The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-05-05
Iron tAs CAieses HrthaaA 5sss.'ss.s4ss.ss
FROM MEMPHIS.
ess 447s s-Fg 80 aS#
Rioting ResAmed Kesterday, and continued
the greater part Of The. sDay-Fiftee1
Negroes Supposed to Hare Been Killed.

MEMPHIS, May 2.
The outbreak was resumed this morning,
and continued with great fury until nooa with
of yesterday. Before daylight crowd 81
some Eve hundred negroes attempted to gain
adldfmion tAsfort, and 'sseurs the azms ip
the arsenal, but were de6antly met BY the
commanding officer, vhe. threatened them
with grape shot If they did not instantly dis
perse, when they Immediately refused.
A general ffoting commenced about nine
o'clock, beginning by the declaration Of .
negroif , fo~ gfoggery, that every "d-A-d
white man in the city would be killed before
the cessation of bostiiities, which declara-
ton, reaching the ears of several white men,
resulted in thevviolent death Of the negroes.
Then the war began in earnest Startling
rumors reached the business portion of the
city, and the citizens arming themselves with
al sorts Of weapons, rushed frAptically in
crowds to the scene Of the riot, breaking into
gun and pistol stores as they went, and ap-
propriating all the arms they. could find.
They were followed blythe Sheriff force,
the police force, fremen and posse organ
lied and armed By the Mayot.
South street was again the battle ground.
Here the negroes had collected to the number
of at least fifteen hundred, bearing aloft .
black flag as their standard, and hooting,
yelling and firing in every direction. Most OF
them we're discharged soldiers, still wearing
their uniform, and armed with muskets. The
citizens charged on them, pouring 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 wounded two others The ad-
vantage was pressed, and the negroes were
driven helter-skelter beyond the city limits,
scattering in every direction.
vanous runors are afoat as to the number
killed but it cannot be less than fifteen
have positive knowledge Of eight. could
not learn the names of the white men.
Outs de the city limits the torch was ap-
piled to several negro dwellings, .hich are
now mass of smoking ruins The white
troops finally succeeded in stopping the riot,
and all is now quiet, with the exception oi
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 disarming
them as rapidly as possible.
Some fear an outbreak to- night, but think
the riot at an end, as the negroes have been
badly worsted, and there is not much DISPOSE
ton to modest them while they conduct them
selves properly, although the fremen and
polieemeu are much incensed ovsr the death
of their comrades, killed yesterday. and are
prevented with difficulty from wreaklng fur
ther vengeance on the blacks.
An old citizen, named Ben Dennis, while
conversing with negro barber. in front oi
the Bank Saloon, on Centre alley to.day
patted him on the back, and remarked, with.
in the hearing of some white men, that here
was negro as well disposed as white man,
or words to that effect A man stepped mp,
and asking Mr.. Dennis If he meant what he
said. shot him through the heart, killing him
instantly. In the confusion, the mnrdere,
escaped.
man named keenan, Was subsequently ar
rested ON suspicion, but no proof appearing
against HIM, he was released, and the mur.
derer is still at large.