Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-09-10
Another Negro Massacre.

The work Of negro slaughter seems to
have again commenced at the South, this
time at Clinton, Miss. AS near as we can
learn the particulars are these
According to wide extended notice
throughout Kinds county, Miss, mass re-
publican meeting was assembled at Clin-
ton, last Saturday, and the members OF
nearly all the republican clubs in the coun-
ty were in attendance. with many women
and children. barbecue was announced
and arrangements made TO feed 5000 per.
sons. Nearly this number were in attend
ance. Careful precaution was taken TO
have an orderly aud successful meeting.
The Clinton authorities had appointed
many special police aud the regulations
prohibited the sale of intoxicating liquor.
At half past o'clock, p. M, the procession
filed upon the grounds and the speaking
commenced ten minutes thereafter, the
democratic speakers being on the ground
and asking for a division Of the time, in the
interest of peace and good feeling their re-
quest was granted and joint discussion
was fixed between Judge Johnston, the
democratic candidate for state senator, and
Capt. II. Fisher, editor of the jackson
Daily Times, johnson to speak an hour,
Fisher TO fol low in an hour and a quarter,
and Johnston TO close in quarter of an
hour. Johnston made a liberal and cour-
teods speech, and Capt. Fisher took the
stand and congratulated the audience on
the suspicious opening Of the campaign in
the county and expressed the hope that the
aama uOnd faalinu Xvn116 pbarocfar;ga ali
their meetings. He congratulated Johns
ton on the conservative tone of his remarks,
and said he would be glad to see such
meetings generally held. The republican
party wanted peace and harmony TO prevail,
and he should say nothing that would not
contribute TO this end. Capt. Fisher spoke
in this strain about eight minutes, when he
saw the outskirts of the crowd leaving to
go 10 the scene of difficulty, about 80
yards distant. The speaker paused, and
urged the audience 10 remain, but excited
words drew most of them away, and he
stopped speaking TO await their return. In
about three minutes pistol shot was fired
in the crowd, and quickly another, and in
a moment fifty shots seemed TO be dis
charged. The widest confusion ensued
Men, women and children broke loose
from their hitchings and Joined in the
stampede. In the course of Is minutes ex-
ceeding 800 shots were fired, and three
whites and four colored persons were
wounded. A large majority of the blacks
were unarmed, having been cautioned
against carrying weapons TO the meeting
The difficulty was wholly unsought by
them, and they fought only in self-derence.
By o'clock not a color ed man was 10 be
seen on the ground. Armed whites came
out FIR ON Clinton and took possession of the
ground. At the same time Vicksburg
train brought armed men from Edwards
and Bolton. Saturday night 500 armed
white men occupied Clinton and there was
quiet. Sunday morning at daybreak, the
Vicksburghers, 200 of whom were there,
commenced Strengthening the negroes. All
the colored men they could find were shot
down. A dozen or more were killed in
cold blood. Armed bands organized and
secured the country, and the work of
slaughter went on. 1t Is estimated that 50
men were killed in this way in the county
on Sunday. Those who were not killed
had TO flee TO the woods and swamps for
protection. A complete reign of terror
possesses the country. Colored men for
two days have been hourly arriving and
reporting new outrages. The civil authori-
ties are utterly powerless TO stop the
mau tauding bands. Gov. Ames has issued
an order comm ,nding the rioters TO dis
perse. The city is full of colored refugees
who dare not return 10 their homes. They
ask nothing but protection. Gov. Ames is
doing all within his power to prevent fur
ther bloodshed."