The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-02

A~1 Nh02hvhA<k0 BAVxs
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Particulars Of tho Anray-Hev she D,sr-rN.
ancc Was Brought Abost-By Whom IL Was
started-whe Were Engaged In It-Ths
United States Troops m Peacemakers.
NASHVILLE, Tenn Sept o. 1858.
At present political excitement Is running very
high In all parts OF the State and the efforts OF the
democrats TO gain over good portion OF the negro
voters have 80 exasperated the unprncipled leaders
OF the radical party In certain counties,
particularly In Davidson. that they are de-
'ermined, let the consequences be what they
may 70 prevent the colored man from ex-
erclsms mis- freedom OF choice without o
struggle me conservatives are well aware OF
TINS discrimination and are exerting themselves to
.nel UTMOST 30 70 act that plausible excuse for
.iouolo wln % gwen those who 90 earnestly desire
70 create bloodshed that may be profitable to them
In political point OF view. have myself assisted
at negro club meetings and heard the white
leaders command the members, under pain Of
their nigh displeasure, to carry about them
~ a. tunes ana IN all places revovers or other IRE.
arms. tho result has been what was expected.
Not negro procession marches In the street but IL
armed. The riot In this city last night was fatal
illustration Of this truth. The procession. which
was the direct cause Of It, headed by one Of the
Police Commissioners, named Sparkling, who did his
best few nights previous at the head Of gang OF
rufnanly blacks, to break up rival political
meetng' - sess - sssas"t gS<S sSs 90. 4
There were In the procession fully one thousand
colored men, nearly every one Of whom had been so
plentifuly supplied with whiskey that he could
hardly tell which was the lighted end OF his torch.
They marched by twos through the principal streets.
and amused themselves by yelling and screech
ing e. Though every mans existence depended
upon the result. Wherever o colored man
was met who was known to be adverse
to the radicals, and who was unfortunate enough to
be without friendly protection he was at once peted
with burnt-out torches and made to ny Tor his very
life. They seized upon one colored man whom they
met In Vine street on horseback, and on the mere
sition that he was conservative threw torches
In his face and placed several under the horse, all
the time endeavoring to pull him from his seat pro-
badly to execute the threat that was made by many
Of their number, who cried out to chang the damned
rebel.n
The sidewalks along the largest thoroughfares
were densely thronged by motley crowds Of negro
men and women, the men being OF those who do not
affiliate with the radicals. The processonists while
passing through these crowds did not attempt any
violence but contented themselves with yelling and
screaming out death to every niger who dldn,S
Of Knoxville All along the route nearly every
Rrvat;s, house was was closed the lights s1.
indications on the part OF the citizens to do
| all that they could to preserve order in
| as downright insult offered to them by inferior
beings, and so the unfortunate houses had to suffer
81 b sasy ws or
sides Of the buildings or against the windows, and
IN some instances Roman candles were aimed at the
| ing In the most fearful manner every time
| the torches or balls thrown struck the
houses. Once or twice it seemed rs though the
shingles OF two or three buildings would take fire
| from the amount OF burning material that was
began TO appear here and there shout OF triumph
would rend the air as though were meant greet
ing to some favorte candidate. In each instance
much to the disappointment OF the processonists.
many OF whom could be heard loudly swearing thai
the "damned town ought to be burned anyhow.n
The procession passed Cedar street, in front OF the
| Capitol-with Alden the Mayor, lolng back In
ovsr aa Ga ana w MS feet sSc s
turbance occurring; but az 1t crossed Cherry street.
and the head Of the line deb0uched into the Market
square the crowds on the sidewalks grew more and
more dense and the wells Of the processionists and
those Of the opposition negroes along the curbs
| raj hubbub negro. crazed with liquor, who was
standing In the crowd, but few feet from y0ur
but not in the direction OF the PROCESSION. as the
ball struck the side OF house behind the man who
bred the shot In second shot after shot IN quick
sion; but nearly every one, Is could be seen BY the
blaze from the pistols was discharged in the AIR,
Il
never thought Of directing their alm In any particu-
4 lar direction. Several shots however were sent
were Immediately responded TO by yolley from the
negroes on the curbs.
IN the meantime, while the firing was at its height
the utmost confusion ensued. From the moment tho
first v0ey or rather succession OF volIeys was fired
the negro men and women In the streets scattered 10
all directions, shrieking and crying out for hclp
Several fell in their hurry and others in the general
rush fell them until ut certain street corners
there were piless0 TO speaker human beings rolling
about and yelling murder at the top OF their voices
The negroes In the procession were not whit less
parences, flags and notices. they broke into frag.
ments as though regiment Of cavalry were at their
heelA As they ran down streets and alleys they
continued to discharge their revovers at random
in the air, others against the houses they passed
and others among the crowds fleeing before them,
while several attempts were made TO fire the avn
ings OF some stores In Cherry street.
About 200 OF the most desperate and drunken Of
sudsded rallied round one OF their leaders and made
. charge into . saloon where several per.
broken In with stones and volley after voiey was
poured In through the broken panes, while those
taken refuge In the upper stories returned the irc
with interest The police, TO their credit be II said
exerted themselves 70 their utmost to repress the
tight; but they were but handful In the midst OF
the desperadoes, and several OF them were severely
dealt with before quiet was restored.
Just a. the rioters the point OF entering
the saloon naasse two companies OF United States
troops were deserted coming down the street with
1xed bayonets, and then another stampede took
place, every negro running wherever no Thought no
could find shelter, all OF them, however continuing
to fire or their pistols through every street through
which they passed. Quiet having been thoroughly
restored attachments OF the military were stationed
at the police headquarters and at the CAPITOL whilo
others were held as patrols In the vicinity OF the
scene OF the riot.
Up TO midnight several bands Of the negroes who
had been In the procession roamcd about the town
threatening to burn the city TO the ground but they
were finally dispersed by the police. Four persons
were badly wounded during the light. and one
negro, named Padden, has since died OF the wounds
ne received on the occasion. No white man was en-
gagged In the riot on either side, although
there can be no doubt that II the negroes
had made an attack on the whites,
rs several or them had threatened to do fearfai
slaughter would have been the certain result. To-day
the election passed or quietly, the presence Of the
United states troops at some OF the polls az the close
OF the day and the experiences Of the night previous
proving amply sufncient to deter even the most
desperate from renewing the riot sitt