Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-03-09

The sefldian Negroes on ihs War
Faih---lEcendiaFism and Riot.
A WhOI5 Block Burned, Together
VITA S28 600 WOr h If Goods.
IIdgs BrsmIstta and Two Worthless
Il gr0ss Killed-Great Excite
meHt.
Meeting Of ths White Citizens
Resolutions Passed Law and
Order to bs Maintained.

lteSoiei1Ao aseUG Id" 0iu
Order to bs Maintained.
We published by telegraph yester
day morning an account of the rio
Of the negroes Of Meridian, Miss.
on Saturday and Monday last From
the Gazette Of that place we CLEAN tn,
following fuller particulars:
THE FIRE.
Saturday night about halfpast
seven o'clock flames were seen issuing
from the roof of the store Of Theodore
SUurEes, on Front street. They spread
rapidly, soon envelOping the entire
building and communicating to the
houses ON either side. The city be-
ing entirely destitute of any fire or
gauiZ8tiOu, the flames marched on
Unresisted, save by tearing down of
sheds and roofs, and the cutting away
OF Notwithstanding and windows.
and by y O'Clock the entire block on
Front street, between Lee and John
son streets, was a mass Of ruins. But
few goods were saved, and il was
with the utmost eXertiOn the
fiery element was prevented from
crossing the street and continuing its
march up to Rhodes street. Many Of
the goods carried out were stolen and
taken away; burdened wagons went
down to the " bend" and negroes
heavily laden, moved OF TO replenish
their sCanty WardrObe5 and empty
Iarders. The origin of the fire is a
mystery; it originator in the garret
Of Sturges' store where there had
been no fire Of any kind during the
day. The incendiary was evidently
some one who understood how to
reach the place and the proper time to
apply the destructive match. In
summing up, we find about SO, 900
worth Of property was destroyed,
upon which there was but $2S, 900
insurance.
BILLY CLOPTON AND HIS NEGRO BRIG
ADE.
Saturday afternoon Billy CIOptOn
had his thin brigade of negro militia
ia arms aud paraded the streets as
usual. Billy was extremely abusive
toward the close of the militia eXer-
C.Ses, and declared that with one hun
dred men he could aunihilate thou
sand white men-that the whites were
afraid 0i the negroes, and he would !
have his way in Meridian. He was
uOtluteTiered with OF mOlested. When |
the IRE broke out, that same scOundrel
was ON hand thanking God the rebels |
property was burning, and praying /
that The flames would consume every
building i'm the city. He drew a piS- |
tOl on man who demonstrated, and /
would have killed him but for the |
Interference of friendly negro.
While marching up the street in front /
OF the fire, with pistol in hand, cursing |
rebels and glUating over their misfOr- ]
tune, be was suddenly and very UneX- |
pecledly Knocked down, disarmed, ]
and leii TO cOlOred comrades, who car
ried him out of the crowd, when
ne beat a nasty retreat for home. /
WHITE vs.. BLACK.
About this time, while the FIRE was
raging, and our citizens struggling to
arrest it and save a little of their
property, the bell at the African
church pealed forth the usual signal /
for the negroes 70 repair there. This
was more than our people could stand.
and 81 company was at once formed |
aud marched to the residence
of the Sheriff, where tender
w8s made of the posse and a re-
quest made for the arrest Of Billy
ClOpt0n. The Sheriff sent his dep
uty, Mr.. Belk, in charge Of the posse
and arrested ClOptOn and placed him
under guard I'M the courthouse.
or SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT.
The turbulent threats Of the negroes
and their white allies called the cit-
Eens together again Sunday afternoon |
and evening, when one hundred men /
volunteered to vindiCate the msiesty
Of the law, and crush laWlessness. no /
matter from whence il might come. |
The town was well pOliced Sunday
ulght, and a strong guard of citizens
Kept over ClOptOn to see that he was /
neither rescued nor mOle5ted. The /
negroes did not carry out their
threats; the tiTe-hend no longer darted
athWart the sky and the constant aud
promisruOus shooting which has |
women and children for
months, ceased. One squad of armed !
negroes was dispersed and sent home.
and the night passed in mOOnshine,
balm and peace.
TIE MEETING ON MONDAY.
Yesterday morning there was an I
immense mass meeting at the court q
house, 90 devise ways and means for \
keeping peace ana giving repOse to | f
the community. The meeting was Il
large and enthusiastic, the largest L
probably ever held in Meridian. r
Over five huudredpersOns were pres Z
ant All classes We're represented u
there and all climes Northern and |
Southern men clasped hands In the
deliberations. The speeches were
pacific and pointed, and showed that -
he white people Of Meridian have at 8
ast determined 70 check the mad and
destructive career Of the bad negroes
md their white cOnfederates. The
preamble and resolutions So
we're adopted: cI
Your committee beg leave to re- al
l0rl THAT they have considered of the o
Instructions given them in regard to l II
90 this meeting matters for 81
Is consideration and action, and beg y
cave to report that iuasmuch as a q
question OF riOtOus conduct and con- y
piracy TO make a breach of the pub n
ic peace on the part of a certain Dor / i
ion of the population of this CITY. Is a
low before the courts by prosecution / 4
( certain parties supposed 10 be en- / ~
aged in it, it would be improper TO ~
xpress any opinion upon that subject ..
{ this time. y
'T0 the end that an expression may II
e obtained a. to the law abiding in u
antlOn OF this community and their u
ispOsition 70 uphold and strengthen y
be law Tor the protection Of life and u'
roperty, and the peace, order and ~
uiet OF the community, your COM u
littee beg leave to offer the following OF
an
Resolved, That 10 Is the sense Of this ia
lsstIug that there shall be no Violence 70
lmmitt5d iu the restoration Of order in "a,
bis city, unless impelled by the stern or
rst Law Of self protection; and that a .
uz5n's committee Of safety, composed Of -
Ye discreet aud prominent citizens, be e5
1uolnled 10 act in concert with the civil bu
q thosi ness 10 assist in the enforcement Sit
the law by any and all means. and es- Or
5cially by furnishing the ohiesrs with an W.
hsient p0ssss upon the shortest notice. "a,
qaell disturbances and make arrests, az
link proper 60 accept. VI
Resolved, That we repel the imputatior Is
false that the white people OF this com | tic
unity desire or intend 70 psrsscute auv Mi
5rs0u iu our midst On account Of Nd ~
os or politics, OF, in any yyav. to in ~
riers with his rights Of liberty or pro po.
3rty. w
Bss0Igsd. That the report started that pc
.-diEp9sed persons, from Alabama or wi
sew here, we're In our city on Saturday tn
ght, is false, and was started for the fhl
lrpose Of raising false cry, tO prevent ~,
vestigalion in the right quarter. -
EeS0iUcei That a copy of these resolu- a.
ons be furnished by the Secretary TO the "a
" papers Ior publication and that 3 ID