The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-24

Brooks has Withdrawn all his sentinels
to q points inside his barricade at the
State House. Tht troops of Governor
Baxter are very eager to attack the place,
and are only prevented from doing so by
the presence of United States troops.
ST. LOUIS, April 20.-The Democrats
special from Little Rock, tonight, says;
The manner in in which Brooks OBJ
tanned possession of the Executive Office
has excited comment and provoked
questions abroad, which require pass
ing notice in justice TO that gentleman.
Ever since the question of contesting his
right to the immunities and prerogatives
of the office of Governor in the Judicial
tribunals. Baxter has repeatedly and
openly asserted he would neither re-
spect nor abide by any decision of the
Courts adverse 10 him, his July speech,
at Lewisburg, being full of invective
and threats of resistance to any judicial
order restraining the exercise of said of
fetal functions. While the question of
a new warrant was under advisement in
the Supreme Court he deposeI his Re
publican militia officers, called around
him the Southern Democratic element,
recruited his militia, surrounded the
State House with armed guards, in
trenched himself in the executive office,
and dared not venture beyond the exc
cutive precincts, and when it was an
nounced that the decision would be
reached, he prepared proclamation de-
claring martial law, sent Major Gener-
al of militia with the proclamation in
his pocket to the Supreme Courtroom
with instructions should the decision be
adverse TO him, to read the proclamation
and arrest the members of the Court.
These facts are well known here, and
other States understand but little of the
| circumstances which have conspired to
the present belligerent attitude of the
two parties.
LITTLE Rock, April 20.-Up to 4
o'clock the position of the forces on both
sides remained the same, and the FEEDER
al troops still occupied a position at
Gazette Building and United States
Courtroom. 1t was generally under
stood that there was a truce up to that
time. About then some little demonstra-
tion was made in front of the State house.
The Federal troops were rapidly march
ed to the corner of Markham and Louis
lana streets, about one hundred yards
east of State House. This movement gave
rise to report on the Baxter side that
the Federal forces were Withdrawn, and
the most intense cheering went up from
the Baxter side Generals Newton,
Churchill, Barton and their staffs mount
ed their horses, and by rapid movements
put their troops in position. A company
was thrown across Markham street, at
the intersection of Main, ready to receive
an attack, or to advance. The colored
troops filed out of the Anthony House
Governor Baxter's headquarters, amidst
the widest yells, and marched rapidly to
the corner of Main and Second streets
Other forces were distributed around al
the various avenues of approach.
About this time the steamer Halle ar
rived from Pine Bluff with five hundred
colored Baxter men, uuder command o.
Fred. Harris, colored, Representative il
the Legislature, and also a company o
white troops, numbering about seventy
men. They marched from the wharf W
Markham street with drum and fife anc
appearing in the midst of the excite
ment. The widest enthusiasm prevail
ed among the Baxter crowd. Just ther
detachment of six men were started Il
the Arsenal by the post commandant t.
procure two pieces of artillery. When
they arrived at the intersection of Scott
and Sixth street, one of the horses threw
running toward the river. The rider
foot held in the stirrup, dragging hin
on the ground. At the intersection O
Markham the horse turned down tha
street, dragging the soldier on the pave
ment, and was only stopped two square
down by running against dray, dis
tanee of about eight hundred yards il
all. The victim struck the dray, whicl
stopped the horse momentarily, and wa
caught by bystander. The man ha
since died. This occurred amidst the ar
rival of the colored troops from Pin
Bluffs, and the excitement about an al
tack.
S A gun was also fired in the directio
f of the State House about this time, an
r things were lively. Soon after thre
t Baxter companies numbering $50 mer
Y arrived from johnson and Pope Countie
}. by railroad, and the yelling and shout
= ing on their arrival was intense. AS
: write, Z o'clock, the Baxter forces are ma
/ king most noisy demonstrations, whicI
e extend almost in every direction. On
!. company arrived from Arkadelphia, an
!, two more will be here tonight; one fror
: Searcy. and several from other points t
e reinforce Baxter.
2 As Captain J. B. Mcconnell, of tn
e johnson County forces, was getting o
the train at Argenta, on their arrival OF
posite of this city, he fell down betwee
! the cars as they were being coupled an
9 was crushed to death.
g Matters look more warlike at this writ
r ing than at any time during the pas
s week Mr.. Brooks has received fe'
y colored reinforcements to-day. If ar
!, pearances go for anything, a collisio
J. may occur tonight, notwithstanding tn
e Federal forces are between the two cor
e tending parties, and two pieces of artiIl
v cry are planted at the intersection c
f Louisiana and Second streets.
t At least half of Baxter's troops are CO.
q ored, as is one-half of Brooks. Nearl
all the colored troops of Governor Bax
e ter are from Jefferson County, the hom
= of Senator Clayton.
: Mr.. Brooks issued an order to railroa
o Superintendents not to bring troops t
a the city for BAXTER but the order is nC