Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-05-02

for the cooperation Of the military 70
quell the disturbance, and while the ne
groes seemed to have momentary ad.
vantage over the people, the Regulars
made their appearance and soon drove
the negroes in every direction. II was
an awful scene for time, and we can
not understand how it was, among so
much firing, that more were not killed
and wounded Up to this writing there
is ascertained to be only seven or eight
negroes killed and probably ten to fifteen
wounded Of the whites there is only
one man killed and four wounded, two
supposed to be fatally so. There is no
doubt but that liquor caused the negroes
TO act as they did There are a number
of low doggeries in South Memphis, and
most of the negroes who Joined the mob,
we are told, we're paid OFF at the fort yes
.terday and spent their money for liquor
at these places. But few Of the negroes
who have lived in the city long Joined in
the fray. Quite large number could
be seen making their way homeward, a s
much frightened at their own race as
they were at the people who came to put
down the disturbance. The most disgrace
ful affair Of all was that the negroes were
urged on by number Of white men, who
were seen among them In one case, we
understand, white woman cheered the
negroes, and told them not to spare one
of the white rascals From nightfall up
to this morning at early daylight, but few
negroes could be seen on the streets, and
those who were found received some
pretty rough treatment A thousand
stories we're told -somelhad it that from
fifty to hundred negroes were killed,
and more than ten white men had been
wounded This, of course, created the
widest excitement against the negroes.
Near the station-house carriage was
broken, and crowd gathered around it.
A negro came up to enquire what was
the matter, when one man pulled out the
whip and struck him--others followed,
and the negro received pretty rough
treatment until he made his escape.
Near the Gayoso House negro was shot
by some unknown person, the ball pass
ing through his mouth. A negro hack
driver was coming down Main street, and
when near jackson, he was fired ON some
five times. He set the horses going at
full speed and avoided his pursuers by
suddenly turning down cross street
Another negro hackman, while passing
the corner Of Jefferson, on Main street,
about eleven o'clock, was observed by
some individual, who cried, There goes
a negrop and some persons-some say
other hackmen--fred FIVE times at him.
He was thrown from his hack in the
fight and roughly handled, The horses
drew the hack at such speed that il
could not be taken. About II o'clock,
party met negro near the corner of
Second and Washington there was a
race of some two squares, but, by the
sensible advice of one of the parties, no
firing was done The negro having bet
ter legs than his white pursuers made
his escape
While We cannot but condemn such
conduct in every way, yet it will have a
good effect, and may be the means Of in
culcating in the negroes that respect of
the law which they seem to have been
taught to disregard. 1t may also be the
means Of the authorities taking arms
from their hands, which they have con
clusively proven they are not only I'M
worthy of carrying, but endanger the
lives of the community, and use them to
resist the sworn officers of the law when
doing their duty 1t will also be warn
ing to the negroes not to attempt riot
again We feel deep sorrow for the poor
victims, but we thank Heaven that the
slaughter was not greater, Had the ne
groes been strong enough there is no
telling where the bloodshed would have
ended. Below we give the correspond
ence between the Mayor and the General
commanding We do this because it
was generally reported in the excitement
of the moment on the streets that the lat
ter had refused to call out the troops for
the purpose asked
MAroR's OFFICE, CIrE OF MEMPHTs.
May l. 1866.
GENERAL: There is an uneasiness in
the public mind growing out of the oe-
currences of to-day, which would be
materially calmed if there was an assu-
rance of military cooperation with the
civil police in suppressing all disturb
ances of the public peace. should be
happy to have it in my power to give
this assurance at once IL would intlm-
idate the lawless, and serve to allay the |
apprehensions of the or1erly. rTl, |
therefore request that you will order |
q force of at least two hundred men,
commanded by discreet officers, to be |
held ready to cooperate with the con-
stabulary force of the city, in case of
any further continued lawlessness
am, General, very respectfully, your l
obedient servant,
JOHN PARK, Mayor.
HEADQUARTERS DEPT or TENNESSEE,
MEMPHIS TRIM MAY |, lSb.