Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-24
The War Of Rscss.

Throughout all ofyesterday the Pros
ser drums" were being thumped over
town, drumming up all of the lazy, sneak
ing negro loafers and pimps in the raEa-
muffin ring, for grand rally" in South
Nashville, at simpsons shop, corner Of
Carroll street and the Lebanon pike: At
an early hour the negroes began pouring
10, and at 81 o'clock in the evening a
large crowd, probably two hundred in
number, had congregated at the shop.
On the opposite side Of the street and on
the outskirts Of the crowd, near some
residences, were seated crowd Of little
boys Of from twelve to fifteen years, with
perhaps one or two grown men among
them. Tho speaking began. Silas f.
Allen, the corporation incubus, har-
angued the greasy, motley, mongrel set,
and ever and anon would fire some dirty
slang at these white boys, who were
laughing at and making fun Of his de-
testable ignorance, but rs we are credi-
bly, informed, made no demonstrations
whatever. Allen got through, aud j. p.
Rexford, the low down, contemplate
scoundrel, coward in the army and ex-
otter Of mob violence during peace, a
"thing," nondescript of low associates,
depraved tastes and dirty habits, an
abortion, unable to practice in the pro-
| fession that his name has insulted, on
account of receiving an indictment for
stealing watch, q villainous beast, un :
worthy ofnotce throughany columns save
those of hell's register. This cowardly
sneak began his speech. but unfortunately
some unknown party threw rock,
which struck the stable and caused a
commotion among the negroes. This
was pretext sufficient for a bloody assault
upon the citizens at the edge Of the
crowd. Rexford, in battle tones, shouted
for. the mob to "go, for" them, and the
negro devils commenced terrible fusi-
lade upon them with pistols and rocks,
battering and firing into the houses o.
respectable, harmless citizens, some o.
whom, at that hour, were seated on theil
front porticos, with their families around
them, little dreaming that murder was
the intention of the incarnate demons
As soon as they fired they were met by a
volley from the boys which sent STAN
pede and the worst -stsges of army
| decentralization into their ranks. 1t was
told us by reliable citizen that Rexford
it was who melted the mob to the deed
of violence, and as soon as they stam-
peded, he too tucked tail and sloped. F"
When the shooting commenced we
we're told by eye Witnesses that the ne.
groes were melted or urged on by Rex
ford and Allen, but as soon as the "cul-
lud troops" made tracks for elsewhere,
the redoubtable hummer chief" and
Bombastes Furioso," of the carpet
bagging fraternity, Silas F. Allen, fed
4 incontinently through door, invitingly
near by, into lady's bed room, in the
house of Mr.. w. B. Fl. Clemons, and
from there, by natural instinct, to the
kitchen, where he stood trembling behind
the door, never once showing his bullet
head until rescued (2) by party of the
metropolitan police
From the statements we obtained from
persons living almost on the ground, and
who were eye and ear witnesses of the
whole transaction, we learn that the first
| shots were fired by the negroes, which
! were then returned by the persons fired
on. Our account above, gathered at the
police headquarters and on the spot,
csincides with the exception of the cow
ardice of Allen and Rexford, which we
got from undeniable sources.
We conclude it was nothing more nor
| less than wanton attack with intent to
murder by the wholesale party Of boys,
few scarce in their teens. And did but
| Justice and the law walk hand in hand,
would see the arraignment of the guilty
agressors for intended homicide. Nash
ville Union and Dispatch.