Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-10-30
RIOT AT ARTEsIA.
Bostik7 Demonstrations Of Negroes - The
Hu,-der of Mr.. Hugh Les-United
States Troops Sent for TO
Protect the whites.

We copy as foSso troA the mobile
Register Of the 25ihi
we ksve Just lesrISd OF dlsgracefnl
dot which occurred on Saturday last IN
the dniet little village OF AEteslai on the
Mobile end Ohio railroad, whic5 resalted
in the murder Of young MAJ, hT. lug
Lee, formerly a resident of this city. Inc
facts elicite1 before the jury OF Inquest
are substantially as follows:
The leading spirits of the handful ct
white Radicals 70 be found IN Lowndes
Cossnty, are ii " Lewis, 81. B. Whitfield,
e. 3. Bliss and one Fesmster, a political
rpeetfug wes ordered 60 be held st
Prsiris Bin, some I've miles southeast Of
Artesia. on last Saturday. Negroes, to
the uumber, perhaps, Of one thousand,
came from all directions, armed with shot
guns, rifles, csrbiBes, pistols, and other
fnstrumsnts OF Wsr. Some Of the negro
ofBcsrs VINO conimsnded this motley
gathering, seemingly organized into q
rs.-imsnt, wore feathers in their RATS and
other insignia OF authority, enS -isd
ssbrsl, swords or cudgelE. They y
uouutsd, either on horseback or Ia q,
ISouor was furnished free, and speecaes
were ms6S during the day by Whitfield,
FesmsteF and Others, and although some
insulting rsmErks were made py tne
NEGROES 70 g number OF gentlemen who
were lockers On, she day promised 10 pass
OF without any positive disturbance OF
the peace. In the afternoon however, II
y a. proposed by Ons Levi Jones, alias
Basu, q turbulsnt negro, and grand mcgul
OF tins Loyal League IN the vicinity, that
iDstes2 of gO!ng quietly home, they
should march 10 Artosis, ~ here We viii
show the . Native Sons Of the South, -
a oolored Democratic elub-'ithst they are
nowhere
The head Of the riotous crew came into
Aftesis shortly after i O'Clock; Jones' At
the head Of tie column IS commanding
ofneef, followed BY his staff, and wagon
with drums; then came wagon in
which we're Lewis Bliss and Mr.. Rose.
In this wagon IVES displayed United
ststes a az. and behind 1t came q squE Of
thirteen negroes, armed with muskets,
who seemed 20 be the bOdy-gusrd Of Lew
is and his friends.
Following these came the crowd in
double file, mounted and dismounted,
armed and ansrmsd, whirling their hats
IN the air, and yelling like ssvages. The
captains rode st fall speed up and down
The line, which Wss, perhspe quarter of
a mile in lergth, shouting TO their COM
msnds and brendishing their sabres.
After passing through the village and de-
eeribing half a circle, Mr.. Lewis halted
his wagon with the flag In tbs midst OF
the common. Bliss arose 70 spsak. He
had been speaking but few moments,
when a rifi was discharged into the air
near the sL~sker's stand, either accident
ally or by way of exultstion st
soalsthing the speaker said. Mr..
Lee, v no hed just come 70 the depot from
the country, was standing near where
this ride sfOt was fired, and, fearing s
row. started TO 90 sway. Some negro
shouted "white man" and several voices
1,ried "Eill bimi 1" skill himi" when q half
dozen negroes were seen pursuing Mr..
lee: a blow on the head with 3 sabre
knocked him down, when another negro
mt the muzzie OF & carbine near his back
and fred, killing him instantly. No
weapon was In his hand, on his person, or
sshout the ground. In the excitement
which followed, some negro cried out
AsTo the wagons for your guns" and from
the way IN which q number Of mounted
negroes dashed back up the road by
which they came, IL was presumed they
had wagons In tae rear with q larger sup
plV OF arms. But they did not return,
and the entire mob rapidly dispersed.
Bliss, having no Rudience, walked with
Lewis to uhsre physicisn and few gen.
tlernen were examining the dead body ol
moor Lee, and remarked that ''taoas men
fmeaning the murdersrs) ought 70 be ar
rested, - and then rode away,
A magistrate being present, jury Of
,Do 7est, composed Of six white men and
aiT n. .egroes, was summoned, and AFTER &
caraful examination of several eye-wis-
oeases. verdict was promptly end una-
,oiuonsIv .-iven that the deceased wsE
murdered Ey a riotous mob.
UDon ysrrant.7 issued, some forty ne
s-,oss have been a. rested and carried to
Columbus, and We ls-srn that 3 further
disturbance OF the peGee occurred upoI
their arrival there. ArmeS reslstanes 4
being msde By some OF the ganS In oktio
behs county.
Here is a csse for the Ku-klux smelling
COMMITTEES to look into.