The New York herald., 1874-08-12
THE war OF RACES:
Renewed Violence and Blood
shed in Arkansas.
A DESPERATE BATTLE.
Blacks and Whites Marching to
the Scene in Arms.

MKAPHIs. Tenn, August II, 1874.
special despatch from Helena Ark, recetved
al halfpast eight O'Clock this morning, says:-Ak
eleven O'Clock last night three ladies' and TIVE
gentlemen arrived here from Austin In q sKin ana
report considerable fighting late yesterday eveu-
ing. The c0mmander Of the post. whose name ve
do not learn, despatched q scout OF TWENTY-FIVE
men on che road to Ooldwater Station ON the
Mississippi and Tennessee Railroad. and captured
picket OF twenty negroes, who were st toned
about two miles from the town, and brought them
In as prisoners and disarmed them One Of them.
as they were being put into the Court House yard.
tried to make his escape, when he was fired upon
and Killed, and in melee which ensred anosnee
negro was wounded. but not fatally.
BLOODY BATTLR
Later in the evening q large body of negroes
advanced from the South and attacked the town,
driving In the white skirmishers to the O0urs
House, where the main body OF the whites were
stationed. A charge was made by he whites. ana
the negroes were repulsed with loss OF several
killed and wounded. The hghting was going on
when our intormants left. and they were nred upon
as they crossed over to Ship Island
ONE THOUSAND NEGROES SURROUND TOWN.
second despatch from Helena, Ark, say0
Major Horn Chalmers, OF fernando, has just ar
rived here, for the purpose OF charterng b0at 70
take to the assistance OF the whites in Austin.
He says courier from Mayor woodson. OF Austin.
reached fernando at daylight, stating the town
was surrounded by about 1000 negroes, and ask
ing for nelp. About 200 men from fernando ana
vicinity will be here at two O'Clock, and, In COM
pany with volunteers from this city will start ~
four O'Clock for Austin
ORIGIN or THE TROUBLE.
DR.. Smith, who u the unfortunate cause OF tho
troubles there, reached here last night Some
three weeks since he was attacked in the streets
OF Austin by negro, and, drawing pistol fred
at the negro, but missed him, and killed little
negro girl who was standing BY which exaspo-
rated the negroes to such an extent that they COL
Iected mob and took DR.. Smith 10 the woods to
hang him, which they would have done but for
the entrearies OF Mayor wOodson and the Doctors
wife. Since that time Dr. Smith has been volun-
tary inmate Of the JAIL to prevent being mobbed.
until last Friday. when some friends came ana
carried him to Hernando. on learning which the
negroes collected In large numbers and notine4
tho Mayor that unless ne was brought back an4
put In jail they would burn the town.
RRINFoRCEMHNTs FOR THE WHITES.
A third despatch from Helena says:-Telegrams
are being received from the vicinity OF Austin
asking for men, arms and ammunition, and stses
ing that unless the whites who are surrounded IN
the Court House are speedily relieved they will %
forced to surrender or be captured. The steamer
A. ]. White has been chartered to leave at I've
O'Clock, and Will carry q large number OF men well
armed.
ANOTHER FATAL ENCOUNTER.
Still another despatch says the negroes sur
rounding Austin were charged on their south
nank this morning by body OF mounteo
whites, who killed four or five and capturaa
twenty negroes. The blacks number about s00-
The whi,es have about two hundred. Both par
ties are expecting reinforcements. At present tho
whites have the best OF the fight The negro hands
the plantations opposite, on the Arkansas side.
are arming and marching Austin in large
numbers.
NEGROES AND WHITES MARCHING on AUSTIN.
The excitement here In regard to the riot 10
Austin is increasing.
The telegraph operator at Helena reports that
negroes have been passing there on the Misss-
sppi side, all day. marching on Austin. The
steamer White left this afternoon at fve O'Clock
with about three hundred armed men and sup
plies, UNDER the command Of Colonel Morgan.
OF Hernando MISS, about half Of whom are from
Mlssssippd- Among them are some twenty no-
groes, VINO say they want this foorshness stopped.
The remainder Of the force is from this city. Large
numbers Of men have also started for Austin b1
land, and If the whites can hold the Court House
till midnight reinf0rcements In sufficient numbers
will have arrived to relieve them
NUMBER OF THE KILLED.
special from Helena, dated noon, says:-'1n
the fight at Austin last night eight or ten negroes
were killed. Reiniorcements are coming IN
to the whites from the hills and the
negroes are being reinforced from the sur
rounding country. The whites have Austin barrt-
caded, and Will probably be able to keep the
negroes on but they need assistance in provisions
and ammunition. Several officials from Tuntca
county have been here since yesterday morning
telegraphing to Governor Ames, ct Jackson. foe
assistance, but up to this time have not heard .
word"
This special also states that the whites have
taken O. X. Landing, some three miles below Aus,
ttn and the only landing In that vicinity at the
present stage OF the water; and this is corrobo-
rated by the officers OF the II. B. Yaeger. which
arrived here tonight, and who saw q body q
armed white men there as they passed.