Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-07-31

1ne AAbe COnMA0Hrat1OE9 IN EeXaSesVoFFfs
bic DevelOpElenss--A servile 1nsurrec.
From the Austin Texas State Gazette, JAY 20.
DALLAS Texas, July I6, 1860.
MAJOR JofN MARSHALL Dear SRI will give
you some of he facts connected with the burning Of
Dallas, and the deep laid scheme of villainy to de-
vastate the whole of Northern Texas The town of
Dallas was fred on Sunday the sth inst, between
one and two o'clock, z. II. The day was very hot,
the thermometer standing at LOG F. in the shade,
and q high Southwest wind blowing. The fire was
frst discovered in front Of Peaks new drug store,
on the west sce of the square, ami continued to
spread rapidly until the whole north side were
consumed, and one half Of the east side; together
with all the buildings on Main street east of the
square, and west Of the Crutchield House. Several
otner buildings were consumed. with the loss OF
dry goods, groceries &c, in all Of them
On Monday, the next day, the house of John J.
Eakens, one mile from town was fired. On Wednes
day, the handsome establishment of E. P Nicholson,
was fired but discovered in time 10 arrest the flames.
On Thursday the stables out-houses grain and oats
belonging to Grill Miller Esq. miles from Dallas.
were destroyed by fire.. All of these were so plain
~ the work Of an incendary, that suspicious were
excited, and several white and negroes were
rested and underwent an examination. THIS led to
the detection OF the most diabolica plot TO destroy
the country. The scheme was laid by a master
mlnd and conceived with Internal ingenuity 1t was
determined by certain abolition preachers who were
expelled from the country last year. to devastate
with lire anO assassination the whole of Northern
iexas, and when the country was reduced to help
less condition, general revolt of the slaves aided
by white men from the Norlh. and many in our
miost was TO come off on the day Of election IN Au-
guSt. The object of firing the town of Dallas was to
oestroy the arms of the Artillery Company, am
mumtlOn and provision known TO be collected here;
70 destroy the stores throughout the country con-
tanning powder and lsad-burn the grain and thus
reduce tins portion of the country state OF utter
helplessness
when this was accomplished assistance was ex-
Peeted from Indians and AbOlitonisIs. Many other
places have already been fired, Denton Pilot Point,
belKnap Gainesville, black jack Grove; some stores
IN kaufman and Navarro. Waxahachie and other
places that do not now remember Each county
mas special Superintendent. white man. and each
county is laid off into districts under the supervis-
ION OF white man, who controls the action of the
negroes in that district The negroes are not per-
hltted TO know what Is doing outside of their inn
mediate sphere of action. Many of our most prom
lnent citizens were to be assassnated when they
made their escape from the burning houses Arms
have been discovered in possession of the negroes,
and the whole plot revealed for general insurrec-
ton and civil war at the August election. write
IN haste; we sleep upon our arms, and the whole
country is most deeply excited. Many whites are
implicated, whose names are not yet made public.
Blunt and Mckinney, the abolition preachers, were
expected here at the head of large force at that
time You had better issue extras containing these
facts, and warn the country Of the dangers that
threaten it. We are expecting the worst, and do
not know what an hour may bring forth. DO the
best you can for We have no printing press and
can do nothing in that line. We may have to call on
the lower counties for assistance-no one can tell.
AL is confusion excitement and dlstrust l will
write again. There never such times be-
fore. Yours in haste. CHAs r. Pryor.
FIRE IN DExrox-From the Houston Telegraph, of
the 31st inst we copy the following particulars of
a very destructive fire in Denton:
''About half past o'clock p m, on the 9Th inst.
a fire discovered in the counting room of the
store of James NJ. SmoOt, situated the corner of
Elm and Hickory streets, at the Southwest corner
of the public square in the town of Denton. An
alarm was Immediately given, and every effort made
by the few who first arrived at the spot to the
books and goods, but to very little purpose; in
few moments the whole building was mass of
flames. A stiff breeze at the same time sprang up
from the southwest, and in few seconds the
of Messrs. s. 81 H. Jacobs, and of Messrs. BAines d.
