The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1892-04-07
THE NEGRO
SCARE" OF 1891
ITS EFFECTS IN MECKLEN-
BURG AND CABARRUS
MEARUREs OF DEFENSE SUDDENLY
IMPROVE ED-THE "DoG WOOD
GUNo-A POET s!MADE"


On Sunday, August 81, 1881, oc-
CURED, in Southampton county, Va !,
the noted "Nat Turner Negro In
sarrection." Some vague scheme
of greater "rising" had probably
been planned, but the immediate
cause of the dreadful outbreak and
and massacre was small SUNDAY
pic1lc,' then allowed, and quite
common on the large farms of
eastern Virginia. Nat Turner, up to
this time, had good name; was
only 81 years old; was ali intense
Bible student, and was often called
''Prophet Nat" When he and his
six cOnfederates then resolved to
"strike', so swift and irresistible
was the blow, that in "a hours, 55
men, women and children, were
| indiscriHlnately massacred! The
''black forces" We're rapidly gather
ing, when single mistake brought
| the whole bloody movement to
sudden close, and to terrible retri-
| button. Every leader was soon
caught excepting only Nat TUNER
! himself In ten days or two weeks
| hundreds Of the guilty and many
OF those only suspected We're shot
or hung. But for two months the
whereabouts OF the "Prolhet" bat
| fed ill efforts alike to fad or
capture him. he news of the bor-
rible massacre spread with the
teirur Of many battles. But all this
VAS naught comma Ell to tue dread
fui fact tbat "Nat Iurnei" was still
alive, and might af any moment
strike another blow III the vide ex-
! tent Of his deeplald plot.
No human mind can at this re-
mote day form any IDEA of the ter
rible, intense, eNcr-giowing fear,
this feeling produced. 1t was
| everyw here and took all conceiv>
able form | was then boy OF
only 10 But my father had store
at his beautiful, we'll known resi-
dence DIT Poplar Grove, IN CabarIus.
From ali--whlte and black allie
the talk was 'Bloouy Nat" and
che next negro rising" In the
| very height of this excitement, d
courier reached Gen Paul Barrlnger
at Poplar Grove al eatly Sunday
morning about the 3rd Of October
I83D oearing relay dispatch.
| forwarded at full speed aud on
painting horse, containing the
awful tiding that "0he negroes had
risen on the Great Pee Dee, and
were then marching, 5000 strong,
up its right bank-no doubt aiming
for the rich and prosperous up
couDtfy T. This sectlon--especialIy
CabarTus- was then noted for its
'fine military" and the call was,
"Help! help--quick and stroug.'
Gen. Rarringer bimseli had largely
discredlted the sensational rumorn
ever af1oat. But here was state.
Il. aJx h,fn hn
not wholly ignore. To N.Y. mind the
most true and faithful man | ever
knew was "Uncle joe" the head
wagouel of ali Dutch Butfaloe. IL
a few moments .'U9cle Joe" was
mounted on "Simon," the swiftest
of all the horses and off at full
speed toI Concord, with orders and
suggestions to the proper authori-
ties; but to them only. How the
news got out / could never learn,
| bat in less than three hours the
ward was full of soldiers. from Con
cord. from Mt. Pleasant, and from
all around. But in the very midst
OF the excitement, came another
couner, on foamlng steed, up the
long, red lane, shouting: Cali a
mistake! false alarm! d burned white
lie"
But the fire had been lighted.
That night many families came IN
| to Concord for safety and prOtec-
tlon. The military was out. sentl.
| nels were stationed, and it was
agreed that in case of alarm the
men were to rendezvous at ''head-
quarters" with any kind OF arms.
| The women were, III case OF alarm,
| to rush to the court mouse. All
went we'll till the hour of mid
night, when the sentinel at the
Presbyterian grave yard heard the
rustic of an old dead Dush; be i'm
agined he saw an armed negro and
| fired Then snch a scene! A few
days after | was Ill Concord, and
| heard the description. 1t eau
never be made to speak in cold
| type, or i'll any written words.
What took place III Concord was