Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-05-18

/ From the Bulletin, eth. aern
The Late Riots In Memphis--What They
Amounted TO-The Killed and the WOun-
ded. @ $3.50 a3il.t-.2 -
The riots Of Tuesday and Wednesday, now
that they have passed away, can be referred
to and conversed about by ali classes in the
community. The origin Of the riots seems
destined to be buried in oblivion; for it
seems impossible, even four days after the
occurrences, to trace the real cause of the
disturbance. That the riots were unpre-
meditatcd there is hardly ono person in the
community will dare to deny. The cause
was simply this: A negro and white man
got into an alteration on South street on the
after noon of Tuesday, and from words they
came to blows A couple of policemen in
terfered to stop the disturbance, several ne
groes came to the assistance of their COM
rade, and the riot became general. While
the row was in progress, and when the pc
lice were about to be overpowered, Henry
Dunn, the engineer of engine two, made his
appearance on the ground. He went to the
assistance Of the police, as it was his duty as
fireman to do, and easily fell victim. =
He was shot down few minutes after he
entered the struggle; and after lingering in
the greatest agony for several hours he ex-
pred. While the row was in progress, OIL
GERS Slatterly and Stephens were also woun-
,ded-the latter mortally. Faint hopes were
entertained that Stephens would recover, but
although everything was done which medi-
cal aid could suggest, he gradually sank un-
til death put an end to his sufferings on Fri
day evening. The medical gentlemen in at
tendance on Officer Slatterly and citizen
named Finn, who was also seriously woun-
ded, are sanguine they will recover.
Four negroes in all we're shot down du-
ring the riot on Tuesday night, all Of whom
died from their wounds. On the morning
Of Wednesday the disturbances were resum
ed near the Memphis and Charleston depot.
BY this time the military had been called
out, and acting in conjunction with the po-
lice and posse comitotus under command Of
Sheriff Winters, the negroes were quickly
dispersed after four of their number had been
shot down. .
All the citizens were of opinion that the
groes had retreated to Fort Pickering; but
their hopes were not realized Shortly after
8 o'clock in the evening bright lurid glare
was to be observed creeping gradually over
the southern horizon, and the news soon
reached the city that the mob, acting un1ier
the bad counsels Of their leaders, had fred
school-house and several negro cabins in
South Memphis. The fremen turned prompt
ly out, but owing to the great scarcity Of wat
er they were unable to stay the devouring ell
ement In the disturbance which took place,
four negroes and one negress were shot down
and pistols and knives freely used on both
sides
Fires took place during the night in vari
GUS parts of the city, and the greatest excite
ment prevailed among the citizens. Before
the mornings sun rose, no less than three
colored churches, four colered schools, and
about thirty cabins, had fallen prey to the
deyouring element aa....-r
The number killed during these unfortu-
nate disturbances, which all good, law-abi-
ding citizens regret in the most heartfelt
manner, were as follows: Henry Dunn, en-
gineer of No. 81 fire engine, and officer Ste
phens, Of the police force. Twelve negroes
in all were killed during the riots Four
were killed the first evening, (Tuesday), four
on the following morning, and four, inclu-
ding woman named Rachel, whiles the fires
were in progress during Wednesday evening.
| There has been great amount of debate
relative to the origin Ct the riot and the Per; Per
ties who were engaged in it. The testimony
in regard to all these particulars is most con-
ficting, but all agree on one thing-that
those. who engaged in the riot were persons
of irresponsible character, and it will be un-
fair to charge these untoward disturbances
to the good, law abiding citizens of the city
of Memphis. si9' t
THE RADICAL STORY
There is no doubt but that there is secret
organization (Which General Runkle knows
all about) sworn to purge the city of all
/ Northern men who are not rebels, all negro
teachers, all Yankee enterprise, and return
the city "to the good old days of Southern
rule and chivalry." @ 46i7a .ff 97'''
/ Night before last they did all the burning.
Last night they were to have killed all the
teachers; but py the 'treachery' of one Of
their own party, who appears to have had a
little humanity, the teachers were notified,
and all left in the evening boat for Cairo.
I sent my own sister home because was ac-
tually fearful for her life. Letter to Mr..
Kelley. ea 6
FINED Ten DOLLARS. Tie Cotton Facto-
ry oyerseer, Cor driver) at Tauton Massa-
chusetts, who beat the little white girl with
piece Of leather betting, doubled, and cut
one Of her eyes out during the fagellation,
was fined ten dollars. This is getting of
dog cheap-but what can you expect from
such phtlu'at1,ropac people? If it had been a
negro child, and the whipping had occurred
in Virginia, the eyes of all New England
would have turned up with holy horror, and
the whipper would have been imprisoned in
some fort, his property confscated, g., 4.