Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-08-24

A ID 3AAN0Al RAAOhA W ~ lN&ANAo1 VII
Thursday evening a dispatch was re-
ceived in this city from COllierville ask
ing that assistance be sent there, as
grave suspicious were felt that a band OF
negroes, VINO were armed and collected
together at some distance from town,
would during the night make a raid on
that place, and the most fearful results
were anticipated. Mr.. J. A. McAllister,
to whom we are under many obligations,
has supplied us with a few particulars,
which we propose to lay before our
readers.
INVESTING IN wARLIKE MUNITIONS.
During the day it was quite clear that
the negro population Of Colliervllle and
The surrounding country was investing
l quite extensively in such articles as
powder, buck-shOt, lead, etc, which,
taking into consideration the transac-
1 tions Of the past few days, was enough
10 make l~aw-abiding citizens more than
suspicious, and put them IN their guard
for anything that might ultimately
transpire. After a consultation, 1t was
resolved to send to this city for
assistance, which was accordingly done,
and shortly after dark Sheriff Curry,
with twenty-five men from Memphis
and the same number from German
town, arrived ON the freight train.
Deputy-Sheriff Fletcher had arrived a
little in advance of the train, with
twenty-five men on horseback from
Baskerville.
THE SHERIFF's MOVEMENTS.
Upon the arrival of the train, which
moved out slowly, as a rumOr obtained
that the track was in possession of the
negroes, Colonel Curry rendezvoused his
men on the platform, while he proceed
ed TO do little shouting for the pur-
pose Of gaining information. He re-
quested the Mayor
TO CLOSE THE SALOONS,
which was Immediately complied with.
Learning from the Mayor and other
prominent citize Ms that the negroes
were armed and in strong force about a
mile from the town, at the residence Of
one Ike Curtin, who is the President of
a colored society in that vicinity, and
that their number, as was supposed, was
from one to two hundred, he decided, in
company with his deputy and two
others, to proceed to the whereabouts of
the armed band, and learn the particu-
lars for himself.
PICKErs WERE THROWN OUT,
while the balance of the force remained
ready to render assistance at a moments
call. Matters remained in a quiet and
orderly state while the Sheriff was alb
sent on a tour of inspection.
Upon the return of Colonel Curry, the
citizens were informed that the negroes
disclaimed any intention of making a
raid on the town, but were armed and
assembled, fearing that the whites would
lynch their President, Ike Curtin. The
party reported publicly that they found
but six or eight armed negroes, while the
parties were heard to say privately
the negrOes were from
FIFTY TO ONE HUNDRED STRONG,
and were fortified in two log cabins,
they had pOrt-hOled by knocking
the chinks out; that they had thrown
out their pickets, skirmishers, etc, and
had in every way taken all precautions
10 guard against a sudden or unexpected
attack; and that their position was so
strong that nothing short of cannon Of
10 insignificant caliber could disl0dge
hem.
DISMISSAL OF THE FORCES.
The whites were then dismissed, Colo
lel Curry returning to the city, and
.v~erything passed off quietly during the
Of Thursday night.
RECENT ACTION OF THE NEGROES.
Little if any doubt rests in the minds
f the peaceable and law-abiding citi-
ems of the community but
bat the negroes, in their re-
e at actions in and around COllierville,
ave acted very imprudently, if not ma
They have arrested citizens
the slightest shadow, shade, or
host Of authority. They have attempt
d to arrest others when the course they
ursued was not only unlaw full, but their
in so doing have been so fright
and Of such a nature as to endanger
ne lives of innocent women and chill
rem. Delicate ladies who were present
t the arrest, or attempted arrest Of their
usbands and relatives, have since been
such a precaTious condition that their
YES have been despared of, and it has
with the utmost difficulty that the
lost skillful medical attendance has
lcceeded in placing them within the
Oundaries Of hope Of recovery. Such
,enes as these are ~disgraceful to any
Ommunity, and would dishonor a ma
of barbarians, and ultimately bring
ynOminy and ruin on the vile perpe-
'ators of such dastardly outrages.
NEGRO THREATS. !
Nor bave the negroes been without {
their threats, as the wife of one {
no had made himself very prominent
Y riding around the city and country {
q Thursday was heard to say that the {
,wn would be in ashes before morning, !
nd that she was moving for safety. |
be men, when questioned, would give I
o satisfaction why they were
and assembling at the resi- I
of Curtin, but they have carried
lemselves in a sour, sullen andin many I
Uses impudently naughty manner, so t
to arouse the very worst suspicious of q
lie public at large. 1t is certain that q
e can hear of no threats being made q
' the whites concerning the lynching c
Curtin or any other cOlOred man. /
DIFFERENT OPINIONS. !
Some parties are disposed to believe +
lat both parties were acting under a r
Iisapprehension of the intentions of a
leir antagonists, and that the negroes i
tended no aggression during the night. n
theirs are inclined TO think differently, 4
that, Judging from all the sur 3
'unding circumstances, the negroes a
ere bent on a raid, and were only .
opped in their nefarious designs by the
arrival Of Sheriff Curry and a n
Efficient force to turn the train of events y
themselves, and that the matter is n
deferred but not ended. +
TO THE PUBLIC. "
In answer to the articles in the APP II
sAL Of this morning, under the cap Il