Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-12-28
Murder and PilIage by Armed Ne

Murder and PilIage by Armed Ne.
groes.
A Memphis dispatch, under date of the
goth, contains the following details of the
negro insurreotion at Chicot, Arkansas.
Reports previously sent in these dis
patches regarding the killing of three
white men by negroes, at Chicot, Ark,
and the evacuation of that town by all
itsinhabitants. is fully confirmed tonight
refugees from that place-men, women
and children, many of whom fled with
out q change of clothing or food, so great
was their terror. They report that the
negroes, to the number Of three hundred,
took possession Of the town, patroled the
streets, pillaged the stores and dwellings,
and set fire tn several. The citizens say
that the Sheriff spowerless, and although
Republican, dare not venture out. a
letter from brought him to the authorities
here by one of the refugees, confirms
that portion of the statement. In seve-
raj instances the sayages had resorted to,
rapine, and under no consideration would
they permit the burial of the three men
killed, and to. day their bodies are proba-
bly, lying in the woods prey for buz-
yards. Those who arrived here walked
fifteen miles through the woods at night
to escape the negroes, and are without
the necessities of life. A subscription is
now being raised, and they will be cared
for.
LATER.-A message has just arrived
from Chicot, Ark, with letters from
prominent representative citizens and
the Sheriff to the authorities at Wash.
ington, begging assistance. The mes.
senger states that those who were unable
to get away arc now compelled to remain
in town by negroes, all of whom are
armed. One boat that contained fami-
ly escaping for refuge was fired into by
negroes, and one person killed. The ne
groes then ordered the boat to return TO
the shore, which it did. A reign OF ter
ror exists.
MIDNIGHT.-It is now appears, from
the statement OF passenger who just ar
rived per steamer from below, that the
plot to release and lang the three white
men at Chicot, Arkansas, had been COM
municated to the negroes living i'll Mis-
sissippi, and that a number of them aid.
ed in the cold-blooded murders alluded
to i'll the previous dispatches. 1t also
appears that the origin of the difficulty
was discussion between G. w. Wynn
and John II. Saunders, the former ne
gro lawyer recently from Washington, as
to the vote Of the county subscribing
money to rail roads-one defending and
the other opposing the vote-resulting i'll
the killing of Wynn, as previously men-
toned. Saunders and two friends were
confined in Jail until the 18th, wien one
hundred armed negroes rode into town,
and, ON pain Of instant death, demanded
the keys from the Sheriff, which he de
livered, and the prisoners were taken
out as before stated and killed.
1t seems from the information received
tonight that the negroes have majority
of over five to one, and that they are
controlled by Republican otfice-holders,
whom Governor uadley would rather
not interfere with. Hence the applica-
ton made tonight to President Grant to
send regiment of troops there to quell
the disturbance and force the negroes to
return to their homes. 1t is further sta
ted that all negroes within radius Of
fifty miles on both sides OF the Missis
sippi river have collected at Chicot, and
defy the State as well as the national Gov
ernment, threatening to burn, kill and
ravish, if an attempt is made to arrest or
punish them.
ST. LOUIS, December 23.-The Demo-
c7at has q special that the authorities
have taken all necessary measures for
the restoration of law and order i'll Chicot
county, Arkansas.