The New York herald., 1869-11-29
TIE RECENT OUTRAGEs IN TENNESSEE.
Negroes Attached by u Body Of Masked
Whites-Their RepuIse, with Loss of Two
Killed and Two WOundcd-SubseQueps
LynchinG of five of the NeQraes.
From the Memphis Avalanche, Nov. 25.I

lrTOm Tie memphis AvalanCnc, Nov s5.J
A series OF tragic events took place out here In
0bion county last saturday, Sunday and Monday, IN
which Blk persons lost their lives and two others
were very seriously wounded. The simple particu-
lars OF the little war were detailed to US last night
by reliable gentleman named Wills Jones' upon
whose plantation In Oblon county, OF the blood
was shed and the tragedy had Its origin. lie was
accompanied by j. ii. Wells, another citizen OF Obi0n
county, who has a large plantation near Troy Mr.
Jones Is merchant as we as planter. and lives at
Tipt0nville IN the above named county. on his
plantation there are two groups OF cabins-one at
tne north end ana the other at the south end--and
situated about mile or so apart. In these cabins
slaves.
Mr. Jones represents that country and particularly
his part OF II, as beng very profitable place for
FARMING, ana labor as very scarce; IN fact there
was quite O rivalry about LABOR. There is also
another circumstance which seems to have no little
existed there from which the present fearful tragedy
resulted. On account or the land being naturally
ricn, and consequently very valuable, number OF
white men, who own no land themselves are very
deslr0us OF renting. Many or the planters do not
wish to rent out their land, preIerring 70 work it
themselves by hiring negroes, whose labor they ind
prontable The andless farmers do not ike tins,
and frequently show their resentment In very rudo
manner IT IS not certain that the present difcultY
originated III this way, but, in the absence OF any
other apparent cause, becomes necessary to make
this explanation, as 1t may serve to throw some
light on the bloody events.
On last Monday week. late in the night gang OF
six masked men went TO the group OF cabins at the
out one one Of the coiorea men and laid HIM on the
ground, as II they were about to whip him. They
took the arms which they found In tue CABIN, with
who happened to be at the cabins ran and told his
father how things were. lie went immediately to
the scene. and demonstrated with the lntruders.
They alleged as their reason for the extraordinary
proceeding tnat the negroes had arms that they mad
no right TO have them and would not De allowed 70
keep them. Mr.. Jones nnally persuaded them to 60
Oh, remarking, In his conversation with the prinC-
pal man OF the gang, that his negroes were peace
aDle tnat they interIered with no one, and taat he
would not allow any one to interfere with them or
disturb them In the peaceabe pursuit OF their proper
httSp Rhnv Taft tAA t.lAe and ~ lrNNu
retired to his own dwelling. In about two or three
hours afterwards they again returned. 1t was now
the cabins they commended firing. According TO
instructions received from MIR. Jones the negroes
returned the fire and beat the fellows away. Thus
ended the first encounter. without any bOodshed.
Mr.. Jones, who Is an emlnenty respectable citi-
zen, and evidently man not to be trlned WITH had
his ''colored men IRON all outrage" He was .
strong Southern man himself all through the war.
mad three sons in the Confederate army and felt
It his duty to see that his people not molested
In any way, ana he resolved that they should not,
SO he encouraged his SIX negroes TO resist every
attempt that might be made 10 interfere with his
rights. He taught them that no man, white or
back had any right or preteXt to go TO their cabins
negroes elt that they had the moral support OF their
employer well that OF other respectable
planters in the nelghborhOod, they became cOura-
geous and resolved To defend themselves The week,
however passed oil TRANQUILITY enough and no fears
OF q repetition OF the visit were entertained until
Saturday afternoon, when unaccountable riding up
and down the road was observed This with other
signs of an unusual character aroused the lears OF
the negroes and OF Mr.. Jones. They became con-
vinced that o visit would be paid that night, ana
preparations were made accordingly.
