The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-09-15
At the Mississippi Barbecue..Howt the
Fight ORIGINATED and How If Ended.

Fight Originated and How IT Ended.
The following report of the riot at
Clinton, Miss, on the 4th inst. is from
Jackson:
According to wide extended notice
throughout Kinds county, mass Repub
lican meeting assembled at Clinton last
Saturday. Nearly all the Republicans in
the county were in attendance, with
MANY women and children. A barbecue
was announced, and arrangements made
to feed 5000 persons. Nearly this num-
Der were in attendance. Every precau~
ton was taken to have an orderly and sue.
cessfu| meeting The Clinton authorities
had appointed special police, and regular
" prohibited the sale vf Intoxicating
LIQUORS. At 1870 P. NJ. the procession
filed upon the grounds and speaking COM
menced ten minutes after. The Demo-
cratic speakers being on the grounds,
and asking for division of time, IN the
interest of peace and good feel
ing, their request was granted, and a
Joint discussion was fixed between Judge
Johnston, the Democratic candidate for
the State Senate, and Captain H. Fisher,
editor of the Jackson Daily Times, john
stcn to speak an hour, Fisher to follow an
hour and quarter, and Johnston to
close in quarter of an hour. Johnston
made liberal and courteous speech; and
Captain Fisher took tie stand and con.
graduated the audience on the suspicious
opening of the campaign in the county,
expressing the hope that the same good
feeling would characterize all these meet
ings. He complimcnted job: on the
conservative tone of his remarks, and
said he would be glad to see such meet
ings generally held. The Republican
party wanted peace to prevail, and he
should say nothing that would not con.
tribute to this end. - 4.
THE FIGHT COMMENCES.
Captain Fisher spoke in this strain
about eight minutes, when he saw the
outskirts Of the crowd leaving to go to
the scene of the difficulty about fifty
yards distant. The speaker paused and
urged the audience to remain, but excited
words drew the most Of them, and he
stopped speaking to await their return.
In about three minutes pistol shot was
free in the crowd, and quickly another.
and in moment fifty shots were heard
to be discharged. The widest confusion
ensued among the men: women and child
rem. Horses broke loose from their
hitchings and joined the stampede. In
the course of fifteen minutes exceeding
500 shots were fired. Three whites and
four colorcd men were wounded. A large
majority Of the blacks were unarmed,
having been cautioned against carrying
weapons to the meeting. The difficulty
was wholly unsought hy them, and they
fought in self defense. By P. N. no col.
ored men were seen on the ground.
Armed whites came out from Clinton
and took possession Of the grounds. At
the same time the Vicksburg train
brought armed men from Edwards and
Bolton. Saturday night 500 armed whites
occupied Clinton, and there was quiet.
Sunday morning at day-break the Vicks-
burgers, 200 of whom were here, COM
menccd Strengthening the negroes All
the colored men they could find were
killed in cold blood. Armed bands or
gained and secured the country. and the
work of slaughter went on there. 1t is
estimated that fifty men were killed in
this way in the county Sunday. Those
who were not Kill ed had to fee to the
woods and swamps for protection. 4
complete reign Of terror possessed the
county. CHlored men for two days nave
been hourly arriving and reporting new
outraees. The civil authorities are pow.
erleSs to stop the marauding bands. Gov.
Amcs has issued an order commanding
the rioters to dispense. The city is full!
of cclored refugees, who dare not return
to their homes. They ask nothing but
protectit II. The Governor is doing all in
his power to prevent further blood
shed. No sheriff's posse is sufficient
STATEMENT OF SENATOR CALDWELL.
Following is the statement of State
Senator Caldwell concerning the Origin,
of the difficulty: Judge Johnston had
spoken about one hour to an audience OF
over 1000, all of whom listened atten.
lively. The Judge said he had never az
dressed a crowd so large as the present
one that had behaved so we'll, and given
him so much attention, and hoped they
would accord his opponent, Capt. Fisher
the same courtesy Capt. Fisher then
assembled the stand and commenced speak.
ing. In about five minutes some one
called the speaker liar. Hendricks said
to me, ''There is gong to be row out
there. . meaning the outer edge Of the
crowd. paused minute before going
out On hearing some very rough re-
marks, proceeded to the spot Indicated
When got there I asked what was the
matter. A policeman said, ''this man
(rhompson) has drawn pistol on the
colored men, who were marching in pro.
cession, using certain approbrious cpl.
thcts.'' remarked, my young friend
for God S sake don't disturb the meet.
ing I soon saw the feeling WAS 81