Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-12-27


with murder predominant. crowd the col
umns OF the papers. Texas alone furnishes
five murders of the most brutal sort, rang
ing from deliberate assassination to cowardly
lynching. But the most shocking is the
Tennessee tragedy. A father quarrelled with
his wife a one-armed son defended her: the
father stabbed the son, who in turn wrench
ed away the kniie and fatally stabbed his
father another sou appeared on the scene,
took his fathers part and fired at the one
armed son the mother interfered and Was
shot dead by the second son, who finished
his work by fatally wounding his sister and
shooting another brother, then running
away. Political quarrels and murders add
to the dark and bloody record. Here is a
chapter related by correspondent of the
New York Tribune
THE BRUTALITY TO The PAGE FAMILY.
About two years ago Harrison Page, a
colored man OF considerable local influence,
and the owner Of a snail cotton plantation
hNoi wv 'iO'oHi -ii-S as uCCuStu VI Lub
murder Of a white man named Brisco, and
was compelled to flee to Louisiana to escape
arrest. Brisco was out hunting. and there
were circumstances attending the affair
which on consideration led to the general
belief that he bad shot himself by accident.
One barrel Of his gun was discharged, and
his face was 50 blackened and torn by shot
that 1t seemed certain that the muzzle of the
piece must have been close to it " hen it was
discharged The Indictment was, however,
kept hanging over Page, a. the Republi-
cans believe. for the purpose Of keeping
him out of the way until after election.
Page seems to have been OF this opinion
himself, for since election day he ventured
to return to his home, and remained there
for time with his family.
The officers however, on learning that he
had returned. went with posse, sur
rounded his house, and summoned him to
surrender. This he refused to do. and 10
the skirmish which followed. ne shot and
killed the sheriff and one oil his deputies.
letter written by a person who was in
Port Gibson during these occurrences, and
who has since been in correspondence with
some of the persons most interested, gives
an impressive picture of the state OF affairs
now existing there. The letter was address,
ed to friend in Washington. but Was not
written tor publication. James Page,
who is mentioned in it. was the father of
the accused man, Harrison Page. 1t is as
follows:
"Dear Friend Il il with painfully
sad heart | address. you. tried to write
you before leaving Mississippi. but the ex-
cite:nent was 30 great that it completely
unnamed me. Poor James Page has been
brut4lly murdered. and many others haze
shared the same late. Two of his sisters
children, young men, the Sawyers, have
been murdered. Tney had four in Jail
when | lett, and their friends were
waiting to hear of their being hanged.
Three men were taken on Ford ) Hill and
shot; it is not known for what reason.
They lay where they shot them until one of
the men on the place had to 90 to town
and get permission to bury them. they had
become so offensive.
They shot Mr. Page and lad wbo was
trying TO get out of the burning house. and
then they had both bodies rolled IN hoe
together and covered up. That was their
burial. Ii was supposed that they had
burned Mr.. Page alter they shot him Some
one asked, AID white man remarked if
he was not burned he got damned good
scorching, 1t was SO close II the house.
They made his vile aad sister and kindred
witness what they did Those poor young
girls were made to run before their point
ed guns They set the entire premises on
hre; the residence. OF some of his sons and
,lster being mure than mile from Harri-
sons house
IL suppose you have heard all about the
affair. The sheriff went to ares. Harrison
Page, the supposed assassin of Brisco.
which happened two years ago lie killed
the sheriff and deputy for this t1s white
men swore TO avenge themselves on his
fathers family. | would not care il the
offender WAS brought to justice but oh.
to murder the poor OLD man and 50 many
others. To destroy all the poor women and
children had to live upon. and then t. dive
them, 50 in number, perfectly bare. to
Louisiana TO provide for themselves. not
single man awcns them. Every nan ied
to the wOod-. hirelings aud ali Some said.
spare not even wGmen aud children |
have not heard a. Yet ii they have killed
any ut the old maL'- sohs They all lied.
knowing that they wtre equally in danger
as their brother Harrison. the otfender.
Oh, Mr., -. wh=re is our refuge?
Poor. despi>ed, dependent race, We cannot
hope TO see our wrongs recessed In this
land. Sometimes ieei that II pestilence
should sweep the last coloTed person from
this country. il would be Blessing Nearly
eyery smart. entCrprI>ing nan and family
li color IN the South has been destroyed.
Mamie Page has written 10 4 friend u in
.ercede iOr assistance fpr thea and the letter
has been sent me Can't you beg some
money ard sent 10 them ? II you could read
her letter il would nearly break your heart.
She signs. Your poor, naked, bare footed !
NJ ,mie Page"