The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-09
CHAPTER TX,
THE NEGRO UPRISING.

Southern man or woman who saw IL 1oF-
| get it's scenes? A group of oath bound
secret societies. The Union League, The
Heroes of America, and The Red Strings
!! dominating society, and marauding bands
OF negroes armed to the teeth terroriZing
the country. stealing, burning and muir
dering.
The widest passions held riot at
Washington. The Congress of the United
| States as a deliberative body under con-
stitutional forms of government no lon
ger existed. The Speaker of The House
| shook his fist at the President and
threatened openly TO hang him. The
powers of the Supreme Court, the most
august judicial tribunal of the world,
were actually suspended by Congress!
And the President of the United States
i arraigned for impeachment for daring to
| exercise the constitutional functions OF
his office in vetoing their bills!
Congress became TO the desolate South
what Attila, "Scourge of God, was to
civilized Europe.
The abolitionists of the North whose
conscience was the fire that kindled the
| Civil War, rose in solemn protest against
this insanity Horace Greeley and Gerrit
Smith were among the giants now whC
Numbered their protest in the name OF
God, and Justice and the Union for which
the brave had died Their protest was
drowned in the roar of muititudes mad
dened by demagogues who were prepar-
ing for political campaign.
These plain-spoken abolitionists said
things out of school that were not nice,
and caused the judicious TO grieye.
They said. This Congress is composed
of adventurers, bogus generals, contrac-
tors and jobbers. raving fanatics, peanut
politicians and weak minded fools!"
But the people were tired of realities
and loved the fools. The great generals
who fought the war stood by in silent
sorrow.
Late in August Harnbright and Camp
bel county were thrilled with horror at
the report of terrible crime, whole
white family had been murdered in their
home, the father, mother and three chill
dren, in one night, and no clue to the
nurderers could be found
Two days later the rumor spread over
the country that horde of negroes
heavily armed, We're approaching Ham
bright, burning, pillaging and numbering
All day terrified women, some walking
|
old wagons and carrying what household
goods they could load on them, were
hnaying with blanched faces into the
town.
BY night five hundred silent, determined
white men had answered an alarm bell
and assembled in. the court house. Every
negro save a few faithful servants had
disappeared A strange stiffness like the
eel will 10
/ Mrs. CASTOR sat in her house without q
light. looking anxiously out Of the win
dow. overwhelmed with the sense OF ut
ter helplessness. Charlie, frightened BY
the wild stories he had heard, was tryins
in spite Of his fears to comfort her.
Don't cry, mama!'
Pm not crying because I'm afraid
darling, I'm only crying because youl
father is not here tonight! 1 can't gel
used to living without having him tC
protect u.s."
"Pn take care of you, mama-Nelst
and me-
Where is Nelse?"
He's cleaning up the shot gun
Tell him TO come here"
When Nelse approached his mistress
asked:
'Nelse do you really think this tale i;
true?"
mo, missy, doan believe nary wcrt
uf it. Same time Use gettin' ready re
'em. If er niger come foolin' roun' di
house ter night he'll tink he's run ergi1
er whole regiment! I hain't been te
wah fur nuttin'"
"Nelse, you have always been faithful
trust you implicitly
DE Lawd, missy, dat you dat kin do
l fight fur you en- dat boy till drap dea'
in my tracks,"
Il believe you would"
"Yessum, cose l would. En- l want
dat swo'de er Mars Charles tonight, mis-
sy, en- Charlie ter help me shapen in
on de CRIME stone.
She took the sword from it's place an
handed lit to Nelse. Was there just
shade of doubt in her heart as she say
his black hand close over its hilt as h
drew it from the scabbard and felt it
edgeM If so she gave no sign.
Charlie turned the grindstone Will
Nelse proceeded to violate the laws c
nations by putting a keen edge on tn
blade.
"Nebber seed no sense in desc dul
swo'des pohow!"
why amt they sharp. Nelse|
"Doan know, honey. Marse Charlie
tell me de law doan low it, but dey she
hain't no law now!"
Wen sharpen it, won't we Nelse
whispered the boy as he turned raster
DAT Us will, honey En- den you de
watch me NOV myers if dey come e
prowlin roun' dis house!"
Did you kill many Yankees in tn
var, Nelse?"
.Doan know, honey, spec did"
Are you going TO take the gun or tn
sword?"
"Bofe un 'em chile. Use gwine te
shoot er pair er niggers fust, en- de
charge de whole gang wild dis swo'd
Haint nuttin er nigger's feard uf lax
, keen aidge. Wish ter God l had raze
long es dis swode! I'd des walk clea
froo er whole army er niggers wild guns
d Man. hit 'ud des natchelly be er sight
d Dey'd slam dem guns down en- bust den
d selves open gittin outen my way
p When the sun rose next morning II
bodies of ten negroes lay dead an
o wounded in the road about a mile ou
}. side of town. The pickets thrown out
e every direction had discovered their al
n proach about eleven o'clock. They wei
=. ! ,,.-oa - oa,.noa within q mile. Thel