The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-11
The Late Riots I'm Mcsnphis-What
They Amounted TO-The Afhea nm"
the Wounded.
From the Bulletin, 1th.

From the Bulletin, 1th
The riots of Tuesday and Wednesday,
now that they have passed away, can De
referred TO and convcrscd about ny all
classes i'm the community. The origin oi
the riots seems destined to he buried IN
oblivion: for il seems impossible, even four
days after the occurrences, to trace the
real cause of the disturbances. That the
riots were unprecedented there is hardly
one person in the community will dare to
deny. The cause was simply this: n
negro and white man got into an altcrca-
tion on South street on the afternoon oil
Tuesday, and from words they came TO
blows. A couple of policemen interiered
To stop the disturbance, several negroes
came To the assistance of their comradc,
and the riot became general. While the
row was in progress, and when the police
were about to be ovcrpowered, Henry
Dunn, the engineer of engine two, made
his appearance on the ground. lie went
to the assistance of the police, as it was his
duty as a 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 expired. While the row was in
progress, officers Slattcrly and Stephens
were also wounded-the latter mortally.
Faint hopes were entertained that Stephens
would recover, but although everything
was done which medical aid could suggest,
he gradually sank until death put an end
to his sufierings on Friday evening. The
medical gentlemen in attendance on Officer
Slatterly and a citizen named Finn, who
was also seriously wounded, are sanguine
they will recover.
Four negroes in all We're shot down
during the riot on Tuesday night, all OF
whom died from their wounds. On the
morning of Wednesday the disturbances
were resumed near the Memphis and
Charleston depot. By this time the mill
tary had been called out, and acting in
conjunction with the police and posse
comitatts under command of Sheriff Win
terS, the negroes were quickly dispersed
after four of their number had been shot
down.
All the citizens were Of opinion that the
disturbances were now at an end, as the
negroes had rctrcated to Fort Pickering
but their hopes were not realized. Shortly
after o'clock i'll the evening a bright lurid
glare was TO bc observed creeping gradu-
allv over the southern horizon, and the
news soon reached the city that the mob,
acting under the bad counSelS Of their
leaders, had fired a school house and Scve-
raj negro cabins in South Memphis. The
iircmcn turned promptly out, but owing to
the great scarcity of water they were una
bic to Stav the devouring element. In the
disturbance which took place, tour negroes
and one negrcSS were shot down, and plS-
tolls and knives freely used on both sides.
Fires took place during the night in va
rious parts of the city, and the greatest
excitement prevailed among the citizens.
Before the mornings sun rose, no less than
three colorcd churches, four colorcd
schools, and about thirty cabins, had fallen
a prev to the devouring element.
The number killed during these untor-
tunatc disturbances, which all good, law
abiding citizens regret in the most heart
felt manner, were as follows: Henry Dunn,
engineer of No. Fl fire engine, and officer
Stephens, of the police force. Twelve ne
grocs in all were killed during the riots.
Four were killed the first evening (Tues-
day), four on the following morning, and
four. including woman named Rachel,
while the fires were in progress during
Wednesday evening.
There has been great amount OF debate
relative to the origin OF the riot and the
parties who were engaged in it. The tes-
timony in regard to all these particulars Is
most conflicting, but all agree on one
thing-that those who engaged in the riot
were persons of irresponsible character
and it will be unfair to charge these unto
ward disturbances to the good, law-abidins
citizens of the city oi Memphis.
THE RADICAL STORY.
There is no doubt but that there is q
secret organization (Which General Runklc
knows all about sworn to purge the city
of all Northern men who are not rebetS, all
negro teachers, all Yankee enterprise, and
return the city "to the good old days OF
Southern rule and chivalry."
Night before last they did all the burn.
ing. Last night they were to have killed
all the teachers; but by the "treachery" OF
one Of their own party, who appears to
have had little humanity, the teachers
were notified, and all left in the evening
boat for Cairo. sent my own sister home
because was actually fearful for her Hte
Letter to NJ. Kelley.
A New Fcnian Panic.
OWEN SOUND, Tuesday, May 8, 1866
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