The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-09-17
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by the words, Well not break in, men,
dressed and went down, but could not
see a soul on the street | saw. however,
the long row of horses and men in front
of the Jail, the group at the jail door,
heard the hum of voices along the line,
the command Keep back, and retired
toward the hotel.
Here | met two other just awakened
men. and seeing some slip over among
the trees OF the courtyard, we all start
ed, but went over to the opposite side OF
the square-going toward the Jail, until
sepuchral voice halloed Haiti and we
stopped. / saw now that the men were
masked, and understood their mission.
They were after the sixteen negroes. and
were growing more vociierous in their
call for the jjailer, while continually,
from one end of the line to the other,
men were yelling in hollow tones: "W atch
out, watch outI Halt, no excitement
here. We mean business.
THE mules and horses of the dismoun-
ted men were grouped along the line. a
few outside the line were running up and
down, exchanging words with few town
people gathered about at a safe distance,
when suddenly there was a command
Fifteen men follow mel and lot of
men dashed away on foot from the Jail
door across the street into the Court
house, from whence they soon issued
again blowing a shrill whistle, uttering
yells of triumph, and rushing back to
the Jail, dashed into the jail door. Then
there was a momentary quiet, followed
by eXultant expressions from those out
side. | passed around and got into the
courtyard on the face directly opposite
the Jail, which was only across the street.
The full moon lit up the indescribable
scene, obscured by occasional clouds, and
horses, mules, men and most of the gro
tesque costumes were distinctly visible.
Ten or twenty town people were inside
the Courtyard, intently watching the
scene. A few on the fence kept up
running banter of words with some of
the masked party, as Hello, amt you
| thirstyY Come and take a drink Look
at the old gal (referring to one with a
black gown on). Say, Bob. Lee, thought
you was kill, d at Shiloh? Answered in
assumed voices Yes, | was killed at
Shiloh, but I'm here. We are ready &c.
"In the meantime, darkness and quiet
seemed to be in the jail 1t was difficult
to think of that Guy Fawkes crowd en-
acting the terrible tragedy that soon fol-
| lowed. About ? o'clock there was rush
at the door of the iail-a whistle sound
ed-the order Mount given, and we saw
/
of the column, which was Immediately
put in motion, directly eastward
They've got them, was whispered
along the Courthouse fence, but not a
cry, not groan, from the doomed men.
A rattle of hoofs, cloud of dust, and
nothing was to be seen of them.
ave went across to the jail and piled
the jailer and prisoners with questions.
The jailer knew nothing, had not got up,
saw nothing, was moody and silent, and
his women folks frightened and silent,
but the prisoners said they had taken
sixteen.
'We stood silently, involuntarily look
ing down the road taken by the band,
paused-'bangr 'volley,' 'bangr Some
counted the shots; others said ''Tis
awful2 others. The negroes are gone
A few of us started off in the direction OF
the shots, others followed. and about
half q mile away, just beyond bridge
over a small stream and down the right
hand side of the road, we found six
bodies, lying in various positions apart
but all within three or four yards square
Four were dead, but the pulse of two still
beat. Matches were lit, and by the fit
ting light we examined them, called to
them, but no answer. Finally a motion
the ropes binding their hands are cut
and both groaned and then spoke
Water was called for, and brought in g
hat, and the wounded men placed in as
comfortable position as possible, and
physician sent for | went back, ut
terly horrified.
t "On my way to the hotel I saw some
negro women, and begged them to 60 tc
the wounded men; but they were toe
thoroughly frightened.
"About 10 clock A. NJ a young mar
came dashing into Trenton with the fear
, fnl news that three hundred armed ne
groes were marching on Trenton tc
/ avenge the killing Of the negroes las
t night There was a momentary paraly
sis as men thought of the possible entr,
, of such body of infuriated, blood-t THIRSTY
? negroes into town. There were blancheC
= faces of strong men as they shut stores
, left the streets and shops and hurried
: home-swift couriers shot out on thI
5 road one by one with awful dread OF
t their faces women and children gather
} ad in groups, trembling with terror at
> danger so awful. One group of ladie
| had seen few minutes before come il
t on visit all radiant, now they were il
fearful despair. The Teachers Institut
S in session here, broke up instantly, ant
the male members either went to thei
t families or to secure guns. Men hurriet
f to and fro as if in painful uncertaint
5 whether to gather on the square or t.
e stay with the loved ones.
e The very air seemed nervous with aw
:. full apprehensions. Those that secured
/ guns finally began to mass on tle square
v New scouts were sent out, ammunition d
t vided, and Major Gay soon had sixt
e men with all manner of fire arms froL
" old pistols to a double-barreled shot-pu
+ in line He commenced at once to dri
q them and form necleusfor the constant
J. ly arriving recruits. Fear began to var
i ish as the people saw their means of de
n fense, and the first chill of terror wa
e over. The scouts began to return, too
IF without having seen any negro troop!
Still they had heard Doubtors aros
: with each accession of assurance, and tw
n wagon loads of badly frightened wome
# and girls were not enough to renew tn
, fright when it was found that they to-
!, had only heard, but they had heard av
" full things and had left their homes at
Il moments notice.
e by this time doubts of any armed n,
q groes being about were openly expressed
.s and some even suggested the maske
d men had sent in the report to cover u
n their tracks.
e FINALLY, after an age of apprehension
# terrors, bloody resolves and dreams
IT carnage, attended by all the circun
Up stances of the most horrid possible wa
IT the terrible report was boiled down
+ something like these facts: Some thre
d or four negroes called in the morning o
a farmer named Gleason, living about fiv
If miles from Trenton He was in the fiel
te and Mrs. Gleason sent the negroes
"a him While they were there anOthE