Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-09-16

stopped for a time amid the scenes made
memorable by Nat Turner'S insurrection,
which occurred about seventy years ago;
when slavery as an institution, was IN
its fullest vogue; and when negro "ris-
ings" were among the things occasional
ly but not generally feared. There before
me were the houses. the farms, the
graves-sad memories OF the dreary past
when an event occurred that shocked the
world, while 1t terrorized Virginia and
the south. There were the very roads
along which Turner and his gang travel
ed during these two eventful nights and
days, when the blood of the best people
in Virginia flowed like water under the
axes, hatchets. guns and bludgeons OF
few ignorant and deluded negroes. who
were destined to pay the awful penalty
for their crimes on the galloWs. have
lived in Kentucky, and have seen those
spots marked by savage massacre. which
make II the dark and bloody ground, but
I have seen no place that so impressed
me as tales of the Instruction were told
me by the inhabitants-some Of them de-
scendants OF the very people who were
murdered on that awful occasion.
Southampton Is one Of the large old
slave holding counties, and seventy miles
east of Richmond, and about $50 miles
from washington. Scores OF well-to-do
planters lived there in those days, who
owned many slaves, whom they treated
well. ana reEaTQGQ them almost de parts
of their families. Indeed all seemed TO
bear the family name.
The insurrection, II win be seen, did not
occur on account Of harsh treatment OF
the slaves. 1t was to the interest OF
southern masters to be kind TO their ser
wants and they treated them well. Men
like Uncle Toms master were the rule,
and Legree the exception, and in no coun-
ty in Virginia were masters and servants
on better terms than In southampton.
There were mere blacks than whites in
the county, but no trouble had ever &C.
Cured; and the neighborhOods were peace
full and happy. >h.e
Far from the madding crowds ignoble
Their sober wishes never. learned to
stray,
But along the cool sequestered vale of life
They kept the nOiselesse tenor of their
way"
But on the I'd day of October, 1900. was
born negro, who was destined to dis
turb this peaceful order of things. 1t was
Nat Turner, sometimes called NAT Ira
wis.," because he was working on the PLAN
tation Of Mr.. Joseph Travis at the time
of the insurrection. Eighteen hundred
was memorable year for the birth OF
such men or monsters. Gabriel Presser,
instigator of the insurrection in Henrfco
and Richmond, was borne in 1900; and al
so John Brown of Ossawatomie. and all
three were born in October, the melan-
choly autumn days" though they came
to the front with their mischief many
years apart
Nat Turner was never considered a bad
negro He was something of pet among
the whites, as he could read and write
well, had never used tobacco, whisky or
profane language. He was Baptist
preacher. and made great parade OF his
Bible, which is shown to this day to those
curious enough to look upon IT. One of
the leaders preached the night before the
massacre. and sang
How happy Is every child Of grace
Who feels his sins forgiven"
So this minister partook what the par
Elephants regarded Of a religious nature.
Nat Turner regarded himself as a pFoph-
yet and so stated in his confession; and
having studied astronomy some chat was
his favorite study. and he thought signs
in the heavens led him on to do what he
did. He said in his confession: I'm my
childhood circumstance occurred which
made an indelf--e impression on my mind,
and laid, the groundwork of that career
which terminated so fatally to me, and
for which I am about to atone on the
gallows." That was prophecy come to
him. He, with three or four confederates,
had planned to begin their bloody work
three or four months earlier. but some
thing prevented. think an election was
going on, which caused the people to
move about and be on the alert. It was
at a very tranquil time that the flame
was applied to the fuel namely, on the
21st OF August 1891 when the farmers had
been attending their churches and had
come back weary, and when many of
the inhabitants had crossed the North
Carolina line and gone TO a camp meeting
n, Gafae CorlufV in that state.
A feast had been prepared on Saturday
to be served on Sunday night by Henry
Edwards, Hank Travis and Nat Turner,
and two or three others who were in
the secret, namely. Sam Nelson, and VIII
and Jack whose surnames are not known.
Here they met, ate, drank and consulted.
Let It be understood. this was not a gem
eral rising. 1t consisted Of only five or six
at first. then fifteen, and the number was
gradually increased to fifty. The balance
of the negroes remained true and faithful
TO the last, many of them exposing their
lives to rescue their masters and their
families. Some few evidences Of devotion
to the whites on the part Of the slaves
cannot be surpassed In all history.
But Nat Turner and his deluded follow
ers decided to begin at once, and to strike
bis master and mistress down the first
ones; that master and mistress whom he
said had always been kind to him, and
whom It panied him to destroy. They went
to the house at 10 o'clock that Sunday
night, and found them an asleep. All told
Nat ne must kill his master. (There were
some fifteen insurrectionists in all at this
time, ar :. they were armed with only one
Ratchet and a broadax). Nat struck at
his master and missed his aim, when VIII
severed his head with the broadax. His
wife was instantly dispatched, and then
the baby was taken out Of the cradle,
fondled by Nat, as he had so often done,
and with tears streaming down his face,
he placed it back in the cradle unframed.
Two young men sleeping above were kill
ed while in the depth Of their repose,
never knowing what hurt them, passing
from the repose of sleep to the repose Of
death.
When a short distance from the house
Nat said: MY feelings overcame me and
left the baby, but you must go back and |
kiln that, too, for 'nits make lice" Two |
men went back, the little one was taken |
by the legs and his brains were dashed out !
against the brick fireplace. The insurrec-
tionists, with gradual accessions to their
numbers, now went from house to house, |
killing family after family, till sixty per-
sons men, women and children, were |
butchered-
Strange to say. they were at this fend- |
ish work for ten days and nights before !