The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-03-16
The Meridian Riot.

In order to satisfy the public interest in
the late terrible affairs at Meridian we have
printed the following particulars from
the Gazette of the 7th inst /:
BILLY cLoPToN's PARADE AND SAVAGE
THREATS.
Saturday afternoon Billy Cloptcn, had his
thin brigade Of negro militia In arms and
paraded the streets as usual. Billy was ex-
tremely abusive towards the close of the
militia exercises and declared that with cne
hundred men he could annihilate Thousand
white men-that the whites were afraid OF
the negroes and he would have his way In
Meridian. He was not interfered with or
molested.
THE FIRK-NoRE OF BILLr's CONDUCT
When the fire broke out, that same scoun-
drel was on hand thanking God that rebels
property was burning, and praying thatthe
flames would consume every building inthe
city. He drew pistol on q man who re-
monstrated and would have killed HIM but
for the interference Of a friendly negro.
While marching up the street In front OF the
fire with pistol in hand cursing rebels and
gloatlng over their misfortune, he was sud-
denly and very Unexpectedly knocked down,
disarmed and left to colored comrades who
carried him out of the crowd when he beat
a hasty retreat for home. About this tine,
while the fire was raging, and our citizens
struggling to arrest 1t and save little of
their property,
THE BELL AT THE AFRICAN CHURCH,
pealed forth the usual signal for the negroes
TO repair there.
Yesterday morning there was an immense
mass meeting at the Court house to devise
ways and means for keeping peace and Civ
ing repose to the community. The meeting
was large and enthusiastic, the largest pro-
badly ever held in Meridian, over tIve hun
dred persons were present; all classes were
represented there and all chimes; Northern
and Southern men clasped hands in the de-
alterations The speeches were pacific and
pointed and showed that the white people
of Meridian have at last determined TO check
the mad and destructive career OF the bad
negroes and their white cor federates. The
proceedings will be found elsewhere. In
The afternoon, the case of
BILLY cLoProN, AARON MOORE AND WAR
rem TYLER.
came before Justice Bramlette, Captains
Evans and Ford, representing the State, and
Mayor Sturgess, his black friends. The ex
animation is not conclued at this time. The
testimony shows that these negroes in their
meeting on Saturday made very inflamato-
ry speeches. Warren Tyler in stepping up
on the rostrum. placed his pistol on tn e ia
ble Aaron reminded his hearers of the
fate of
soDoM AND GoMoRRAH,
and spoke of what might be the fate Of Mertd-
ian. Other negroes spoke of the possibility
of the town being reduced to ashes. That
Uefy night the hand Of the incendiGry reduced to
ashes seueRty-fue thousand dollars toorth Of
property Ia Meridian.
This was more than our people could
stand, and a company was at once formed
and marched to the residence of the She riff,
where tender was made of the posse and
request made for the arrest of Billy Clopton.
The Sheriff sent his deputy, Mr.. Belk, in
charge of the posse and arrested Clopton
and placed him under guard in the Court
house. The turbulent threats of the negroes
and their white allies called the citizens to-
gether again Sundey afternoon and evening,
when
ONE HUNDRED MEN VOLUNTEERED TO VIM
dictate THE MAJESTY OF THE LAW,
and crush lawlessness, no matter from
whence it might come. The town was well
policed Sunday night and strong guard of
citizens kept over CloptOR to see that he
was neither rescued nor molested. The
did not carry out their threats;
the fire-fiend no longer darted athwart the
sky and the constant and promiscuous
children for months, ceased. One squad of
armed negroes was dispersed and sent home
and the night passed in moonshine, balm
and peace.
The Terrible Tragedy which
CIOpfOn and His Gang
Precinifated.