The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1866-05-11
Gres Riot In Memphis between the
Whites and Blacks.

Gres Riot in Memphis between the
Whites and Blacks.
In Memphis, Tennessee, on Tuesday,
May 1st, ON South street, negro ex-
press man collided with hack driven by
a white man. The white man colared the
negro for it, who apologized by saying he
could not help it. The hackman contin,
tinued his abuse, and finally fgh, ensued.
A policeman came to help the white man
and neg, oes to the help of the negro, and
thus What afterwards turned out serious
affair began. One policeman and ten
negroes were killed on that day. The fol
loving are the dispatches as to what oc.
Cured afterwards:
Memphis, May ..
The negroes of South Mem phis FREQ on
a citizen, wounding him, and assaulted
white woman this morning. A sheriff's
posse attempted to arrest all the negroes,
when they fled to Fort Pickering. fir
ing as they ran. They were driven from
the fort this evening and sought the woods
During the excitement seven negroes
and one citizen were killed and four houses
burned.
The military has been under arms all
day.
All is quiet to night. Fears were en-
tertained that the negroes would attempt
to burn the city, but they are groundless.
Up to the present 13 blacks and whites
we're killed.
The fires are still raging in South Mem
phis among the negro's quarters. Several
are reported killed No effort is beirg
made to quench the fires.
Memphis, May 2.
The outbreak among the negroes was
resumed this morning and continued with
great fury until noon, with consequences
equally as disastrous as those Of Yesterday.
Before daylight crowd of some 500
negroes attempted to gain admission to
the fort, and secure the arms 10 the arsenal,
but were defantly met by the command
ing officer. who threatened them with
grape shot if they did not instantly dis
perse, when they Immediately retired
A general rio.ing commenced about
o'clock, beginning by the declaration of
negro in low groggery, that every
" id white man in the city woull be
bille1 before the cessation of hostilities, :"
which declaration, reaching the ears of
several white men, resulted in the violent
death of the negro. Then the war began
in earnest. Startling rumors reached the
business portion ofthe city and the citizens
arming themselves with all sorts of
weapons, rushed frantically in crowds to
the scene Of the riot, breaking into gun
and pistol stores as they went, and appro
priatng all the arms they could find. They
were followed by the sheriff's force, the
police force, firemen and posse organized
and armed BY the Mayor.
South street was again the battle ground
Here the negroes had collected to the
number Of at least l 800. bearing aloft
flag as their standard, and hooting, yelling
and firing in every direction, most OF them
discharged soldiers, still wearing their
uniforms and armed with muskets. The
citizens charged on them. pouring a volley
Of shot, at the same time, which caused
the rioters TO run, leaving some fifteen or
twenty Of their brethren dead and
wounded on the ground And the return
fire killed one citizen and mortally wound
ing two others. The advantage was
pressed, and the negroes were driven hel.
ter>sketer beyond the city limits scatter
ING in every direction.
Outside the city limits the torch was
applied to several negro dwellings, which
are now mass of smoking ruins. The
white troops finally succeeded in stopping
the riot and all Is now quiet, with The ex
cep,on OF occasional firing in the suburbs
Violence to peaceable negroes has ceased,
but very few make their appearance on
the streets. Most Of the black rioters
are skulking beyond The city limits, and
the white troops, of which there are only
two companies, are diaarming them as
rapidly as possible.
An old citizen, named Ben Dennis, while
conversing with negro Der, in front
Of the Bank Saloon, on Centre alley to-day
patted him on the back, and remarked,
within the hearing of some white men,
that here was negro ae we'll disposed as
white man, or words to that effect. A
man stepped up. and asked Mr.. Dennis
if ne meant whatbe SAID, shot him through
the heart, killing him instantly. In the
confusion the murderer escaped A man
named keenan, was subsequently arrested
ou, suspicion, but no proof. appearing
/ against him, he was released, and the
murderer is still at large. During the
excitement seven negroes and one citizen
were killed, and few houses burnt. The
military have oeen under arms all day.
Up to the present time fifteen blacks and
/, four whites have been killed
Memphis, May 8.
+ Abou. thirty houses occupied by colored
people, and all the school houses Of South
Memphis were pulled down or burned
last night. No attempt WAS made 10
quench the flames. Ten negroes were
killed during the day and uieht. The
negroes nearly all fled to the woods last
night. but returned this morning. The
city remains quiet up to 9 o'clock to sigbt
The soldiers recently mustered out were
paid of in Fort Pickering TO day. They
threa.eped to burn the city tonight.
Great uneasiness is felt. They are KEEP,
in the fort by portion of the 18th reg
ulars. Gen Stoueman this 2 NJ. served
! pctico upnp tho A,ynr T,,,.l i