Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-09-03


torney.General, said that he was in receipt of
letters and dispatches from people who could
not msrepresent affairs, and he was satisfied
that there had never been such an example of
outrage, abuse, and persecution in Kentucky
as at present.
From the Nashville correspondence of the
New York Herald we copy the following ac-
count of
The Butchcry of sixteen Negroes at Tren-
ton, Tenn.
After hearing the evidence the negroes
were put under guard of forty or fifty men
and sent off to the Trenton Jail, ten miles
distant. Up to this time and afterwsrd they
we're kindly cared for, had been given a
trial, and now in default of bail were held to
aw ait further investigation before a higher
tribunal. Numbers of citizens offered their
services to guard the negroes to Jail, but as
they made no ugly demonstrations their SER
vices were refused. The route to Trenton
WI pursued without interruption until within
mile of the place, when q band of masked
men halted the party and demanded their sur
render. Constable DUNCAN, who was in
charge, advised the men to disperse, said that
the negroes were already prisoners of the law
and they could do no good, only harm, by any
denomination After some more parley the
men rode off and the guard and prisoners
again proceeded on their way to the Trenton
JAIL the latter with fear and trembling.
Throughout Monday afternoon and night ru-
mors were numerous as to the collecting of a
large body of armed negroes. who intended
attacking the town and effectng rescue.
Citizens armed themselves as well as they
could and stood guard over their homes and
tiresides all the livelong night, but the morn
ing at last dawned without further trouble.
The prisoners that had been placed in Jail,
sixteen in number, must have felt like men
living on volcano. If they trembled within
their cells it was not with a fear that was
groundless. On Tuesday night most ghast-
ly and horrible scene took place. One hun
dred armed and masked men rode up to the
Jail, terrible and forbiddiDg cavalcade, and
when their object was considered, none could
look upon them without shudder. The long
rows of black robed and black masked fig
ures, keeping in regular line, were enough to
strike terror into every breast. An occasion
al voice called out in sepulchral tones, "Close
up, there" "keep in line, men," "Halt,"
and such expressions, which mingled with the
reached, and the steady knock, knock,
startled the echoes down the street. The
frst summons met with no response, but an
other knock, knock, that grew holder and
jailer came unwillingly to open the door to
the exacting mob. Short, exulting sentences,
calculated at intervals, and low exchanged re-
marks we're heard now and then. Suddenly
there was a command, "Men, follow me-" A
number dashed in, shout and shrill whistle
were heard, the Jail door opened with graf
ing sounds, admitted the men and closed
again. When the doors reopened the sixteen
poor souls, that doubtless ere this had re-
pented their incendiary language and con-
duct, were brought out into the open air from
which the daylight had fed. The doomed
men uttered neither cry nor groan. 1t was
near midnight, and the weird light Of the full
moon was obscured by an occasional cloud,
as if to hide her face in horror at the indie
scribable scene. All was conducted quietly.
which seemed to add to the dreadful piano.
rama and the few eye-witnesses seemed par
alyzed or turned into stone statues as they
| nd cd fho Of tho
lent band in their grotesque and fantastic
maskery.
| The sixteen prisoners were hurried out by
those who had entered the Jail after them, the
order was given to mount and the lawless
band rode out of sight, Presently q shot was
heard in the distance, and then another and
another. Those who heard felt that a poor
soul had been hurried into eternity as each
sharp, short crack gave token of the dis
charge of another fatal bullet on its errand of
death.
Parties subsequently followed inSthe direc-
ton of the shots, and found six lifeless forms.
They were examined and four fonnd to be en-
tirely dead, while the heart still beat in the
laid in comfortable position and placed in
the care of a physician. The masked men
conducted the other ten further on, and made
away with them by hanging and shooting,
stringiug and leaving them with CHASTITY
wounds along the highway.
The Coushatta Murder.
Our dispatches have given an account of
the Coushatta murder. Six negroes were
taken from guard escorting them to Shreve.
port, by party calling themselves Texans,
and were shot.
A persual of this chapter of the horrors Wis
tied upon the negroes of the South and the
white republicans is especially commended
to our readers. No republican can take in
its meaning without coming to the conclu-
sion that there is still an important work for
lis party to perform. Appeals are made to
the President for help.
d.. III AI1 Il, Ann.L