The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-09-10
scene in the Trenton s1a--acr

[From Cor. Nashville Union and American
The mules and horses OF the dismount
ed men were grouped along the line
A few outside the line were riding up anC
down, exchanging words with the few
town people gathered about at a safe
distance, when suddenly there was a
command, 'Fifteen men follow me
and lot of men dashed away on foot
from the Jail door across the street into
the court house, from whence they soon
issued again, blowing a shrill whistle,
uttering yells of triumph and rushing
back to the jail, dashed into the Jail door.
Then there was momentary quiet, followed
by exultant expressions from those outside.
passed around and got into the court
yard on the face directly opposite the jail,
which was only across the street. The
full moon lit up the indescribable scene,
obscured by occasional clouds, and horses,
mules, men and most of the grotesque
costumes, were distinctly visible. Ten
or twenty town people were inside the
court yard, intently watching the scene.
A few on the fence kept up a running
banter of words with some of the masked
party, as 'Hello, amt you thirsty "
F'Come and take drink" Look at the
old GAL" (referring to one with a black
gown on. "Say, Bob Lea, thought you
was killed at Shiloh" Answered in
assumed voices, eyes, | was killed at
Shiloh, but I'm here" eve are ready,
etc"
In the meantime, darkness and quiet
seemed to he in the jail. 1t was difficult
to think of that Guy Fawkes crowd
enacting the terrible tragedy that soon
followed About two o'clock there was
a rush at the door of the iall-a whistle
sounded-the order ''Mount p" given.
and we saw dark looking group being
pushed ahead of the column, which was
Immediately put in motion directly east
ward.
GOT THEM"
"We've got them" was whispered along
the court house fence-but not a cry
not groan from the doomed men. A
rattle of hoofs, a cloud of dust and nothing
was to be seen of them.
We went across to the jail and piled
taller and prisoners with questions. The
taller knew nothing-had not gone up,
saw nothing, was moody and silent, and
his women folks frightened and silent, but
the prisoners said they had taken six
teen.
We stood silently, involuntarily looking
down the road taken by the band, and
soon we hear sbang!" Our hearts paused
-"bang!" "volley!" "bang!" some
counted the shots; others said "Tis awful"
others, ''The negroes are gone" A few of
us started off in the direction of the shots;
others followed, and about half mile
away. Just beyond bridge over a small
stream and down the right hand side road
we found six bodies lying in various posi-
tions apart, but all within three or four
yards square. -Four were dead but the
pulse of two still beat.
KILLING TEN AT TIME.
From this scene of carnage the masked
men and their remaining victims marched
on about two miles further up the river
bottom road, where another halt was
made. Then the remaining two negroes
out Like their brethren who
had gone before, they were cut loose and
told to move themselves. The poor,
frightened wretches tried to, but ere they
could make their second jump towards
life and liberty they were shot down.
This time the maskers took better aim for
they dropped every one of the fleeing
negroes dead in their tracks.