Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-09-01
FROM BALTIM0RE.
A Gross Outrage-A Negro Camp
Meeting Broken up by lROWdieS.

.EshLt| ~ - ~ ~ ~ At-f ~ 81
A Gross Outrage-A Negro Camp
Meeting Broken up by RowdieS.
BALTIMORE, Aug. 3l.-Last night an at
tack was made GU the colored portion Of
the camp meeting held at Shipley's woods,
three miles from Hanover Station, on the
Washington road, by band of armed des-
peradoes. Several negroes were badly
beaten and wounded, and while man
named Milton Benson, white at prayer was
shot in the back OF the head and -mortally
wounded the ball coming ont of his
mouth.
AS far as can be ascertained, the follow
ing are the facts in this outrageous affair /:
A white camp meeting, attended by mem
bers Of the M. Il. Church OF the North Bal
timore District, of which Mr.. Lanahan Is
Presiding Elder, was being held at the place
before stated The Rev. Messrs.. Speake,
Reid and other white ministers were Of
ficiating at a white camp meeting, near
which, under the auspices of the same, some
colored people were holding camp exer-
cises also. During yesterday afternoon, a
number of young men were noticed on the
camp ground, having pistols on their per-
sons. These were, so far as can be ascer-
tained, residents of the surrounding neigh
borhood. No disturbance occurred during
the day, but about midnight, while the col
ored people we're conducting their religious
exercises, they were suddenly set upon by
a gang of men making loud shouts OF epi-
thets and imprecations. The attack COM
meneed with the beating of negro while
on his knees. The negroes at once rose up
and a scene of indescribable excitement en-
sued, the women screaming In terror
Shots were fred by the assailants, but In
the dark few. are supposed to have taken
effect. The colored men rallied and turned
upont the assailants and drove them of two
or three times, while the women fled TO-
ward the white camp. Many cOlored people
were wounded with clubs, and there were
some flesh wounds from pistol shots. Some
of the colored men had pistols and used
them freely upon their assailants, but with
what result is not known. Finally the con-
fiict ended, through the persuasion OF the
white ministers and Others, by the cOlored
people leaving the grounds and seeking
their homes, leaving their camp to the des-
peradoes, who further gratifed their un-
manly spirits by piling tents and effects
of the negroes, including bundles and
trunks of clothing, in heap and setting
fire to the pile, destroying all.
The white man shot, as first mentioned,
was at prayer at the altar In the White
camp, where Mr.. Speake was conducting
the exercises. BywhOm theshot was fired
is not known, but the friends Of some of the
ministers believe that it was fired by som G
| Of the white rioters, who intended 1t for a
prominent Methodist minister. How this
may be is impossible to say. Others think
it was simply stray shot, which Is very
| probable.
Our informant says the white men cer-
tainly began the disturbance, while the col
ored people were engaged in religious ex-
ercises. The assailants are reported to have
used various rallying cries, among which
was heard the expression, 'How about New
Orleans.p There are many exciting and
circulating about the affair, but the above
as far as can be at present ascertained, seem;
to be authentic. ..t.