Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-21
RIOT ON BEALE STREET.


RIOT ON BEALE STREET.
Collision Between Policemen, Citizens
and Negro SOIdiers-Two Negroes
Badly Wounded.
From the Memphis Bulletin.I
A riot, which at one time threatened to
end in very serious and fatal consequences,
occurred just after dark last evening between
| some negro soldiers and white citizens, on
Beale street, in the vicinity of the market
house.
| From the meagre information our report
ers were enabled to gather at the scene of
| the disturbance, it would appear that ne
| gro soldier was caught in the act of stealing
| some meat from stand No. 80, South market,
| and was ordered by the butcher, Mr.. La
croix, to return it, with which very proper
| demand the rascal failed to comply, denying
that he had any meat in his possession ex-
cept that which he had bought and paid for.
The butcher then picked up meat knife, it
| is asserted, and again demanded the return
of the meat, at the same time making and
advance toward the negro as if to cut him.
At this juncture gentleman interposed
and told the butcher that it would be pru-
dent on his part to keep quiet, as there were
a number of negro soldiers in the immediate
vicinity, and they would be sure to retaliate
if any violence were offered to their COM
rade. The advice was needed, and the
butcher dropped his knife, but had no sooner
done so than Mr.. James Ryan, market mas
ter, stepped up, and with the butt of his re-
volver, dealt the negro a powerful blow,
which inflicted a severe confusion on the tenn
piles, and felled the negro to the ground, in or
next to an insensible condition.
A crowd soon gathered-a crowd of men,
women and children, whites and blacks of
high and low degree, and considerable ex-
citement ensued, during which the negro so
far recovered the effects of the blow as to be
enabled to stand on his feet, whereupon he
was hustled away by the market master,
going through Beale street towards Main,
followed by a heterogeneous crowd in which
the African element largely predominated.
On reaching the grocery store of Alder
man Bechtel, on Beale street, near Second,
Mr.. Ryan stopped and took the negro inside,
either for the purpose of having the wound
dressed or because his prisoner was unable
to go any further.
In the meantime information of the ar
rest of their companion had been communi-
Gated to some negro soldiers and a body of
them, variously estimated TO number from
thirty to a hundred, all armed with musket-
and bayonets, started in pursuit of the mar
ket master and his prisoner. Arriving at
Mr.. BechtePs store, several of them attempt
ed to enter, but were ordered to keep back
by Mr.. Ryan and several policemen and cit
liens who were with him. They persisted,
however, and Mr.. Ryan, fearing violence at
their hands, discharged his revolver among
them, the shot taking effect in the head Of
one of the number, inflicting a severe but
not dangerous wound. He then rushed into
the street, and the negroes having recovered
their senses, rushed after him, discharging a
dozen or twenty shots, all Of which, singu-
lar to relate, proved harmless, so far as per-
sonal injury is concerned, notwithstanding
that the street was full of people
The darkness favored Mr. Ryan. He
ran diagonally across Beal street, in the d.
rection of the bayou bridge, and became
lost to the sight of his pursuers. Several
citizens who were among the spectators,
fearing violence, sought safety in the gro
Gerry store of Mr.. Hollywood, near st. Mar
tin street, telling the proprietor to close up
his doors at once as formidable riot was in
progress without, and either himself or his
property might be injured, Hr. Holly
wood fastened to obey, and (his visitors
having taken flight through the rear door,
had no sooner got his doors closed and
locked, than the Infatuated mob, who had
seen the persons enter the store, came up
and began to hammer away at the outside,
breaking in the panels Of tho door and
quantity of window glass. Moved by
threats of violence, Mr.. Hollywood threw
open his doors, and the mob poured in, de-
handing the whereabouts of the market
master, and threatening to burn the house
if his place of concealment were not dis
closed. Mr.. Hollywood being unable TO
give the desired information, was then or
dered to produce light taking which sew
eral Of the negroes descended to the cellar
in search of the fugitive, but soon returned,
satisfied that the market master was not on
the premises The mob then returned to
the store Of Alderman Bechtel, which they
entered, and while some devoted themselves
to the care of their wounded companions,
others began to plumber, and carried away
quantity of provisions.
1t was then suggested to burn the market
masters house, and the crowd moved up
Beale street, hooting and brandishing their
arms. At this moment intelligence Of the
disturbance was conveyed to the police sta
ton, and fifteen or twenty minutes later,
Capt. Grey, of the night police, with squad
of policemen, arrived at the scene, but the
excitement had almost entirely subsidized,
and soon after perfect order was restored,
the negroes having retired-not, however,
without first threatening the officers of the
law, in case they made any hostile demon
stration. No arrests we're made.
The foregoing are the facts as far as could |
be CLEANED, and are believed to be nearly if |
not quite correct. When the disturbance be- !
gan, people in the neighbcrhood closing |
their houses and stores, Immediately sought |
shelter from the danger, and consequently |
are not fully posted in the particulars.
This occurrence has demonstrated the |
alarming fact that the citizens Of Memphis, |
unprotected as they are, are in imminent |
danger of suffering violence and death at the |
hands Of negroes, melted BY the fanatical |
teachings of radicals to outbreaks of the |
most fearful character. There are no white /
troops here, and the police force is barely |
sufficient TO take care Of themselves, TO say /
nothing Of city with a population Of at |
least 10000 inhabitants. 1t is hoped that /
the lesson will not be lost upon the powers
that be.
A BREAK FROM IRVING BLocR.-At a
late hour on Friday night, thirteen colored
soldiers and civilians who were confined in
Irving Block for various o6enses, made their
escape by digging a tunnel under the rear
of the building. An alarm was given by the
corporal of the guard who discovered the
break almost Immediately after its occar-
renee, and pursuit was made, but the rascal
had made good their escape except one, who
having chain and ball attached to his leg
was speedily recaptured at a short distance
from the prison At this writing, none OF
the others had been arrested.