The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-09-29
Two Dollars a Year.

the firing commenced | could sec but H.,
white, probably not over three, and the
seemed 10 be surrounded by negroes
there was probably more white men, bu
they were scattered and | did not Sc
them the crowd OF negroes on the yer,
spot where the fighting began, al th
time the firing commenced, was ut leas
three hundred saw great NAM
negroes with pistols; l am OF the opinion
at least one hundred many negroes VIII,
were not armed, broke off large limbs OF
branches from the trees for clubs, saying
of the white people, "God damn EN- We
Will mash them in the earth. / heard
threats on all sides from the negroes
against the whites. I started TO leave
the ground, but stumbled and fell 10 the
ground, and as rose from the ground,
saw negro get a pistol from pair OF
saddle-bags on his horse and fire at me
| was shot at repeatedly as | left The
place l went to Clinton without being
hurt. When the fight commenced, the
white men were not masSed in one body
but were scattered about the grounds f:
the three or four white men who were Oft
at the branch, made the largest group
saw. do not know of my own knowl-
edge the cause of the difficulty, or who
fired the first shot Ny opinion is that
the white people did not desire any riot
or trouble and did not anticipate it; and
| think this because of the small num-
Der of whites in Clinton and on the
grounds; and because so few of those
present were armed and because of the
vast number of negroes that were pres
ent. The manner and conduct of many
of the negroes during the day was over
bearing and aggressive. did not fire
shot during the difficulty. A great many
negroes, perhaps all of Edwards and
Bolton negr, rs, after the firing, moved
off on the roads leading to the West. /
met squad of negroes between the tan
yard and Clinton, and one negro WAS
urging them 40 20 ON and kill all the
white men. | am Mayor Of Clinton
When reached Clinton il was reported to
me that the negroes would mass them
selves and come into town To burn the
town, and kill all the white people in the
town. / immediately telegraphed to
Nicksburg and Jackson for assistance;
fer aid to protect the town. A body of
citizens came from Nicksburg, about l25,
and about go came from Jackson 10 pro-
tect the lives and property Of the ci iz"ns
of Clinton, from the threatened violence
of the negro mob. No attack on the
town however, was made during the
night. Several colored men were Killed
in Clinton during the night This was
not authorized by me, or done by my ap-
prevail or authority. This was done by
persons, who supposed that
the negroes killed were engaged in the
killing of white men on Saturday even
ing. Several other negroes-eXact num-
Der not known by me, were killed in the
vicinity Of Clinton early Sunday morn
ing, by persons not acting under my or
ders. Early Sunday morning the men
from jackson returned to their home, rs
did the Nicksburg men, with the eXcep-
ton Of about twenty whom | requested
w. II. Andrews Of Nicksburg, to leave
here for the protection of the town ; not
being fully satisfied that the negroes
would not return BY Sunday evening
everything wa. quiet and peaceabe and
the excitement caused by the occurrences
of Saturday had subsidized. Sunday night
Il Deputy Sheriff from Jackson, with
large posse came to Clinton. The Dept.
Sheriff, Col. w. H. Taylor, expressed
himself as satisfied that quiet was re-
restored, and very soon returned to Jack
son. Since that time there has not been
the least disturbance or breach Of the
laws in Clinton or its immediate vicinity.
On Monday morning business was re
sumed; and Isent out messengers through
out the neighborhood TO inform all the
citizens in the vicinity Of Clinton that
quiet was fully restored, and that there
was no cause for alarm. Everything to-
day is perfectly peaceable and quiet in
Clinton and vicinity. And to-day, on
learning that the Sheriff of the county
and probably Gov. Ames were under the
that some lawlessness pre-
vailed, sent Il dispatch to Jackson to
Sheriff Harvey, Offering him 100 men to
act under his orders i'll the interest of
peace and order in the county. | do not
think there is any disturbances in the
But | was willing, with the hun
bred men rendered, to do everything pos
sible to restore feeling of confidence to
the mind Of every citizen in the county.
q. NJ LEWIS
Sworn to and subscribed before me
this 10th day Of Sept, 1870.
lis. SILAs j. CAREY, J.P.