FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134  
135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   >>   >|  
the hanging. No Colored man could be secured to cut the rope that held the trap. An old white man, degraded by drink and other vices, was engaged to act as executioner, and was brought forty miles. Whether it was a fulfilment of Nat.'s prophecy or not, the sun was hidden behind angry clouds, the thunder rolled, the lightning flashed, and the most terrific storm visited that county ever known. All this, in connection with Nat.'s predictions, made a wonderful impression upon the minds of the Colored people, and not a few white persons were frightened, and regretted the death of the "Prophet." The results of this uprising, led by a lone man--he was alone, and yet he was not alone,--are apparent when we consider that fifty-seven whites and seventy-three Blacks were killed and many were wounded. The first reliable list of the victims of the "tragedy" was written on the 24th of August, 1831. "List of the dead that have been buried:--At Mrs. Whiteheads', 7; Mrs. Waller's, 13; Mr. Williams', 3; Mr. Barrows', 2; Mr. Vaughn's, 5; Mrs. Turner's, 3; Mr. Travis's, 5; Mr. J. Williams', 5; Mr. Reice's, 4; Names unknown, 10; Total, 57." Then there was a feeling of unrest among the slaves and a fear among the whites throughout the State. Even the proceedings of the trial of Nat. were suppressed for fear of evil consequences among the slaves. But now all are free, and the ex-planters will not gnash their teeth at this revelation. Nat. Turner's insurrection, like all other insurrections led by oppressed people, lacked detail and method. History records but one successful uprising--San Domingo has the honor. Even France failed in 1789, and in 1848. There is always a zeal for freedom, but not according to knowledge. No stone marks the resting-place of this martyr to freedom, this great religious fanatic, this Black John Brown. And yet he has a prouder and more durable monument than was ever erected of stone or brass. The image of Nat. Turner is carved on the fleshy tablets of four million hearts. His history has been kept from the Colored people, at the South, but the women have handed the tradition to their children, and the "Prophet Nat." is still marching on. Of the character of this remarkable man, Mr. Gray, the gentleman to whom he made his confession, had the following to say:-- "It has been said that he was ignorant and cowardly, and that his object was to murder and rob, for the purpose of
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134  
135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Colored

 

people

 

Turner

 

uprising

 
slaves
 
Prophet
 
Williams
 
freedom
 

whites

 

lacked


character

 

detail

 

remarkable

 

insurrection

 

insurrections

 
oppressed
 

method

 

Domingo

 

children

 

successful


History

 

records

 

marching

 

purpose

 

revelation

 
consequences
 

confession

 

suppressed

 

proceedings

 
France

gentleman

 

planters

 

failed

 

prouder

 

history

 

religious

 

fanatic

 
durable
 
carved
 

fleshy


erected

 

monument

 

hearts

 

million

 

martyr

 
cowardly
 
knowledge
 

tradition

 

ignorant

 
object