The cabin in which they assembled Is 0Oubie-Og,
with q passage In the middle, same as those COM
monty seen In the country. Mr. Jones, with young
man named Albert Nall a son of Mr. r. G. Nail. Tor.
merly u member OF the Legislature were In the
cabin at tue time, sitting at the fire. In the other
END OF the cabin were two work negroes armed with
guns. They began TO think that no visit would 10
made that night, Wien the door. behind which was
nothing but brick. was showed open, and three
away at the group around the fire. The fire was
turned with spirit and the three men reeled back
discounted. The negroes IN the other wing OF the
cabin being reused up by the sound OF firing opened
their door and hrcd voley into the retreatng as
sallants. Young Nall Jumped IN IN between the
stop. This produced o cessation or hostilities,
during which one OF the maskers was captured, and
would have been shot by negro but for the intcrpO-
sltion OF Nall whose mission was for peace. He
was allowed to go aud Joln his companions some
fifty yards away across u field. I'm the fight man
called Robert Dickenson was shot In the face and
killed Instantly. He lived seven miles Off across the
Kentucky llne and was respectfully connected. He
was ABOUT twenty years Old. one OF those mortaily
wounded was bis cousin, Benjamin Becham from
the same neghborhoo1 and about the same age.
it may be proper to state here that during the war
the father aud grandfather ana hve brothers and
sisters OF Dickinson were murdered by some negro
Union soldiers. The recollection OF sucn q bloody
deed may have had some influence upon the present
disturbances.
THIS was ON Saturday night. The people about
jones' were well aware after this that great excite
ment would be raised and tnat tue negroes would he
in great danger. Jones himself was for keeping
them wnere they were and DravIng every danger aud
resisting every assault knowing That he was In the
right; but the advice ana remonstrances OF friends
whom he respected induced MIN to Change mis- mlnd
and he allowed the negroes to go INTO the woods,
where they remained all night and returned In tho
morning.
the negroes were captured In the woods SuDse-
qhenSy three more were taken, and In company with
undertook to be responsible for tnele safety, the
whole six were marched OF to the county jail at
Troy, twenty-dve miles distant. After crossing
ger. fhey were not long there, however.
when they were surrounded by an infurlated
mob, VINO demanded the six prisoners IL would be
entirely vain TO resist this passionate crowd so tho
prisoners were oil gwen up save one. VINO was no.
participant i'll the previous fights. they were taken
some distance from the place and five OF them rid
died through and through with pistol bullets. with
out even the pretence OF trial, never dreaming OF
the possibility OF q person being among them who
had nothing at all to do with the other butcbery.
ON Sunday and Monday the excitement all over
the country was intense, and numbers OF people
nocked 10 the scene OF the first tragedy. number
oi MR. nc zones @ foo % una. ne ougas 70
ing to do so. He alleged that he had done nothing
but his duty in the whole business; was willing 70
submit to the law; was prepared TO have his acts in
vestigated before proper tribunal, and he did not
think 1t proper In man of his standing to fly from
his home ike maefactor
When tho mother OF Dickinson came along, O
very fine type OF matronly beauty and dignity, OF
course me e.. scene Gene was extremely moving She
manner; IN glowing yet terrible language called 10
mind the fact OF her husband and her father and
five of her children being murdered by negroes
some years ago, and now the last OF her offspring
ana the nower of family lay cold and stf at her
feet, butchered by the sauie diaboiical hands. By
language ike this she Unnamed the crowd TO such
degree tnat the friends OF Mr.. Jones had real
grounds Tor expressing their fear OF hs life. They
at length prevailed on him to leave In company
with deputy sheriff. Monday morning they got on
The Louisville. twenty miles below 1iptonv,iie, ana
came TO Memphis. This Is the simple truth about
one OF the most sangunary tragedies that has dis
graced the annals OF West Tennessee.
TIE GLOUCESTER tMAss.) FisHEaiEs.-Thc uauing
season OF 1859 N about over and tho Gloucester Ad
peTttser says IL has proved moderately successful
one but tile numerous LOSSES together with the slim
macKerol catch at the bay. WIN have tendency TO
make the balance come on the wrong siue Vi tne
ledger In many Instances; still, many OF the noet