about sundown, without telling them
what he wanted with them. This was
the number Nat Turner had massa-
cred few days previous.
Duggar gave orders to his men to
form on one side of the fortification,
and as soon as it was dark to intercept
the negroes as they came out.
During the day Duggar had twenty
six winding sheets, white caps and
face cloths prepared, and about sun
down he met the boys and had them
put on their ghostly apparel. Duggar
had prepared for himself a black suit,
and had gotten large pumpkin and
cut out mouth, showing big, broad
teeth, and cut out large eyes and placer
for ears.
In this pumpkin he placed cotton
and thoroughly saturated it with oil,
and fastened it upon his head.
When the last vestige of day had
gently died away upon the landscape
and all the air solemn stiffness held,
Duggar silently mustered his cadaver-
Gus host, and instructing them to make
sure their novel uniforms were in per-
feet order, he then ordered them to
follow him. He proceeded to the
negroes fortifcation. When but q
short distance from it he stuck a match
to the cotton in the pumpkin on his
head and gave double time, and ad-
vanced in a long trot. Over the
breastworks Duggar went with blue
sulphuric flames streaming from his
mouth, eyes and ears, and with no
weapon save an iron fork. His ghost
ly-like host followed close upon his
heels, and altogether presented .
frightful appearance.
There were about 500 negroes, some
of them tainted, but all who were able