The New York herald., 1872-10-14
OSCEOLA DEPOPULATED.
Blacks and Whites in Armed Hostility
Led by Carpet-BaggerS.
MURDER OF SHERIFF MURRAY
More Scenes of Blood and Local
War Imminent.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, Oct. 10, 1872.
Having just returned from Osce0ia Ark, am
enabled to send statement OF the impending
troubles At that point. The town Of OsceOla contains
some six hundred inhabitants, FIVE dry goods
stores, seven retail groceries or grog shops,
and several dozen trading residents Of
various kinds. These are what are left by
the tornado which swept over the place two weeks
ago. and destroyed some twenty houses, including
church and three st0rehOuses, with their con-
tents. Osceola Is the county seat Of Missouri
county, Arkansas, and is on the Missouri River,
ninety miles above this city. The surrounding
country Is swampy, and the settlement except an
occasional cotton or farm plantation of several
hundred acres, Is rather wild region.
Except by river there Is no communication with the
place from this city, and 1t has neither railroad
telegraph station, though there Is q regular land
ing for steamers. The Inhabitants, except those
who own farms, are OF an iterate type, such as
generally reside In q newly sotted country. For
the past six years
THE COUNTY OFFICIALS
have been OF the stripe OF the followers OF ex
Governor Clayton and his doctrines Their eleva-
tion to office was entirely due to the negroes and
ignorant whites. Property and land owners have
had no vote in the election OF officials and split
in the dominant party in the State gave the liberals
eventually securing less hated set OF county
officials The principal leaders OF the factions were
Murray, the Snerin OF Missouri county, and Fitz-
patrick, County Register The latter is bold bad,
erratic man, OF violent prejudices, carpet-bagger
from Kentucky and q confirmed radical.
FITZPATRICK KILLS MURRAY, THE SHERIFF.
In public discussion OF local politics some six
weeks ago he denounced Sheriff Murray, whom he
afterwards shot and killed in an alteration, which
brought great denunciation down on him. He was
liberal or "brindle TAIL" and popular with the
people. Fitzpatrick was an extremist, with only
was engendered by his killing OF Murray, which was
by some regarded In the light OF sefdefence, that
ofclal having commenced the assault that resulted
in his death. Fitzpatrick was soon released under
bonds to appear at the succeeding term Of Court.
LOCAL TYRANNY.
short time since Colonel GOuSe, liberal Candi-
date for Congress- visited Osceoa to speak on the
political issues. Fitzpatrick met him and asked to
De pennitted TO divide time" Golse declined to
place, because Fitzpatrick declared he would
break up his meeting by getting up an
Bad feeling was Increased by this circumstance,
and some threats were made by both factions.
cy cSu wo' o be e sRap ass s s es
Helena, was appoinsed special Judge, in the
ssnce e Of Judge who had
Die, in company with W. H. Clayton, brother to
Senator Powell Clayton, and prosecuting attorney
He arrived at Osceola by steamer nom this city
early on Tuesday morning It was soon palpable
ta Soae e ouns a and when the Judge
THE JURORS AND WITNESSES WERE ARMED.
During the morning session OF the Court party
marched into the place and stacked arms In q
store They stated that they desired to protect
the Court and Jurors from attack or intimidation
by bodies OF armed negroes whom Fitzpatrick
was known to have lurking IN the neighborhood
An armed party OF negroes carrying nag also
Inn tour Irnvu
Fltzpatrick's ONCE. The latter took their cOlors
and placed them over his house. He conferred
to have his trial for the murder OF Sheriff Murray
at the present term OF Court.
JURORS TURNED INTO SOLDIERS
Upon opening the Court on Wednesday morning
Judge Palmer found neither jurors nor witnesses
forthcoming. AL were under arms, and had joined
chosen leader, bowen taking position to the north
Of the town. and the blacks under Fitzpatrick, sta
toned one mile south Of the village, both
influential friends met the belligerents under
each. Fitzpatrick promised to dispense his band.
1s2 strong, and all the blacks. The other side dis
claimed being rioters. During Wednesday after
moved them towards the town in double file,
marched near the southern edge Of the village and
'''N = - Cow coMMENCiNe THE BATTLE.
: Hating nearly mile west, the whites under
levee towards the blacks, who at once marched
into waste Of fallen timber recently thrown
down by violent tornado. At range Of 600
yards firing commenced between the parties, and
long range skirmishing was kept up for an hour or
two, resulting In the death OF Anderson Garrett Q
black follower OF Fitzpatrick. The whites subse-
quenty drew OF, retired to their camp, built camp
fires, threw out pickets and laid on their arms
during the night.
FITZPATRICK RETREATED
and on Thursday morning was invisible The
whites pursued closely, and caused Fitzpatrick to
MilQ0 in
miles above the city. On Thursday afternoon
hfty-two armed white men reached OsceOla from
Homersville Mo-, town twenty-five miles west OF
Osceola. They came as volunteers TO aid the
whites and camped near the place. Saturday
morning, shortly before left the scene the whites
under Brown returned from the southwark with
F0RTY-Tw0 BLACK PRISONERS,
captured In the swamps and about various planta-
tions. All were charged with being participants
with Fitzpatrick with the troubles The stores and
houses were all closed, and much OF the goods
and plumber had been removed across the
river or elsew here Families were also sent out OF
the place, cotton fields were deserted, workshops
closed, and the general appearance denoted strife
and disaster. Fears are entertained that the
whites under arms may. without acknowledged
leaders, become plunderers, and perhaps under the
throat.
FEELING OF INSECURITY PREVAILS
among all good citizens OF the county. An order
had arrived from Governor Hadley removing Fitz-
patrick from the Office OF Register and this act
iav0rably regarded by the people. Fitzpatrick
passed through this city to-day on his
way to Little Rock. where he expects to lay
his grievances to the state authorities. He
boasts like braggart. conquering hero OF his eX-
poits, and thinks he will go back clothed with au-
thority 10 call out the militia and devastate the
country. Efforts are in progress among influential
officials and good citizens TO circumvent his plans
and bring ab0ut a peacelul solution of the impend-