Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-09-05
rnE RAFTsmAN's JOURNAL.
ANOTHER DASTARDLY OUTRAGE.
Oolored Camp Meeting Attacked with Fire


Arms.
BALTIMORE. August 3l-Last night an at
tack was made on the colored portion of the
Camp Meeting held at tShipley' w oods, three
miles from Hanover Switch on the Wash
lngton road, by band of armed despera-
does. Several negroes were badly beaten
and wounded, and white man named Mil
ton 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: 4 white
camp meeting, attended by ministers of the
Methodist Episcopal Church of the North
Baltimore District, of which Mr.. Lanahan
is Presiding Elder, was being held at the
place before stated The Rev. Messrs
Speake, Reid and other Ministers oficiated
at the white meeting, near which, under the
auspices OF the same, some colored people
were holding camp exercises also. During
yesterday afternoon number of young
men were noticed in the camp ground, hav-
ing pistols in their possession. These were, so
tar as can be ascertained, residents of the
surrounding neighborhood No disturbance
occurred during the day. About midnight
whist the colored people were conducting
their religious exercises, they were sudden
ly set upon by a gang of men, making use
OF loud shouts of epithets and imprecations
The attack commenced with the beating of
a negro while on his knees The negroes
at once rose up and scene of wild and in
descrlbable excitement ensued, the women
SCI canning In terror Shots were fired by
the assallants, but in the dark few shots are
supposed to have taken effect The colored
men rallied, and turned upon their assailants,
and drove them off two or three times,
whilst the women fed toward the white
camp, Many colored people were wound
ed with clubs, and there were some flesh
wounds from pistol shots Some of the col
ored men had pistols and used them freely
upon their assailants, but with what result
is not known Finally the conflict ended
through the persuasion of the white minis
tiers and others, by the colored people leav-
ing the ground and seeking their homes,
leaving their camp to the desperadoes, who
further gratifed their unmanly spirit by pill
ing the tents and effects of the negroes, in
Guiding bundles and trunks of clothing, in
a heap and setting fire to the pile, destroy
ing ALL
The white man shot as first mentioned was
at prayer at the altar in the white camp,
where Mr. Speake was conducting the exer-
clses. BY whom the shot was fired is not
known, but the friends of some of theministers
believe that it was fired by some ofthe white
men who intended it for prominent Meth
odist minister. How this may be is impos-
sible to say. Others think it was simply
stray shot, which is very probable. Our in
fomant says the white men certainly began
the disturbance while the colored people
We're engaged in religious exercises The
assailants are reported to have used various
rallying cries among which was the express
sion, How about New Orleans?" There
are many exciting and 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