The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-05-10
THE MEMPHIS RIOT.


The following account of the late bloody
collision of races in Memphis appears in the
Cincinnati Ga=ette::
MEMPHIS, May Cd
The riot was resumed this morning, and
continued with much fury until noon, with
consequences equally as disastrous as those
| of Yesterday.
| Before day light Il crowd ofsome five hun
bred negroes attempted to gain admission
to the fort and secure the arms in the Arse
nal but were defiantly met by the command
! ing officer who threatened them with grape
shot if they did not instantly disperse, when
they Immediately retired. General rioting
commenced about nine o'clock, beginning
by the declaration of Il negro in low grog-
gerry that every damned white man in the
city would he killed before the cessation of
hostilities, which declaration reaching the
cars of several white men, resulted in the vi
Olcnt death of the negro. Then the war be-
gan in earnest. Startling rumors reached
the business portion of the city, and citizens
arming themselves with all sorts of weapons,
rushed frantically i'll crowds to the scene of
the riot, breaking into gun and pistol stores
as they went, and appropriating all the arms
they could find. They were followed by the
Sherifs force, the police force, firemen, and
| Il posse, organized and armed by the Mayor.
South street again the battle ground
Here the negroes had collected to the number
of at least 1 500, bearing aloft black flag
as their standard, and hooting, yelling, and
firing in every direction. Most of them were
discharged soldiers, still wearing their uni
FORMS and were armed with muskets. The
citizens charged on them, pouring in a vol
ley Of shot at the same time, which caused
the negroes to run, leaving some fifteen or
twenty of their brethen dead and wounded
on the ground. The return fire killed one
citizen and MORALLY wounded two Others
| The advantage was pressed and the negroes
were driven helter-skelter beyond the city
limits, scattering in every direction. Various
rumors are af1oat as to the number killed,
but it cannot be less than fifteen. 1 have
positive knowledge of eight. 1 could not
learn the names of the white men. Outside
the city limits the torch was applied to sew
eral negroes dwellings, which are now a mass
of smoking ruins. The white troops finally
succeeded in stopping the riot, and all is now
| quiet, with the exception OF occasional firing
in the suburbs. Violence to peaceable ne
groes has ceased. But very few make their
appearance on the streets.
| Most of the black rioters are Skulking be-
yond the city limits, and the white troops,
of whom there are only two companies are
| disarming them as rapidly as possible.
| Some fear outbreak tonight, but l
think the riot is at an end, as the negroes
have been badly worsted, and there is not
much disposition to modest them while they
conduct themselves properly, although the
tiremen and police are much incensed over
the death of their comrades killed yesterday,
and are prevented with difficulty from
wreaking further vengeance on the blacks.
An old citizen, named Ben Dennis, while
conversing with negro barber in front OF
the Bank saloon, on Center alley, to-day,
pattcd him the back, and remarked,
within the hearing of some white men, that
" here was a negro as well disposed as Il white
man. words to that effect. 4 man step
ped up, and asking Mr.. Dennis if he meant
what he said, shot him through the heart,
killing him instantly. In the confusion the
murderer escaped. A man named keenan,
was subsequently arrested on suspicion, but
no proof appearing against him he mas re-
leased, and the murderer is still at large.
The following paragraph appears in an
evening paper. 1t is regarded as containing
more Of fevcrish imagination than truth:
AS are going to press we have learn
ed, on good authority, the following start
ling facts: A gentleman, who resides in the
country some twenty-five miles from this
city, discovered, ON night before last, that
several of his negro employees had deserted
him. Tracing them to this city, he found
one of them this morning in dying condi-
ton from wound he received i'll the fight
last night The dying negro stated that the
trouble last night was planned; that he and
his companions came down to assist in it,
but it came on prenIaturely tonight. He
said the plan was to attack the city and rob
all the jewelry stores and banks. The negro
has since died"
The story is rather sensational and finds
little credence among dispassionate men. 1
am satisfied that the riot was accidental and
not at all preconcerted. 1t originated, as
stated in my dispatch of yesterday, in fight
between Il negro express driver and white
hickman, whose vehicles c0llitled on South
street The city has been greatly excited all
day, and little no business was transacted,
many of the stores being closed.
The Frecdmen's Bureau account of the af-
fair, coming down to IL later date. is thus
summed up in the Washington STIR of Sat
urday evening:
"THE MEMPHIS RIoT-The Commissioner
of Freedmen's Affairs has received Il tele-
graphic dispatch from Memphis, Tenn. dated
May Sd, which states that the riot in that
city commenced in an affray between a party
of discharged soldiers and squad of the
city police in which both were at fault
About thirty or more colored people have
been killed during the progress of the riot.
All the colored school-houses and churches
were burned on Wednesday night. Fears
were entertained that the riot would be re-
newed with greater violence, armed men
were coming into the city from the sur
rounding country. Major General Stoneman
has required the complete restoration of Or
der and quiet by the city authorities, and
announces that if they fail so to do he will
take charge of the city himself and disarm
the citizens. If more troops are needed Gen
eral Thomas will furnish them"
KerfHcky---The Democratic Convention.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Tuesday, May 1.
A very large Convention of the Democracy
of this State assembled in the Courthouse
here to-day
Most of the Counties in the State were
represented.
Ex-Goy. Wickliffe was chosen temporary
Chairman.
The resolutions adopted are as follows:
That we declare our warmest attachment |
to the Union of the States under the Con-