With his yearning to deliver his people, there mingled not a little religious frenzy and superstition.

Getting his command from Heaven to arise against the masters, he awaited the sign from this same source of the moment for beginning the work of destruction.

It came at last and on the night of August 21st; he and his confederates made a beginning by massacring first his own master, Mr.Joseph Travis, and his entire family.

Turner's policy was remorseless enough.

It was to spare no member of the white race, whether man, woman, or child, the very infant at the mother's breast was doomed to the knife, until he was able to collect such an assured force as would secure the success of the enterprise.