The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-13
THE Wan. I'm. M.sssssIePI.
THE NEGROES IN POSSESSION OF AUSTIN
General Chalmers Commanding the Whites
No Unnecessary BIoodsiied Appre-
hcnded-Ths Trouble not
Caused BY Politics.

MEMPHIS, August 12.- Captain J,mes Lee
OF the steamer st. Francis, which arrived
from below this morDing, SAYS: Alter The
negroes who had Austin surrounded were
repulsed yesterday they disappeared, and the
| story soon circulated that they were murder.
ing women and children left unprotected on
The surrounding plantations below, which
caused the men who had been defending
the place 10 start for their homes to protect
their families
Austin was soon left without any defend
ers except one or TWO white men, and the
negroes came in and took possession and
proceeded TO break open saloons and stores
and help themselves. At last accounts they
oau committed no acts Of violence towards
the lew whites who were unable to get
away, but as they were becoming drunk
fears entertained that they would burn
the village. Messengers were sent to Captain
Lee, asking him 10 land there. but he had a
large number OF refugees on board, some of
whom the negroes bad Threatened to kill,
DR.. Phillips, late Republican member of the
Legislature, being OF the number, and they
begging him not to do so he passed Oil up
without landing.
General Chalmers came up on the St.
Francis to PENIS landing, where the ST.
Francis met the whites with endorsements
from here. He WIS requested by the deputy
sheriff, in absence Of the sheriff, TO take COM
mand Of the men, and he went back with
them. They will land at O. Il. landing and
endeayor to cut OF the retreat sof the lie
groe,, from the hills, and doubtless ere this
the whole force has been captured. The ne
groeS had no suspicious OF the approach Of
this force, and were too blisiIy engaged in
debauch to be prepared to meet them. Gene
raj Chalmers is n man CT weII-known courage
and GOODNESS. and his being in command
gives assurance that no blood will be unne-
ceSsariy shed.
1t is proper 70 state that politics nave
nothing TO do With this trouble, and that
Mayor Woodson, and number Of other
men, who have been prescribed by the ne
groes, are Republicans.
News from Austin Is anXiouslv expected
this morning, but Is it is twenty miIcs to the
nearest telegraph station it is not probable
that anything definite will he obtained be-
fore noon. The AppeafS special from Helena
this morning, after recounting the occupa-
ton Of Austin by negroes, as already report
cd, says at Bennett Landing Colonel Morgan
held council and stated that it was too haZ.
ardouS to make an assault on the blacks en-
lrcnchcd ut Austin owing to want Of proper
authority and a suitable number of men and
ammunition, and that he preferred landing
at Moons, above Austin, where he could
place himself in a better condition and await
Executive authority.
General Chalmers came OIL board and he
objected to landing at Moons, and insisted
on landing at y. H. or Sho0.ily, most Of the
officers agreeing with him. To this Col. Nor
gan objected As being in the midst Of the enc
my, and >ubjcctng the command to immediate
attack from al sides while unpreplred for
it. He then ordered back the commissary
supplies which had been landed and Captain
Finley's company which had been thrown
out is .kirmiSbers. and calling the officers
together told them that he felt it his duty
under the circumstances not TO take the
risk. To this move the OH ers objected.
Colonel Morgan then resigned and General
Chalmers was elected commander, and
landed ut Shoo-tly.
LATER.
The following has just been received:
HELENA, August T.. Thomas H. allen #
Co.: Send us endorsements by steamer
Fraucis. Send guns with fixed ammunition,
if possible. Send ralious forten days for SOC
men. [Sigred] J. X. Chalmers, from which
It would seem General Chalmers had decided
not to attack to-day.
The excitement here in regard to the AUS
tin aflir is becoming more intense, owing
to unioundcd rumors OF young men Of this
city being killed in the attack on that place
The following is posted about the city:
"Reli:Ibe men wanted to report on board
the steamer st. Francis at O'Clock this day.
Arms and ammunition will be furnished to
them. Also, three hundred men, well armed
and equipped, 10 report ut the same time and
place. About twenty good artillcrists want
ed. General King White will assume com.
mand Of the above force
This poster has added to the excitement.
1t is thought that several hundred men will
20 tonight on board the st. Francis. Three
pieces Of artillery arc expected from Arkan-
saS this evening.
The -ippeatS Helena special, dated 1l:2C
this \. NJ, says: Some thirty MiS>i>sippian>,
Stragglers from the force which left Mem
phiS Yesterday tor Austin, arrived here
this morning on the steamer White and
put up ut OtaWar'S Hotel. The colored
people. unlbc to understand the pre-
Scncc of an armed squad of men, became
much excited. About 0 O'Clock the mayor
obtained possession of the arms and had
them placed OH the Wbart-boat for shipment
BY the first steamer On the arrival of the
little steamer Trader the MiSSissippinnS.
escorted by the mayor, sheriff, and other
officials, and followed by large crowd OF
negroes, were marched on board the Trader
and shipped to Austin. There has been no.
thing reliable from Austin to-day. The ne
grees report fight there last night and that
six or eight whites were killed.
The following has just been received:
JACKSON, Mss. August 12.-T0 COLONEL
Marion Campbell, Helena you are re-
quested and authorized by me to suppress
the riot at Austin to the end that peace may
be restored and life saHed.'
rSioned.1 a. AMEs, Governor
Another special to the APPEAL, from He.
lena. says a Nr. Sebastian just arrived from
Austin. makes the follow statement: Be
tween 800 or 400 men from Memphis landed
at Shoo-hy, five miles below Austin, this
morning and marched INTO she TOWN "Rnout
opposition at 3 o'clock.
The citizens had abandoned the place the
previous evening, and the negroes, after
holding the place a few hours AMI sacking
il. left for their homes The Memphians
found about thirty negroes in the town, VINO
surrendered at once. eight OF whom were ar
rested and sent to jail.
The otLsrS were ron-comba.ants ana were
not molested. Everything when left g A.
NJ was quiet. AZ Trotter>s hndins learn
that the negroes We're organizing tor the re-
taking Of Austin, and that their plckets were
stopp;ag every tEdy. Colonel Campbell, tor
merly sheriff Of De SOts county, Miss, has
crossed the riser here aud gone TO Austin &c
enGyaror to restore peace.
Attempted Assassination.