Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-10-06
The Troubles at Friar'S Point
An Invading Army Of
Blacks.
General Chalmers and Senator Al
corn Command a Handful Of
Defenders.
Exodus Of Women and Children
Infamy Of Radical Leaders.

in Coahoma county in last evenings
LEDGER. The following dispatch to the
Associated Press agent was received
here at an early hour this morning, and
its contents we're soon known on the
streets, as private dispatches to the same
effect were also received:
FRIAR's PoST. Mss. October 5. n
VIA HELENA, AK, Am, Oct. 6.J
To Agent Associated Press, Memphis:
The Sheriff of Coahopa county caused
our town to be invaded this morning by
an armed mob Of negroes. We drove
them back. We are fully organized,
with Governor Alcorn and General
Chalmers in command. The Sheriff has
fed the country. Send aid immedi-
ately. (Signed) H p. REID.
Gro. X ALcoRN.
We learn from persons recently ar
rived from Friar's Point that Brown, the
negro Sheriff who kicked up all this
racket to help his friend Ames, came
into the place yesterday at the head of
thirty or forty negroes on a hostile mis-
sion. A few whites confronted them,
and n covered Brown with a derringer;
others cried out, Shoot him." Brown
begged for bis life like a whipped spaniel,
and was told togo and send his minions
back. This he readily promised to do,
and he did lead his crowd out Of town,
pretending that they should dispense.
His only object, however, was to save
his life and gain time. He no doubt
sent out runners to assemble the blacks,
for later in the day q large force several
hundred strong was discovered in the
vicinity. The whites made preparations
to resist an attack, and sent of the
women and children across the river or
up to Helena. The report that Brown has
fed from the county is highly probable.
When he thought things we're ripe for
bloodshed it WAS natural for him to show
his heels. he will probably be heard Of
next OF jackson connecting a horrible
story that the one hundred white men Of
Friar's Point are about to capture OF
murder the twenty-five hundred blacks
in the interior, and joining Ames in an,
other dolorous appeal for Federal troops
Much anxiety is felt as to the result Of
this trouble. The negroes are numerous
enough to take the town if they had
courage and a cool leader. Aside from
the political effect and possible loss Of
life, cotton stands in the fields uDpicked
while the negroes assemble TO talk oil
politics aud war. They ought to know
that they always get the worst Of it in all
conflicts with the whites, and that ths
ca~rpetbaggers are incapable Of serving
them in any way.
-Four companies have been formed al
Friar's Point for defence, commanded
respectively by Judge Reed, DR.. R. R
White, a Baptist minister, who com
mands a mounted company; Captain
Nat Lee and General Chalmers. They
are poorly armed, but expect to be bet
ter supplied soon. Some men in thl
companies have no weapons at all, Will
Others have only a pistol. Senate
Alcorn, we learn, is in the ranks Of on,
OF these companies, though acting il
concert with General Chalmers, wb,
commands the entire fouee. On the othe
hand, the negroes seem 10 have beel
preparing for this a long time, and ar
wellarmed and drilled. They are thor
oughly organized in every beat in tb
county and can be ssllied at very shol
notice. 1t is believed that neal on
thousand were massed 10 the vicinity {
the Point yesterday evening when th
steamer Phil AlIin passed. The white
do not uumbar over one hundred, an
t there is great danger that they will "
be overwhelmed by the black hordes.
A company organized at Helena ye
3 terdny, and was to 60 down to the reliI
/, Of the besieged last night, but the n
, groes about Helena we're showing sigr
' of hostility, and this may have preyentl
{ the departure Of the company. FIR
a ness and prudence on the part OF Il
e whites will probably avert ~bloodshed, b
/ the bare possibility shows the despera
s spirit aEd discrimination Of the Radio
leaders. Ames would rejoice to he.
that twenty-five or thirty Republican,
d had been killed in Coahoma county.
. would do the party good.