Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-09-15
THE REIGN OF TERROR AT
CLINTON MlSS.

through the Kindness OF Captain
;. Il. Mahon. of the regular army. we
are in receipt of the jackson Miss
daily Times of Sept. 9th. giving an
extended account of the Clinton mas
sacrc. and the reign of terror follow
ing. 1t appears that the Republicans
had appointed a meeting September
18th. at Clinton. with refreshments fol-
lowing. and large tables were pre-
pared. loaded with food. The Re-
publicans assembled in large num-
bcrs. and the account estimates that
about two hundred Democrats were
present. After they had assembled.
division Of time was arranged be-
tween Judge Amos X. Johnston. on
the part of the Democrats. and Cap.
tain Fisher for the Republicans.
Johnston was I" speak one hour,
Captain Fisher TO reply in one hour
and a quarter, and Johnston to reioin
in fifteen minutes. Johnston was
heard through his frs, speech. and
the best of order prevailed, but Cap
tain Fisher had but just commenced
when row was gotten up, pistols
were tlourished, and soon it was but
simply a slaughter of the colored peo-
pie. We clip from The Times portions
of its account:
Nothing is truer than that. so far
rs the Republicans were concerned,
they had no thought of having diff
ticulty. They meant to enjoy the dav
in II pcaceablc gathering, attended bv
their wives and little ones; to hear
the speeches and share the barbacued
dinner, to which many of them had
contributed. As evidence of their
generosity and good feeling, they
kindly yielded division of time to
one of the ablcst speakers of the OPP
position. Very many who had arms
had left them at home. never for a
moment thinking that such terrible
consequences would attend the meet
ing. This much is due to all the Re-
p,lblicans who attended. and to those
who originated and managed the af-
fair throughout.
by five o'clock not II colored man
could be seen anywhere near the
scene of strife, save the killed and
wounded, and the grounds were i'm
the possession Of body of armed
men from Clinton. Hundreds had
left behind them their horses. mules
and wagons. and many of these still
remain on the grounds. or in the vi
cinity.
SATURDAY NIGHT.
All was quiet Saturday night i'm
Clinton, and armed men closely pick
ctcd every road and alley. Mai. ALVIN.
Commandant of the Post at this place.
aud Capt. Mahon and Lieut.. Shelby
went down from here to learn the
facts, and remain until Sunday noon.
The Jackson men. as we have before
stated AaetsA strictly IN NAe in>eres, Of
peace and protection, but certain des-
Pcradoes. who came from Vicksbnrg.
with the dawn of day are said to have
commenced the work Of slaughter.
wherever colorcd man .was found.
il is reported that he was shot down.
But, not satisfied with waiting until
they came out of their cabins. the
cabins were entered and the bloody
work there pursued. Simon Jackson.
President of the Clinton Republican
club. living mile and half from
town. was killed in his own house.
George Washington, II minister. the
same way. Gallilee Brown was shot
in front of the market house. and
So on.
The foregoing information is de-
rived from what we deem reliable
authority, but we sincerely trust that
a thorough investigation win show
that the reports were exaggerated.
The list Of the murders i'm and about
Clinton yesterday, as far as we can
learn. embraces the following:
Albert Hudson.
Henry McNeal.
Robert Bcasley.
Madison Bell.
Burns Ford.
Jack Jackson.
Lewis Russell.
George Hawkins.
Abraham Phipps.
Carter Stewart.
Three at John Collins place, names
unknown. Vt is not pretended that
this is a complete list of the killed
Yesterday. Reports of guns were
heard all about in the. country east
and south of Clinton Yesterday (Sun-
day( and colored men were hourly
arriving in town telling of bands of
strange white men hunting down ne
grocs and shooting them in cold
blood. Reports are to the effect that
a large number of lives were taken in
this way during the day.