Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1873-08-21
Negro Emeute in San An
tonic, Texas,

|
PicGya0se special dispatch from
San Antonio, Texas, prevailed
in the town mentioned yester-
iday and the day before owing
to a threatened collision be-
tween the white citizens of the
town and a negro company of
United States troops stationed
there. The cause of the troub-
lie was connected with brutal
insult which one Of the negro
soldiers offered to the daughter
of citizen, Captain Tobyn by
name. This girl is only twelve.
years old, and on Friday she
received a letter from the ne
gro asking an assignation. The
insult was evidently gratuitous,
as the girl on the receipt of the
letter showed it to her father
Terribly exasperated at the at
Irocity of this invitation, Cap
tain Tobyn sailed forth to ayenge
the insult, threatening to kill
the negro. But the fact COM
ing to the ears Of the officers of
the company, they caused the
arrest of the negro, who was
confined to the guard-house.-
He was released on Saturday.
Captain Tobyn then decided
upon giving the offender Sc
we're chastisement, and with that
view managed by some strategy
to secure his presence beyond
the limits of the town. There,
in the presence of two citizens,
he gave him a sound thrashing,
and finally, as the man begged
piteously to be released, let him
go with the warning that if he
returned to town he would kill
him.. After his release from
Captain Tobyn's clutches the
negro disappeared. When hisE
comrades were informed Of the
punishment that had been in
fiicted upon him their wrath was
aroused, and, despite the Or
ders and remonstrances Of their
oficers-Captain French and
Lieutenants Gedds and IhOmp-
son-they proposed to take the
matter in hand themselves and
became clamorous for the life of
Captain Tobyn. They armed |
themselves in their quarters and +!
prepared to set out, with the
avowed purpose of killing the |
latter, creating a great excite
ment by their threatening de-
and giving their officers
much trouble in restraining
them. The news of the riotous
attitudesof the negro company !
soon spread through town and
it was deemed advisable, as
trouble was momentariIy eXpec-
ted, to collect the police in case
of an emergency. They were |
therefore ordered to assemble at
the Vance House, but as their
were manifestly too
small to preserve the peace if
the negroes should attempt to
carry their threats into execu-
ton, the citizens commenced to
assemble i'll considerable num-
bers at the same place.
The day of Saturday passed
in this condition Of anxious un-
certainty, the negroes still in an
attitude, and the police
and citizens waiting until they
be called upon to keep
the peace. In the evening the
negro whom Captain Tobyn
had thrashed was found outside
the corporation limits, and was
brought to town suffering from
the whipping that had been ad-
to him, and was ta-
ken to the hospital, where he was
at the time the dispatch was
sent. Up to nine o'clock P. m.
nothing serious had occurred,
and the citizens, leaving the po-
lice at the Vance House, retired
from guard duty, not anticipat-
ing any more trouble. The
night passed away quietly, so
far as any active demonstration {
on the part of the negroes was
concerned, and the community
telt relieved Of any further ap- ,
prehensions.
On Sunday, however, the evi- {
lences Of continued trouble be- ,
gan to accumulate. Despite
The unwearied exertions of the
officers, the negro company {
grew more insubordinate and
and SO mutious be-
came their demanor finally that,
as they were about to issue forth
armed to carry out their threats
against Tobyn, their officers sent
word TO thepolice that they could (