Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-09-25
The Late Disturbances In Sumter County
Origin and ResultS-A Negro, as
IsOal, the first TO Begln-An.
other Chapter for Morton.
Negroes Drilling in Squads, Confronted
by Sheriff's POsse-The White PeO-
pie Only Saved frOm Massacre by
Prompt Defensive Efforts.
OEe OF the Party Turns States EVi-
dence-ImpOrtant Disclosures Made
Orders from Radical Head.
quarters at MOntgOmerJ-A
Bow TAINTED.

From the Eutaw Wing and ObserUeT
OF the seventeenth instant, we compile the
following very full account OF the recent
trouble between the whites and blacks in
Sumter county, Alabama:
The late disturbances in Sumter are said TO
have grown ont OF an attempted arrest Of bad
negro named Warren Dew, who threatened
drilling squad of negroes and inciting in
surrection. When the deputy-sherin and
| posse went TO arrest Dew, he defied that Off
Ger, and negro schOol-teacher named Cesar
Davis, formerly OF this county. said they
| would kill every one OF the party II they al
tempted to do 50. The deputy, returning TO
Gainesville with this report, the sheriff sum q.
/ moned a large number OF men OF Gainesville
and neighb lThood, 10 go and arrest them.
They succeeded in arresting nineteen, who
were carried to Gainesville, and subsequently
released on bond; the leaders escaped, and are
supposed TO have gone into Mississippi. Dur
| ing the absence OF this party, an attempt was
made to burn Gainesville, and suspicion
| asts on one William Grey, leader of ne
gro band at that place. Grey crossed
over into Greene county, near HaysVille, and
sent runners through the county to collect d
company TO return TO Gainesville to release
the prisoners at that time in custody. Num-
bers Of armed negroes repaired 10 the ap-
pointed rendezvous, Swiley's Bend OF the
bigbee river. All during Saturday runners OF
armed squads, moving through The county ia
the direction of Swilley's Bend, and OF plan
tatiOns being deserted by the negroes, kept the
minds OF the people in constant state OF ex-
element, not knowing what their intent ous
were. or whether las they had made demon
STATIONS heIe on Saturday previouD they did
not mediate an attack on Eutaw. That night
about nine O'Clock, three Radicals from TIE
vicinity OF Observation-Disclosures, lowers and
Eicolson-came to Eutaw, apparently almost
frightened to death, and reported 10 the sheI-
id OF this county, Mr.. James A Steele, that
the negroes were armed and In grest state Of
excitement, and that they found II impossible
services TO accompany the sheriff and
assist In quieting the disturbance. Cockrell
likewise sent messenger 10 the sherln that
he had endeavored in vain to influence the
negroes 10 be peaceable and quiet. The sheriff
summoned a portion Of the militia com pany,
and, with the three Radicals before men
toned, proceeded TO Mount Hebron, where
they met the sumter county deputy-sheriH
and posse with warrant OF arrest for William
Grey, the muIatto leader of the lncendiary
and in.urrectionary movement. The warrant
having been transferred to our sheriff and
posse they proceeded to the rendezvous, but
not finding them, they approached a ginhOuse
on the place OF Berry Brown, a colored man,
where some one informed them the negroes
had assembled. Here the unfortunate killing
of the negro boy occurred an account OF
which is published In the Wing and Observer,
and which certfes that IL was not the result
of malice, but OF accident.I The sheriff
returned Sunday morning without hnd-
ing the armed bands, and supposing that they
had disappeared, all thought that the eX-
citement would now end but on Tuesday
morning courier brought intelligence that
Mr.. Adrian Robinson had been shot from his
horse and was supposed to be killed, as his
body could not be found; also that Mr.. ThOs
Little was missldg from the party Of four who
had been ambushed by tire negr0es. No rea-
son was given for the shooting, but the sheriff
sent Captain Cole, as his deputy, Win posse
to search out and arrest the guilty parties.
To-day "Wednesday, 10TH, from dispatch
from DemOpolis TO the Meridian Mercury we
learn that the negroes had assembled at
the Cole place, about five miles south Of Fork
land, and sad they intended killing every
white person on this side OF the river; also
that the four citizens shot at had gone out to
inquire what was the meaning of this armed
mob. Popular feeling at tAis borri bic state
OF affairs can better be imagined than de-
scribed. The minds Of the people have had no
rest; before one alarming rumor is disposed of
new ones are received; and, although the ex-
act amount of credit 10 which they are en-.
titled cannot be determined, every circum-
stance goes to prove that The disanectiOn of
the negroes toward the whites is widespread,
and that something must be done speedily.
Another Account by an Eye-WitneEs.
The following is from an eyewitness,
Mr.. Andrew Pjckens, who was one OF the
sheriff's posse, and is correct in every particu-
lar: "N hen the party was fred into, Mr.. A.
Robinson was MORALLY and Mr.. Thomas Lit
tie dangerously wounded; the Others reported
results in FOrkland. The citizens met and
sent out scouts, who found the negroes (some
two hundred) assembled at the Roe place
shots were fired and the negroes dispersed.
About daylight they Were found reassembled
and marching on Portland. The whites
made a charge, killing negro leader (Gran-
ville) and capturing another leader (skinner),
with eight others. In the charge several
whites were wounded, among them Mr.. Bur-
ton, whose horse was also shot. During the
day Captain Cole arrived with the sheriffs
posse, and made a search for the negroes. In
the evening about forty were found in the
edge OF the Warrior swamp. Captain Cole
dispatched a negro cato Jackson) into
their midst with orders to come forward
and surrender to the sheriff Of Greene
county About a half dozen negroes met
Captain Cole and Major James Bullock, who
were some two hundred yards in advance o.
their men, and promised to surrender, but on
returning to bring up their men ned with
them. The posse was then ordered TO advance
which they did in an orderly manner, and
secured the woods through without being able
to overtake the negroes. That night about q f
teen negroes attempted the life OF Mr.. sam
uei Dufphey, but he was too old a soldier TO
be caught of his guard, and reported back to
Forkland. Wednesday the whites searched
the entire country, but failed TO hnd the ne
groes, who had gone into the adjoining cOun-
ties, Hale, Sumter and Marengo, for reinforce
ments. Daring the day another negro met
and surrendered to the scouts. At half-past
three O'Clock Captain Cole started TO Eutaw
with the ten prisoners, whom he lodged in
jail They were scarcely disposed of in their
cells before a courier came 10 Eutaw, report
Greene. Captain Cole and pO Sc went imme-
diately TO meet and arrest them, aud to-day
Thursday at noon we get the following from
Captain Cole:
'FoRKLAND, September Il, IS74.
"MR. JAMES A. STEELE-All apparently qui-
ct. A body of negroes were in force on the
Sumter side, at Derden' g landing. They were
quite violent in threats, but there are none on
this side. There are many reports end under
circumstances will remain here until evening,
Glover has sent to Demopelis for the five pris-
oners arrested in Marengo, and 1 will bring
them up il all is right when they come.
sc. NJ. COLE"
One of the prisoners has turned States evil
dence, and discloses the entire plot OF their
leader. who is also a prisoner and slightly
wounded. The negro who discioses is an old
man, and when his statements are fully
known TO the public, they no doubt will be
credited and he excused. The leader is a
shrewd young fellow who, we learn, is an as
piraut for the legislature, and we are also cred-
IDLY informed that Cockrell says he fully be-
ueves SkiDners sole object in exciting the
negroes TO iRcendiary movements was in
hopes that WitherspoOn, a rival for legislative
honoTs, and a leader of the party, might be
killed of,