The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-29
THE ARKANSAS TROUBLES.
Full PARTICULARS OF THE NEGRO
RAID ON LIKE VILLAGE.
The Killing of Wynn and Murder Of
the Whites.


from Washington on the oath instant, says:
Semi-official details of the great insurrection
in Chicot County, Ark, have been received
on the Tth 10 decide whether the.county court
should subscribe 100000 to two railroads
about being constructed in the northern border
of the county. The result was the authorize
ton of the subscription, and on the llth a
number of white and colored men met IN
saloon at Lake Village, and while discussing
the vote, one Wynn, colored ca-pet-bagger,
formerly of this city. became involved in a
dispute with John H. Saunders, white resi-
dent planter. The latter complained that
persons who had no interest In the county
had taxed people to enrich spectators. 10
effect Wynn retorted that the vote was all
right. and that the colored people were the
majority. and would run the county-if Sann-
ders didn't like 1t he could emigrate. The
dispute waXed warm, and the earnestness of
the parties and the amount of liquor they had
drank caused an alteration between Wynn
and Saunders. The former was an athletic
mau of twenty-eight years, the latter IN feeble
health and past middle age. Finally wynn
gave Saunders the lie, added an offensive
epithet. and struck him.. Saunders grappled
with him. and Wynn drew revolver. Before
he could use it Saunders stabbed Wynn with a
knife lying on the counter, from the effects OF
which wound the latter died in few moments.
Saunders was arrested as principal and Gar
rett and Lugan, resident citizens, as accesso-
ries to the murder.
The probate Judge, James N. Mason. the
negro who recently refused the Liberan
mission rendered him by Grant, sent runners
into the country for the negroes to repair with
their arms to Lake Village, and within three
hours the town was filled with an armed mob
of how!ng negroes. who demanded that the
white prisoners be given TO them. MIS-
Saunders plead with Mason to save her hus.
bands life, and Mason replied that he would
do 80 for the reason that during the war Mr.
Saunders had persuaded the rebels not to
hang him (Masson.) In accordance with this
promise an armed guard of fifteen negroes
was placed around the jail, and although great
excitement pervaded the col0red people,
nothing violent occurred until noon OF the
18th, when over one hundred mounted
negroes galloped into town, and surrounding
the Jail, sent deputation 10 the sheriff de:
manding Of him the prison keys. This request
was denied, but second demand, coupled
with threat that the sheri6's life would be
the penalty of refusal, caused compliance, aud
so soon as they were obtained, the mob, who
had In the meantime fraternized with the jail
guard, entered the Jail, and taking therefrom
the three white prisoners, marched them TO
the rear OF Masson's house, where they were
shot and their dead bodies bayoneted.
and gutted it, after which they retired to
field near the town. Mason and other lead
ing negroes were near the jail when the mob
entered the town, knew of their demand, wit
messed the raid on the Jail, but did nothing to
allay the excitement, 1t being we'll known that
Mason exercised complete control over the
negroes. 1t was feared that his failure to
have saved at least the life OF Saunders was
Indicative of Willingness to permit other
lawlessness, and consequently all of the white
citizens who could obtain conveyance left the
town.
The mob remained In arms. and caused ihe
county court to vote six dollars day to the
guards who had aided them In the triple muir
der. On the 18th one of the refugees sent q
note to the sheriff. requesting him to see that
the rioters did not damage the property ef
those who had been forced to leave. On the
18th the sheriff replied that he was unable to
comply with the request for the reason that
he did not deem 1t safe, under the present
state OF affairs, to visit the house OF any old
citizen.
negroes still in arms. and they have Informed
their leaders that they will not disband until
the white men are driven from tie county. In
the meantime, the leading Republican and
Conservative citizens, together with the Re-
publican sheriff, have applied for regular
United States troops to be ordered to the
scene. The acting Governor of Arkansas, o.
A. Hadley, has been petitioned to unite in the
application, but he has refused action until he
hears from bis adju!ant, who was sent to CHI
cot three days alter the application was made.
Telegrams were also sent to Senator Clayton,
in Washington, urging his cooperation, but
he refused Ii, and refused to see the Presl-
dent until the Governor was heard from. The
citizens fear that, If State troops are ordered
ou:, additional damage will be the result, In
that either they will traternize with the mob
or that a collision will ensue creating loss
of life. For these reasons regular troops are