The New York herald., 1875-09-11
THE MISSISSIPPI MASSACRE.

STATEMENT OF AN YE-WITNESS-IMPORTANCE
OF THE TROUBLE EXAGGERATED.
Mr. Joseph NJ Kerr, of Edwards, Miss, who
eve witness of the conflict which occurred between the
whites and blacks the political meeting at Clinton,
Miss. the 4th inst, has arrived in this city, and
gives the following account Of the origin and extent of
the disturbance
''The number OF people present at the meeting has
been greatly exaggerated. There probably not
moro than 800 900 negro in attendance, though
the large number of coored women and children on
the ground probably swelled the entire number Of
colored people TO almost 2OoO The white men in
attendance did not number more than seventy-fve.
It was agreed that time for speaking should be divided
between the two parties. Hon. Amos r. Johnson, the
democratic Senator, to speak nrs and Mr. Fisher,
OF the Jackson Times to follow him. Mr. Johnson
had finished speaking aud Mr. Fisher presenting
his views peaceable audience when the negro police
in charge of the grounds attempted 10 arrest drunken
colored man who was trying to create disturbance.
The fellow essted the officers and Knocked down.
Instantly the negroes rushed to his rescue, crying as
eco FOR THE RAYMOND BOYS"
This was probably account of the greater number
of whites present being residents of the of Ray
mond The negro rioters, led by son of Senator Cad
well 9ooged made uo iarIouS ,t onslaught sor3u ON
fifty citizens, black and white with whom he talked
the affair every admitted that the negroes
jumped from the platform and took to his heels throw
ing away his hat even, that it might not impede his
fight He seen no more during the day. The me-
gro women and children ran screaming in all direc-
tons. Mr. Charles Chiffon, who resided near the
scene of the conflict came out OF his house into his
yard opened his gates and was IN the very act OF shell
tering their wives and children when he was shot by
of the negroes. The firing was kept up briskly
by both parties, and kilograms were at
once sent by the whites to vicksburg
and the adjacent for aid Reinforcements
RAPIDLY poured in from Edwards, Bolton and other
and Eg Warp
wagons, horses and mules on the ground. AS they
made their way through the country they committed
the most brutal outrages Frank Thompson, young
lawyer, shot and killed on his horse mile and
hall from the scene OF the disturbance, and his body
horribly mutilated Martin Sively was attempting
to escape by crossing a field when he was over
taken and knocked down by
THE son OF SENATOR CALDWELL
ana instantly riddcd with balls. His body was
mutiated the clothing stripped from II, and ring was
cut from his finger and stolen These facts were
ton he wrote Frank Thompson one of the first
men shot After being wounded he mounted his horse
and rode Off firing at the crowd as he went He
was overtaken distance away and killed. His
body literally beaten into jelly, the head was
broken in and the body was stripped entirely naked
These but few OF the many brutal murders related
by Mr. Kerr The place OF the fight was viewed by that
gentleman quarter of an hour after the negroes
dispersed and presented scene of carnage strewn
as 1t was with overturned wagons, bloody garments,
and the bodies of the slain. Several participants in the
affair assured him that Senator Caldwell had fred three
several shots during the melee.
The assembled whites secured the abandoned horses
and mules, and, under command Of Colonel Harding,
formerly OF Texas secured the country in search OF the
Cadwells and WllbOrns who supposed TO have leu
the negroes. Darkness came on and they were
obliged TO give up the search. For the two
following days the people Of Edwards were
in constant expectation of being attacked by organ
lied body of the negroes, while the other hand the
colored people scattered over the country hid them
selves in the woods mortal fear of being followed by
the relatives OF the murdered whites When Mr..
Kerr lett on Tuesday, however, peace was substantially
restored and the negro hands were quietly picking
cotton on the plantations in tho vicinity 1t IS gener-
ally thought by the people OF that section that the
negroes came prepared for boodshed One OF the
negroes in speaking OF the affair the following day,
was heard TO DECLARE ''Whcn counted OF on Satur-
day morning we had only twenty five pistols which
would seem TO indicate that they anticipated dis
turbancc. The white residents have organized into
military companies for self defence, in of such
riots again occurring, aud determined TO protect
themselves at any cost Much dissatisfaction is
pressed with regard to the Governors appeal 10 the
President Tor help, as the event not OF sufficient
importance TO warrant such action.