Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-09-07
Riot at a Camp Meeting
New Orleans Massacre Re-enacted.
Al WHITE MINISTER KILLED.
ARGE NUMBER OF NEGROES BEATEN
TENTS BURNED BY THE RIOTERS.
Fearful scenes-G Great Excitement


BALTIMORE, Aug. 31-Last night an
attack was made on the colcred portion Of
the camp meeting held at Shipley's woods,
three miles from Hanover Switch, on the
Washington road by q band of armed des-
peradoes. Several negroes were badly
beaten and wounded, and a white man
named Milton Benson, while at prayer was
shot in the back of the head and mortally
wounded, the ball coming out of his mouth.
As far as can be ascertained, the following
are the facts in this outrageous affair. A
white camp meeting attended ky many min
listers Of tie NJ II. Church Of the North
Baltimore district, of which Mr. Lanahan
is the Presiding Elder, was being held at the
place before stated. The Rev. Messrs.
5peake, Reid and other ministers ofliciated
at the white meeting near which under the
auspices OF the same, some colored people
were holding a camp exercise also.
During yesterday afternoon number OF
young men were noticed in the camp groand
having pistols on their persons. These
were, so far as can be ascertained, residents
of the surrounding neighborhood. No dis
turbance occurred during the day About
midnight. whilst the eolored people were
conducting their religious exercises, they
were suddenly set upon by a gang of men
making loud shouts Of epithets and impre-
cations. The attack commenced with the
beating ofa negroe while on his knees. The
negroes at once rose up, and a scene OF
wild and indescribable excitement ensued,
the women screaming in terror. Shots
were fixed by the assailants, but it being
dark, few are supposed to have taken effect.
The colored men rallied, and turned upon
the assaiants, and drove them off two or
three times, whilst the women fed toward
the white camp. Many of the colored
people were wounded with clubs, and there
were some flesh wounds from pistol shots.
Some Of the colored men had pistols, ard
used them freely upon their assailants, but
with what result is not known.
Finally the conflict ended through the
persuasion Of the white ministers and others,
by the colored people leaving the ground
and seeking their homes, leaving thsir camp
to the desperadoes, who further gratifed
their unmanly spirits by piling their tents
and effects Of the negroes, including bun
dies of trunks and clothing in heap and
setting fire to the pile, destroying all. The
white man shot as first mentioned, was al
prayer at the alter in the white camp, where
Mr.. Speake was conducting the exercises
| by whom the shot was fired is not known,
but the friends of some of the ministers be-
lieve that it was fired by some of the white
rioters, who intended it for a prominent
| Methodist minister How this may be j,
impossible to Say others think it was a
stray shot, which is very probable.
Our informant says the white men GER
tainly began the disturbar &c while the col
| ored people were engaged IN religious exer
cises. The assailants are reported to have
used various rallying cries, among which
was heard the expression, How about New
| Orleans" There are many exciting anC
| doubtless, more or less exaggerated. stories
circulating about the affair, but the above
| as far as can be at present ascertained, seems
! to be authentic