Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-14
Full Particulars Of the Bloody Affair near
Savannah Last Saturday Night.

From the Savannah News Of Monday. 7th.l
The attention of many of our readers
was attracted by the report of firearms,
apparently in the southeastern section
Of the city, about. a quarter to eleven
O'clock on Saturday night but none
knew the meaning of it until yesterday
morning, when it became rumored
throughout the city that one of our re-
spected citizens, Mr.. Frederick Broad
hacker, had been murdered by negroes
whilst in the discharge of his duty as a
special police officer, regularly appointed
by the Mayor of this city and that sew
eral other citizens had been badly
wounded. Many conflicting stories were
afoat, and the public mind was much
excited thereby. We have endeavored
to collect every fact in connection with
the terrible tragedy that sve may present
a full and correct account; and in doing
so we give as a preliminary a short
sketch of the special police.
Within q circuit of mile or two
around the city, q number of industrious
people, mostly Germans, have settled,
and pursued the business of gardening;
and it is mainly the results of their honest
labor that keeps our market supplied with
vegetables, fruit, etc. Thrifty, skilled in
| the details of successful farming, they
| have made what was once waste places,
to bloom and blossom all the year round,
with the verdure of spring. As class
they are the most peaceable and quiet
citizens, never disturbing any person,
nor interfering in any manner with the
rights or privileges of others. Ever since
| the negro has been made one of the po-
litical elements of the country, and taught
that it was right that the white man
should toll and the negro reap the fruits
Of his labor; that he should scorn honest
industry aud become vsgabond, or live
gentlemaus as he styles it, these gar
deners have found it almost impossible
to raise any produce. Their bloom
ing fields we're ravaged and laid waste by
night; the skalking thief was ever
around to steal their poultry, or the ma
raudiug vsgabond I'd shoot their cows
| Not content with this the vagabond ne
groes nightly assembled upon the roads,
and by firing of guns, whooping and
yelling, annoyed the people beyond en-
durance. The police force of the city,
scarcely strong enough to guard the
| thickly inhabited portions of the city,
| could do nothing for them, and at last
they applied to Mayor Anderson for
relief, Offering to serve in any manner or
capacity that he might direct. Nearly
all the white men residing on Thunder
bolt road, on Waters road and Lover 8
lane, we're organized into volunteer
special police force, for the protection OF
the suburbs and outskirts of the city,
regularly sworn in, and Mr.. Nicholas
| Cell appointed as captain. For some
time past they have been in the habit OF
patrolling the woods and fields at night,
and have been comparatively secure from
depredstions and annoyance. The me-
groes, preveHted by this from pursuing
their thievish practices, looked upon the
special police with deadly hatred, and
determined, as the sequel will show, to
revenge themselves upon the men who
were forcing them to be in some degree
honest. At times the dwellings of these
men. isolated as they are from each other,
and scattered about as is usual in coun-
trv places, have been surrounded late at
night BY gangs Of negroes, who uttered
dire threats Of vengeance against the oc-
cupsnts, which they said they would exc
cute when the time should arrive. The
white people we're somewhat apprehen-
sive Of trouble, observing the bad feeling
Of the negroes, but, as nothing occurred,
we're lulled into feeling Of security.
Il has been observed on our streets
that the usual crowd Of country negroes
who come in here on Saturdays 10 make
purchases and carouse, have latteriy
always been armed. Marching along the
streets, dressed in tattered United States
uniform, and bearing upon his shoulder
an old muskst, and eBdeavoring 70 make
himself as conspicuous a. possible, the
negro has always appeared more a sub
iect for laughter than dread. Oihers
bore their arms hidden away 10 their