Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-06-02
MEMPHIS.
nisgraeeful Scenes Enacted by the
Negroes at the National Cemetery
saturday-The RfngIeaders 60 be Ar
rested.

y
saturday-The RfngIeaders 60 be Ar
| rested.
AfEMPfifs, MAJ 31.-Froin published re.
ports Of the proceedings OF tie decoration Of
Union soldiers graves at the National
Cemetery yesterday, the affair was the
most disgraceful ever witnessed, and the
! sceres enacted by drunken negroes were a
disgrace to the 6ceasiOpi There were prob
ably not more than a dozen white persons
present; and Tom Swami. colored, Presi-
dent Of the pole bearers, had taken charge
Of the ceremonies in the cemetery, which is
situated some Eve miles out ON the Louis
vile railroad.
When the various colOred societies ar
rived there they found a number Of re-
freShment stands erected, where lunches
were offered for sale. Tom Swan detailed
a portion Of his crowd, armed with mus
kets, TO break them up; which was carried
out by threatening to shoot the owners, one
or two Of whom saved their lives By fleeing
to the woods, while a crowd of negroes
seized upon and appropriated to their own
use all the edibles. Mr.. Pope, who had a
rTgiilar licensed grocery near the gate, was
next visited, ard made 10 pay twenty-five
dollars for permission 20 sell, though he
exhibited his State and Federal license.
A negro woman named Goldsley was
then robbed Of S11. They then rushed
to the grocery store Of Felix Martin, near
by, yelling, "Let's drive the damned ras-
Gals off, SIR. Martin and his assistant
were driven into the house and pursued by
the mob, indulging in the grossest obsceni-
ties and profanity Mrs. Martin was seized
by them, and her pocket torn open and the
money taken. a guard was then placed
around the house, and the remainder pro-
ceeded 10 the orators stand, where Ed
Shaw, the colored wbarfmaster, haraneped
on civil rights, and WAS loudly applauded.
he was followed by Gen Smith, Collector
Of the port, who made brief address ap-
propriate TO the occasion. These disgrace
full scenes have produced considerable ex-
element, and it is probable that the ring
leaders will be arrested for their acts.
saturdays Dissertation Of the Federal
Graves Before the Grand Jury.
MEMPHIS, June IA number of wit
nessess were before the grand jury to-day
in regard to the outrages and rObberies per-
petrated by the negroes in the vicinity Of
the National Cemetery on decoration day.
The Ledger asserts that VIM. Henry Tay-
lor, Superintendent of the Cemetery. assist
ed the negroes in their acts. ThOs. Swami,
President Of the pole-bsarers, says, he tried
TO prevent the rObberieS, by sending armed
men to protect the owners Of the groceries
and stands, but admits that he took twenty
five dollars from Mr.. Pope for license to sell,
because it was on the programme that
nothing was TO be sold In that vicinity.
A white Wan DIsembOweIetI for Dis
putting the Negroes Civil Rights
Yesterday afternoon Thomas Farrell,
mattress maker residing on Front street,
near Overton, was fatally cut by Harvey
Porter, colored, who, with Henry Clay,
colored, got into a dispute with Farrell
about the civil rights bill, and in the quar-
rel Porter drew razor across the abdomen
of Farrell, letting out his intestines. Clay
and Porter were arrested.