Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-14
.DOMESTICS.
DOMESTICS.
DOMESTICS.
D0MESTICS.
WELLS &
FLANNELS.
FLANNELS.
FLANNELS.
FLANNELS.

not carry some SORT VI "cnpOp. w
Saturday nights they would leave the
city for home, aud generally assembled
in large gangs at the head of Thunder
bolt road, where, in the numerous grog-
shops Astounding in that region, it has
been their custom to drink and carouse,
and create such tumult as to disturb
citizens residing many blocks away. A
fortnight ago the city police made de-
scent upon and captured one OF these dis
orderly gangs, and this occurrence proba-
bly, stimulated their anxiety to revenge
themselves upon the country police"
as they called the special force.
On Saturday morning last very many
negroes came to town. One OF them,
while on the way in, halted in front OF
the dwelling of Mr.. Spears, on Thunder.
bolt road, Just beyond the toll-gate, and
fred two or three shots into the house.
They then cried out that they wanted
to see the country police when they
returned at night, thus giving proof of q
settled purpose, well-understood and
organized,plan to have disturbance. as
soon as night should throw its dark
mantle around them.
Saturday night was exactly suited to
their mWderous purpose. 1t was cloudy,
dark and threatening rain, the moon did
not rise until late hour, and it was
doubtful whether it would shine at all or
not. Everything was favorable for the
complete success of their murderous
plans, and they evidently carried them
out to preconcarted arrangement
We learn from gentleman who wasin
the vicinity where the bloody occurrences
of the night took place, how the negroes
conducted themselves. He was on the
road, and, observing the suspicious &C.
tions of the negroes, took refuge In
house near at hand, where the fiends had
no idea that white man was concealed,
or he would probably have also been
murdered. He states that there was
regular ambush and decoy. Some thirty
or forty negroes were concealed in the
cid brick-yard field, on Thunderbolt
road, just beyond tie bridge over
Bilbo's canal. He gained point where
he could hear what was going on, and
observed Eve or six negroes come out
into the road, walk up and down, and
fire off pistols at intervals, and BY shouts,
whoops and yells, endeavor to attract ths
patrol to that point. A man came along
the road on horseback, and our informant
says he heard the order passed from
some one who appeared to be in author
ity to those in the road to halt the per-
son. The words were, Halt the -,
and if he don't halt, shoot his horse "
The man stopped his horse, and the
negroes talked with him for two or
three minutes, but not loud enough for
our informant to hear the language used,
and then they either allowed the trav-
eler to 20 or he broke from them. AT
any rate, he came galloping down the
road, and when he was few
yards distant from the negroes, a
volley of shots was fred after him,
but apparently without effect. The me-
groes then resumed their disorderly con-
duct, and in short time after accom-
plished their wish the patrol guard came
out on the Thunderbolt road. The patrol,
our informant says, did not come up in
body, but Mr.. Broadbacker, as he after
wards ascertained (it being too dark to
see), cGne on ahead by himself. As he
met the negroes, the Captain ordered him
to halt, and at that instant shot was
fred, and Broadbacker fell. The Captain
then gave the order, fall into line,
boysw At the word of command the
whole body of negroes from the old
brick yard spraDg into the road, and
fred volleys of shot out the road,
into the fields, and in every direc-
tion. The white men returned few
shots and then broke, jumped into the
fields aud ran for their lives. A man,
afterward ascertsined to be Mr.. Quint,
who was wounded in the road, climbed
the fence into the yard where our in
formant was, and fell upon the ground.
Afterward he arose and attempted to get
away from the place, and the negroes
fred at him again. He fell into ditch
in the yard When the whites were oil
gone the negroes fred into the house,
then got out in the road and whooped:
yelled, called upon the country police
to come back and got some more of the
same treatment, and conducted them
selves like a pack Of demons. They
sang Rally Round the Flag" screamed
for Joy, and in hilarious mood marched
out in the road in the direction of Thun-
derbolt, discharging their guns at inter
walls.
From the many statements given US
we compile the following as reliable:
The patrol had been ordered to meet
at Captain Cells gate, on Waters road
(leading from Thunderbolt road at the
toll-gate to Lovers lane) at ten o'clock;
but previous to that time Henry H. Mas
tick, residing on Lovers lane, in com
paHy with George Wsgener, started out
They went to the house Of Mr..
Verm, we're Joined by him, and
proceeded to the toll-gaie, where
they found Frederick Broadbscker,
Jacob Klein, Frederick Hurt, Fred
erick Brickmau, John Quint asd Joseph |
Obi. The party, composed Of nine per-
sons. was taken command Of by Msstick.
They patrolled about for q time, and
finally concluded TO separate and 20 |
home. Mastick and Wagner had started
of, leaving Broadbscker and the others
at the toll-gate, when they were signaled |
to come back. On returning they heard /
a great noise dswu the road toward town,
appearing TO come from Schuylers
liquor store. This was about
quarter to eleven o'clock They /
al started down the road, and when
q little more than q hundred yards
from the toll-gate they met i've or six
negroes. Broadbacker went up, took /
hold Of one and asked him sho Il was
that had made such a noise along the
road. Theoegro said that be did not