Mounts, were wrapped in flames. There were
twenty-five kegs Of powder in hogshead Ill the
latter store. which IN few moments exploded with
tremendous force scattering fragments of the build
ing and goods lie every direction; pieces of burning
timber fragments of chains and castings were scat
tered for hundreds of yards penetrating the buildings
on the other side of the square, and setting several
of them on fire, and it was only by the utmost ex
ertions of the few people that happened to be in
town that the remaining business portion of our
thriving village was saved from the davOuring ele-
ment which, owing to the scarcity and distance of
water, at one time thought inevitable. But the
ladies God bless themD came to the rescue, and
the almost intolerabe heat of the
sun, soon brought sufficient water to save several
buildings which we had almost given up to destruc-
ton. As it is the whole west side of the public
square, with the solitary exception of Messrs Bount
Scrugg's store, on the extreme northwest corner,
is in ashes"
The loss at Denton was over 5000
FIRE AT Pilot POINT" At the same hour that the
fire was in progress in Denton Mr.. Turner, of the
firm of Smoot L Turner at Pilot Point, brings the
cad news that on the same day, and at the same
hour, their store at that place was consumed by
a total loss. This swells MIR.
Shoots losses on yesterday to 100000. Surely he
can exclaim, misfortunes come not single handed,
but in battalions. How the two fires originated at
the same time, in the two towns, wrapped in mys
terry, though have but little doubt that they both
must be the work of an incendiary."
Town OF MILFORD BURXED.-The Austin State Gu
see says that at the same time the town of Milford
IN Ellis county, is reported to have been burned.
FIRE AT BLACK JACK GROvE.-A fire about the same
time sad to have occurred at Black Jack Grove by
which the large store of Mr.. Corr was destroyed.
Loss 100000.
By the Mckinney Messenger we obtain the follow
ing particulars of other fires, occurring nearly at
the same period. 1t says:
"On the evening of the same day, and about the
same hour, the store house of Mr.. Dupre at Lado-
MA, destroyed by fire. together with materials
for new building, &C. The loss is estimated at
S25 600
s. Also the large steam Touring mill at Milwood |
n Collin county, was destroyed by fire The loss is
estimated at $4,000
The dwellings of J. J. Eakins AMI Silas Leonard, |
about one and half miles from Dallas, were con-
umed by fire, wi h everything in them.
AT about the same time that the town of Dallas |
vas fired, fire broke out in WaXahachie which
vas fortunately discovered and extinguished before
much damage was DONE"
The State Gazette adds:
And here we may also remark that the same day,
md about the same hour, fire was discovered back
# the rooms of the Intehgencer in the rear of the
,wenSon building which fortunately put out
efOre it had succeeded beyond charming the doors
nd stills of the building. We thought but little of
he fire at the time, but since learning of the others
really looks if there might have been something
urther meant by it than was first supposed.
In view of these ffes and in consideration of
he facts presented, who doubt the fact that
here is a regular organized band of hell hounds
Who have secretly plotted the destruction of pro-
erty and of life! Who can they be, and what mo-
i've can they have? These questions occur at once
D the mind. We have not room to pursue the sub
ect further, but will not close without calling
ne attention of the citizens of Austin, and of our
atrons everywhere to the necessity of guarding
'e their property and of scrutinzing closely every
ranger and every loafer who may be found among
lem"
The New Orleans Piedylue says:
There are letters in this city giving accounts of
,rious fires at Sulphur Springs and Brennan, but
W mail to-day does not bring us any details of the
sasters at these places.
The impression prevails that these extensive con-
agrations in Texas are the work of Northern AbO-
Iionists, several Of whom have been ordered out
Texas.
The Austin (Texas) LpteRigencer of the 18th, con-
ins the following particulars
Since we issued our extra containing intelligence
a terrible fire at Dallas, news has been received
confirmation of it, and giving the particulars of
any other fires in Northern Texas which have de-
rOyed vast amounts of property and beggared
any families. By letters, and by an extra from
e Mckinney Messenger, we have information which
ayes no doubt of there being an Org9ized band of
llans in the cnuntrv- 1Ehn have reonIarlv Laid |