The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-09-04
Another Account of the Trenton
Outrage.

prominent citizen OF Milan will be read
with interest as presenting another view
ofthe terrible deed which sent n thrill
OF horror through the land aud held the
participants therein up to the earnest
denunciaiion OF all law-sbiding, peace
loving citizens:
To the Union aud American.
MILAN. Tenn, Aug. Give are and
have been for the week past, living in n
state OF terror though The excitement Is
seemingly abating. a succinct state.
ment of the matter would materially aid
in the complete justification of our citi'
zens. For two months past the negroes
! here. as elsewhere, have been gradually
becoming impudeut aud showing dis
| position To assert their own privileges,
or fancied privileges. For instance,
sidewalks are vacated by them with
1 reluctance. and in some instances, when
| the ladies had no escorts the negroes
would force them to give the entire side
walk. About ten days since Mr.. Henry
Burnett aud Jo Hale, residing near Pick
ctisvilte, six miles east OF Milan, went TO
the grounds being used by the negroes
for a barbecue, and purchased some Of
the meats prepared. A misundcrstand-
| ing arose between some Of the negroes
and these tive gentlemen, (and they are
gentlemen.) and the negroes 10 the
number of 30 or 100 crowded around
Hale and Burnett with sticks, pistols
etc, and. after cursing and abusing
them. forced them 10 leave the grounds.
Some DAYS after this the negroes made
open threats that they would kill Messrs
Burnett and Hale, and on last Saturday
night they congregated TO the number
of forty or fifty, in the vicinity Of Pick
ettsvile to carry into execution these
threats. A company OF negroes had
previously been organized nj Humboldt
one at Picketisville and one at Hope
Hill, eight miles south of Milan, aud
regular company and field officers elect
cd. Bv a prcconcerted arrangement,
the companies from Humboldt and
Hope Hill were TO meet at P;ckeiisville,
io.n forces to the Picketlsville company
and kill Burnett and 10. Hale, admius-
ter 900 lashes TO the back Of Mrs Bur-
nett. burn and sack Pickcttsville, 20
thence TO Humboldt, Trenton. Milan
and other points and sack, burn and kill,
to use their own expression, take pos,
session Of the country"
The trial at Hope Hill Of the leaders
disclosed the further fact that all the
men were to be killed and the negroes
each TO have "white wife" Happily
for us, one OF the band came into town
at Pickettsville and informed the citi.
zens of the town Saturday evening OF
the intended outbreak, Before the news
could get ont to the citizens. young
man named Morgan and one named
Love, who knew nothing of il, were
riding along the road near Pickel,svile
and were fired upon by these banded
negroes, and ones (Morgans) mule was
killed, and Loe's shot so that j: will die.
Love aud Morgan happily escaping.
Some Of these negroes coming into town
were arrested and posse of citizens
the next day, aided by company from
Milan, secured the country, capturing
about thirty. Tiial.--a fair tral--was
had before Esqures Jordon of Milan
Parker, Of Pickettsville, aud Fly. Of Old
South Gibson. on Monday last. and six.
teen were sent to Jail. The Others were
turned loose, no proof being found
against them. Sunday all day and Sun.
dav night the negroes were swarming IN
tho vicinity of Hope Hill. Mr. Cooke
passing by n negro house IN search Of n
mule Monday, found company ot
about fifty negroes around, cleaning ur
guns and making warlike declaration
and preparations. The citizens Of Mlan
Pickettsv;lle. Hope Hill and Humboldt
dispersed them, capturing, Monday and
Tuesday, si& of the ring leaders, who
were tried Wednesday and sent to jail
nj Jackson.
Last Tuesday night crowd Of the inru
rated and justly aroused citizens OF Glib.
son county (of whom mono wero from
Milan) went to Trenton, took these six.
teen negroes out Of Jail, and shot them
These negroes pretended TO fear XII
Klux. and hence their arming. Not a
KuKlux has been seen or heard Of IN
Gibson county since 1869.
Certain parties here are pretending tc
condemn the shooting Of these Villains
Mt Trenton. The majority OF our PEG.
ple have no words TO condemn them
They all, while dsprecaling lynch law
concur In the opinion that the fate Of
these incarnate devils Is but what the,
30 richly deserve. We haven patience
with those who, far out Of the reach o
these troubles, and knowing OF the ter.
rible storm that was lowering for weeks
over us, can condemn us for protecting
our lives and the virtue Of our deal
ones, Let such people go North where
no such storms come. Their ideas are
too high. The people sleeping upon O
mine. like those OF Milan, Picket.svilC
and Hope Hill, have no time to argue
They think they need action and prompt
action. AS community. we have q
right TO sclf.de'ense the same as an in.
dividual. No man reed cry "hands
OFF, when the torch Is at tho door o,
tho homes of our people. Tho laws
delay" is proverbial, and while we are
idly sending 10 Trenton for wriis oil
arrest for these men and arguing against
the sin of mob law, these negroes might
violate the person OF n dozen ladies'
burn hundred houses and Kill as many
men.
We. Of Milan stood aloof aud suffered