Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-12-24
The Yicksburg Massacre.

country by those who are sympathizers
with the aggressors, guilty of needless
and most wicked bloodshed, we are not
at liberty TO doubt.
We have, from a source that commands
confidence, a statement that is due the
country. Our information is that the
active whites of Nicksburg had some
time since determined to "clean out
the present officeholders. Three of those
oficeholders were indicted at the last
term of the Grand Jury. Crosby, the
Sheriff, was the one especially aimed at.
1t was determined that he should be put
out of office The papers insisted upon
the Board of Supervisors meeting on
Wednesday of last week and requiring
Crosby to give good bond. A meeting
of that body was called and it is known
that the intention was to require Crosby
TO give good bond.
But the citizens, headed by a hot,
headed and irresponsible set of men, put
out an incendiary circular calling for
meeting of the citizens of the county
on the same day the Board of Supervi-
sors were to meet And every one knew
full well that it was the intention that
the Board should be forced to do what
was wanted or personal violence used,
SO the country members failed to put in
an appearance. But the citizens held
their meeting. 1t was attended mostly
by the younger men and irresponsible
parties spelling for a row. During the
session committee of five lawyers were
appointed to report if all legal means to
Gust Crosby had been exhausted. a mi
nority report was made by two young
limbs OF the law saying that all legal
means had been exhausted, and that the
time for actjon had come. BY action
they meant force, and by force they
meant the rope. No conCealment was
made in their talk about hanging. etc. A
committee was appointed to wait upon
certain officials and demand their resg-
nation. The meeting adjourned to await
the report, The officials who could be
found begged time to consult their law
yers, but failed to reply in the time
given them On the rcassembling of the
meeting in the afternoon, and hearing
the report of their committee they re-
solved to adjourn in body to the Court
House and demand the resignation of the
officers. On reaching the Courthouse
all the officers fled but Crosby He
signed a resignation. No one concealed
what his fate would be if he had not
done so. He would have been hanged
on the spot. As soon as he got out Of
the clutches of the mob he wrote letter
to Judge Brown, of the Circuit Court,
stating that he took back his resignation,
as he was compelled to sign it to save
his life. He was then out in the country
on his way to Jackson.
The morning after this row Judge
Brown tried to hold court, but the par
ties left in charge of the Court.llouse
refused to let the deputy enter the court
room, and 50 court has been adjourned
from d9y to day since then
On Friday u rumor got abroad that
Crosby was about TO make a good bond
by placing his Office in the hands of
some person or another acceptable to the
people and retiring, leaving all control
to such deputy. Two or three good par
ties agreed to take the position, and ar
rangements had been made with their
friends to make bond that would be
ample aud beyond dispute. When this
was heard meeting OF the citizens in
the city was called, which resolved to
trown down my such effort The next
morning the papers contained notices
warning white citizens from being on the
bond, and this, too, in the face of re
peated assertions that no charge was
made against Crosby except his failure
10 give good bond. On the streets the
threats were numerous that no mans |
life would be safe who went on such !
bond
Crosby returned from Jackson on
Friday, with Instructions from the GOV
cruor 20 take possession of his office and /
to call in the aid of the militia to sustain |
him lie sent news to the country for |
the negroes to come in Monday and re
port 10 the Court-House They came |
We're met Ut the city limits, and slaugh, !
tcred-simply slaughtered and butchered |
They were chased through the woods and /
fields and shot down like dogs Many |
were shot after they gave up, and some |
were shot on their knees while begging |
Tor mercy The spirit of demons was in /
the people 1t WAS not safe for any one /
not in full accord with them TO be on the /
street One poor old negro by the name /
ct Ambrose Brown was ordered oil the I
street by Capt Cowan, a former rebel /
battery commander. and being tardy In .
going Cowan deliberately shot him. /
Many prisoners were taken and kept in /
the Courthouse, md taken out in the I
morning With vinEs and mods and .
laughter and jest it was reported that I
three of the most obnoxious made their .
escape, which means they have simply (
been murdered while prisoners.
This Is ungueStionahly the truth Of the
massacre. ans. the people ut the Eation
should fully recognize aIl It's cnormi1ie-
tHeWor>t ua tits that the persons who
UEe N.un gut30go. this wholesale UUr
3.r f-.'E rr.fffy themselves un8r the