about one o'clock
The man thus summarily held up seldom encountered more than two groups before disappearing across lots to his own home or some convenient hiding-place . If he resisted any demand of those who halted him -- But the records of the day are historical ; they may be found in the newspapers of the following date , but they are more firmly engraved upon the hearts and memories of the people of Wellington . For many months there were negro families in the town whose children screamed with fear and ran to their mothers for protection at the mere sight of a white man . Dr. Miller had received a call , about one o'clock , to attend a case at the house of a well-to-do colored farmer , who lived some three or four miles from the town , upon the very road , by the way , along which Miller had driven so furiously a few weeks before , in the few hours that intervened before Sandy Campbell would probably have been burned at the stake . The drive to his patient 's home , the necessary inquiries , the filling of the prescription from his own medicine-case , which he carried along with him , the little friendly conversation about the weather and the crops , and , the farmer being an intelligent and thinking man , the inevitable subject of the future of their race , -- these , added to the return journey , occupied at least two hours of Miller 's time . As he neared the town on his way back , he saw ahead of him half a dozen men and women approaching , with fear written in their faces , in every degree from apprehension to terror . Women were weeping and children crying , and all were going as fast as seemingly lay in their power , looking behind now and then as if pursued by some deadly enemy .