Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-08-10
Radical Negroes Attempt to Assasainats q
bon aI4 Democrat. ~

FROM the new OricAns Iimess august -I
william Rollins, the colored speaker,
last evening came within an ace of being
torn to pieces by an infsristed mob Of
negroes as he was going home in the
Baronue street car. About q thousand
of them followed the vehicle TO the corner
Of Baronne and Julia streets, and one
wounded him with knife twice on the
arm. II appears Rollins and several
others went TO the corner of Custom
house and Marais streets, for the pur-
pose of addressing political club. Find
ing but small crowd present, be did not
attempt to speak; Henry briefly addressed
the gathering. In his remarks he made
some allusion to the amity between the
master and slave. At this a crowd of
negroes, who came up at the moment,
shouted, take that man down." "take
that niger along with him." Their man.
ner becoming exceedingly threatening,
the two went out through side entrance,
and moved at a rapid rate toward Bien-
vile street. tt1E'rp !
At this corner colored crowd again
assembled, and loud cheers were re-
peatedly made Of "kill him." go for
him." skill the colored Democratic son
of b." The crowd of freedmen came
within few feet of Rollins, and it was
only by one of the latter's escort barring
their way and crying: Keep back, men,
keep back, don't create any disturbance"
that they could be kept away. The
white men who acted as an escort now
to Rollins we're Captain McKelvey, John
Henry, and another gentleman who re-
ceived blows from the crowd. p lAau (
Having extricated Rollins from this
pressure, nothing further happened until
he had reached the Constitution Club
room, which was just being closed.
This was about o clock. At this time
crowd of freedmen came over to where
Rollins was, crying there be isl"
"There he is r. "Kill him Let me
see the did son of b" and similar
expressions. Rollins white friends now
escorted him to the Baronne street car
and saw him safely inside.
More than one hundred and fifty me-
groes now surrounded the cars and COM
menced yelling like so many demons,
and opposing the starting. Rollins
white friends placed themselves imme-
diately around the vehicle until it
started. As soon as it did SO the crowd
followed on behind crying, "Gethim out,
get him out until they arrived at the
corner Of Perdido, near the National
Theater. The white crowd was now on
one side and the colored on the other,
following at run (the multitude gather
ing at every step) until it reached the
corner of Julia. One man succeeded in
cutting him on the arm twice while the
vehicle was in motion, and twelve bricks
were thrown inside, injuring two per-
sons.
At Julia street Rollins got out. A me-
gro rushed at him with knife, but was
arrested by soldier Of the 1st infantry.
Then the police made their appearance
for the first time, arrested Rollins, and
locked him up. There was policeman
at the car when it started, but he did not
follow the crowd. During most of the
time hundreds were crying shoot him !"
" kill him |" -, s.
At the corner Of Dryades and Canal,
John Henry wanted to arrest the man
who had made an effort TO interfere with
Rollins. Wickliffe, who was present,
wanted to know what right he had to
arrest anybody, if be was not an officer.
Henry told him he would arrest anybody
that made disturbance-that it was the
duty of every good citizen to quell dis
turbance. Wickliffe was then backed by
two or three white men and about fifty
negroes. The affair, however, went no
further.
While Rollins was at the corner Of
Marais and Bienville streets, and at one
or two other places, signal was heard
coming from bar-rooms and on the
street, and was repeated all the way up
TO Canal street, aud which seemed to be
q rallying cry.
1t is proper to state that even preced-
ing these, four or FIVE attempts at riot
we're made by the same parties. About
one o'clock yesterday he was attacked |
on Dryades street, and struck in the |
breast with brick. Had it not been for |
he interposition Of several gentlemen |
he would have been killed then. There
,an be no doubt that the negroes were
melted by white men. The arrest was
made by Corporal Sullivan, who charged
Rollins with melting riot. The stupid
ty Of such an accusation can readily be
imagined. We hear he was released at a
ate hour last night through the infu,
.nce Of several prominent politicians.