The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-09-07

ucF, lie COuIIlNeu 10 SCIdtcll Il utIf
under a pile of fence rails III an
open field, where he laid conceal
ed for the period of six weeks,
never leaving his hididg place
except in the dead of night to
get water. which was near tie
place Of his cOucealment. Think
ing that the worst Of the excite
ment had passed, he commenced
to stealthilv 60 forth at Night
around and among the houses in
the neighborhood. trying Ivy
housekeeping" as he expressed
it. to gain all the Information that
he conld concerning himself.
This course he pur ued for the
space of two weeks, and how
long he would have continued an
moleSted it is hard to determine.
if an accident had net betrayed
his presence
A dog belonging to one Of the
families near his hiding place,
CHANGED to pass ii one night
while he was out, and being at
tracted by the smell of meat. he
entered Turner's cave aud stole
a large piece Of il. running of
with it Just at the time of his
return. \ few nights after this
occurrence, several negroes start
ed to 90 coon hunting with the
same dog. and passed along the
place where Turner laid conceal
ed. The dog again paid a visit
TO the cave Just as Nat was about
to come out for his nightly ram
bles. The dog discovering him.
commenced barking, aud think
ing that he was discovered, lie
spoke to the two negroes and ask
ed them to conceal h1m. On max
ing himself known they fled from
him and alarmed the neighhor
hood of his wheTeabontS. Strong
bodies of men Immediately com
menced the search for the blood
thirsty murderer, who was hunted
necessarily for two weeks. and
was finally captured on Sun
day. the Seth of October, 10y Mr..
Benjamin Phipps. in little hole
that be had dug out with his
sword, for the purpose of conceal
ment, under the top of "A large,
fallen tree. On Mr.. Phipps dis
covering Mats place of conceal
ment, he raised his gun with the
intention of shooting him. Turner
begged him not to shoot him as
he would surrender, upon which
Phipps demanded his sword,
which was his only weapon.
Phipps Immediately conducted bis
important prisoner to the county
Jail at Jerusalem.
A SUMMARY OF TURNER'S CHAR
ACTER.
Perhaps he best description of
Turner's character and personal
characteristics can best be given
in the description of Mr.. Thos.
Gray, who visited him in his
prison after his capture, of which
we give the following extract.
II here proceeded to make some
inquiries of him, after assuring
that certain death awaited him,
and that concealment would only
bring destruction on the limo
cent as well as the guilty of his
own color, if he knew of any
extensive or concerted plan. His
answer was Il do not" When
L questioned him about the insur.
rection in North Carolina happen.
ing at the same time, he denied
any knowledge of it whatever,
and when L looked him in the
face as though | would search his
lnmost thoughts, he replied:
Il see, sir, that you doubt my
word; but can you not think
the same ideas and strange ap-
pearances about this time in the
heavens might prompt others as
well as myself, to this uuder-
taking | now had much con-
verSation with him and asked
him many questions. having for
bore to do so previously, except
in several cases, but during his
statement, | had unnoticed by
him, taken notes as to some par
tlcular circumstances and having
the advantage of his statement
before me in writing, on the even.
ing Of the third day that | had
been with him, | began to cross
examine him, and found his state
ment corroborated by every cir
cumstance coming within my own
knowledge on the confession
OF those that had been either
killed or executed, and whom he
bad not seen nor had any knOwl,
edge Of since the 22nd of August
HE expressed himself as fully
satisfied OF the impracticability
Of his attempt Ii has been eaid
that he was ignorant and COW
ardly and that his object was to
murder and not for the purpose