Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-10-28

B From the New Orleans Bee, Of Saturday
AbOut two O'clock yesterday morning
q large fire occurred in Gretua, destroy
ing between twelve and fifteen houses,
embracing nearly all the principal busi-
ness portion of the town. The fire was,
/ doubtless, frsm all accounts, the work OF
/ incen5iarism, and is supposed to have
been done by negroes.
The fire and general sense ef insecurity
/ OF the pSODle caused the whites 10 tuIn
( out in large foraa, producing great excite
ment. The firs originated in an alley
running between the residence Of Mrs.
Blown and house occupied Wy Eegrees
on Front street, and speedily envelOPsd
and destroyed the building and ten or
twelve other houses, extending as far IS
the PLGnix Foundry. It wss long be
fore the flames we're suOGusd. AT hall
past four O'Clock negro was seen carry
ing eff 3 bundle of OTy goods Ttom the
ruins Of q store, the stock OF which had
been piled in front. He was arrested by
police officer LsZgrre, and the articles
taken from him. While the officer was
bringing his prisoner to jsil he IVES
knocked dOwB by another negro. A
young man standing by struck the as
saisnt with sG az handle, and general
row commenced.
About two hundred negroes eoDgr5-
gated in the course of q few minutes.
Possibly City shuts were fired. Ole ne
gro was killed near the Isves above
tie ferry landing. One was moTtslly
wounded, and two more slightly
wounded.
When Lszsrre made the arrest OF the
negro he was assaulted by noted leader
Of the negro Radicals in Gretna, named
Sam Perkins, to whom the difficulty
which followed Is sttributsd.
While the fi6 was raging, the plunder
OF the citizens by The negroes so SsEra-
waited the whites, coupled with the as
surRnce that the negroes had fired their
premises and rendered them almost des-
ti.ute, IS to make the plUnder somewhat
general, E2d the result, independent OF
tie loss OF property, somewhat serious in
tie loss OF life. l'he negroes, as If by
preconcert, we're, many or most Of them,
armed. The Tesul5 was that two or three
were killed, and several OF them snd
some Of the whites slightly wounded.
The negroes soon bscaule psuic-stricken
and fed with Bull Run stampede 10 the
woods, running in the direction Of Free
town and towards the COsmOpolite at the
Company Canal.
The excitement soon spresd into the
y QlEin 1(lstIACli Oh Ills sue 0i TIE IiFSGf
and the police took possession Of the ferry
boat to prevent persons, who rushed to
it by hUodreds, frOE crossing. They
were forced TO let the bOsC pass. as usual. 4
Gen R0Ussesu sent over a company Of
infantry, snd had the feTry-bosts stopped
to prevent further crossing from this
side, and st last accounts order had been
pretty effectually restored.
The negroes shot were killed in the act
Of robbery. Their bearing for some tims
past hiss been such ss to cause the most
serious apprehensions on the part OF the
whites. The town presents very much
the appearance Of hundreds which were
left in ruins in the South by the DESC
lating hand Of Mars, and many families
are left destitute by the loss OF their
homes and household effects.
The following ere sufferers by the fire
Mrs. Browns grocery, insured MIR. Mar
tiu KGgel, grocery, etc, not insured
jacob Levy's dry goods store, One-fourth
insured Mr.. BArtels, One-half insured
Mrs. Links grocery, total loss; Joseph
Fishers dry goods, ali insured John
Kaiser's grocery, etc, insurance not
snown; courthouse, books, papers, etc,
insurance not known, besides number
Of small families, who lost every thing.