Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-08-26
NEGRO RIOT.
Three White Men Murdered
by the Blacks.
Suppression of the Distur-
bance- The Metropoli-
tans Called into
go Service.
A Speck Of War at Lafayette
Depot.
From the Mempbi, Apps,l. Auo d.

FROM the Memphls Appeal, Aug. "a.
A telegraphic message was received yes
terday afternoon by W. J. Ross, Superin.
PENDENT Of the Memphis and Charleston
railroad, from the operator at Lafayette
depot. giving the intelligence that a riot
between the whites and negroes was in
progress at Macon, a village in Fayette
county, about thirty-fve miles from Mem.
phis, and some seven miles northeast OF
the station from which the dispatch was
| sent
MEASURES TO STOP IT.
A request 10 notify the authorities here
was promptly complied with, and by 4
o'clock special train was rolling out of
the depot, conveying thirty men of the
Metropolitan Police force, under command
of Capt. Smith, of the fret district, to the
scene of the disturbance.
| SUPPLEMENTARY RIOT sQUELCHED. n
| The train was met at Lafayette by the
deputy sheriff of Fayette county, who in-
formed Capt. Smith that the negroes had
been dispersed and the riot quelled, but
stated that band of armed blacks had
made stand at point some mile and a
half south of the station, and requested
the captains aid in scattering or arresting
the lawless ruffisns, which, of course, was
| granted. The force moved out, officers G.
| Burt Smith and - Holleran, acting
as skirmisher'.a The pickets came upon the
| negroes suddenly, who levelled their guns,
at the officers and sent these gentlemen to
the right about in very short order. The
main body, though, was more than the
negroes could stand, and they fled, panic.
stricken, pell smell into the bushes.
FEW ARRESTS MADE
One Of the blackguards was captured
with his gun in his hands, and three others
who had thrown their guns away and
taken refuge in the house of an old darkey
not implicated in the emuete, were hauled
out of their hiding-places, and delivered
to the posse acting with the Deputy Sheriff
Of Fayette county.
HOW THE ROW COMMENCED.
We give the three statements in our
possession as TO the origin of the dis
turbance, calling attention to the contra
dictory character Of the reports, except as
regards the killing of the white men: 81
THE FIRST NEWS
was that party Of negroes were, on Sunday
evening, collected under some trees 10 or
near the village, engaged in eating melons,
and that some white boys at play near BY
threw brick or stone which accidentally
struck one of the negroes. The negro re-
taliated by whipping the boy who had
thrown the missile, and was in turn shot
and killed by the boys brother. During
Sunday night the negroes held a pow. vow
over the body of the man who had been
shot, and which was left lying where il fell.
Monday morning at daylight found
an armed mob of negroes
variously estimated at from one to i've
hundred strong, marching about the
streets Of the village. Their first demon.
stration was TO demand the boy who had
killed the negro, and who had been arrest
ed soon after the killing. This was very
properly refused, and The refusal was fol-
lowed by an attempt to tske him by force
from the custody of the officers, which was
resisted by the villagers. A fight ensued,
the negroes firing the first Volley, and
MORALLY woundiDg three white men in
the assault. The whites rallied, however,
and drove the negroes 10 the woods. No
mention Of any Negroes being killed in the
melee.
A SPECIAL TO THE APPEAL
from the operator at Lafayette Depot gives
another account of the affair, which is az
follows: IA Mr.. Boswell shot and killed a
negro on account of some misunderstand-
ing between them. From the threatening
Of the negroes, the citizens sent to Somer-
vile for the Sheriff and posse of men.
They came this morning and found
about fifty armed negroes around the
dead body of the one killed. The
Sheriff ordered them to give up their guns
and bury their dead, upon which they
fired upon the posse, wounding four, some
MORALLY, after which the Sheriff and his
men dispersed the negroes, and now holds
the place. Troops sent here on a special
train have returned TO Memphis, as their
services we're not required. The above is
the best information | can give. l have
not learned how many negroes we're killed
or wounded, if any"
THIRD VERSION
was furnished us by officer G Burt Smith,
who gathered his information at Lafayette
depot. He says: 81 was told by the deputy
sheriff of the county, who we met at the
depot, and also by Others, that the fuss
commenced by negro threatening to
shoot a white man, a resident of Macon.
The man asked the negro an explanation
of his conduct, telling him at the same
time to either deny the threat, Withdraw
il, or give up his weapons The negro
saucily refused to comply with either of the
requirements, attempting to draw his pis'
toll as he spoke, when the white
man shot him dead with a revolver. The
friends of the negro met and swore ven
geance over the dead body, and commenced
their bloody work early on Monday morn
ing by firing on party of villagers, NOR
tally wCunding three at the first volley.
The negroes were then attacked by the
whites and made to take to the wood.
The same parties told me that they thought
the affair was over, and that no further
trouble need be apprehended."
THE METR0POLITANS
left Lafayette station at 6 o'clock last
| night on their return to the city. There
were no signs Of any further disturbance
when they started homeward. The train
arrived at the depot in the city about 9:l5
| p. m, when the detachment was dismiss.
ed.
THE PRoMPTITUDE
with which the detachment was got to-
| gether, armed and started on the route to
the locality Of the riot, reflects great credit
upon Superintendent Pearne.
THE RAILWAY AUTHORITIES
also expedited matters materially by hav"
ing train ready at the earliest possible
moment.