Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-17
SEVENTEEN MURDERED NEGROES.
One of the Ways Ia Which the Solid south
Creates Sweeping Republican Victories
In tho Solid North.


Special Correspondence of the Chicago Inter
Ocean.
Possum Trat, Ga, Oct. l0.-I have been
in possession of the facts in regard to the
Page massacre in Claiborne county, Missis.
.ippi, for some time. 1t occurred about
this time one year ago. The yellow fever,
which had sconrged Grand Gulf, Por, Glib
aoo, and other sections of Claiborne county,
was then tubsiding. And as the yellow
fever is nov decreasing, and it is to lie hop.
ed may not again make calls upon the char
itably disposed Of the north necessary, at
least for this season, it is time this cruel
ghaslly story was related.
Some years ago, when the shot gun was
in its infancy, one Of its chief professors
was man named Bristow. He rode great
deal at night, through Claiborne county,
armed with bull whip and shot gun. He
had become terror to the inotfensive col.
ored voters. One morning Bristow waa
found dead on The road, his body filled with
a load of buckshot. One barrel Of his shot
gun was discharged, and the buckshot in
the other were of the exact size of those
found in his body.
The Indications We're that he had acci.
!en!ally shot himself, and that would have
oeen the verdict in regard to any man who
had no, given such frequent cause to so
many 10 desire his speedy taking off. B..
sides, such verdict would have DESTROYED
Dr mneded the boom Of the shotgun poll.
cy. Under these circumstances some one
had 10 be found upon whom to charge the
assassination Of this bloody.hsnded. night.
riding bulldozer. A negro was caught and
banged. Until the third time he denied all
knowledge Of the killing. He had never
heard any one give voice tn threat against
Gristow. Finally, to get rid Of the torment,
and save his own life, he named thrifty,
nsrd'working. and very prosperous colored
man, nsmtd Harrison Page. Harrison Page
heard Of it, and made himself scarce, for he
knew be would be permitted 10 opportuni.
ty to prove his innocence.
About a year ago, when he hoped the
wild passions Of the democrats had become
allsyed blythe awful sffl'ction which bad
swept Claiborne county. he came home. il.
tending to give bimself up. He sent Sher-
IL Buck word where be WIS, and begged
him to come and take him, but not to bring
. crowd, nor come 10 the nieht. He prom
,sed to make no trouble, but 60 peacesbly
reason It did not suit the bulldozers to have
ul0 klVS utlAooA VI
They determined to capture him, and for
this purpose Buck organized posse and
surrounded Harrison Pages house before
day. He heard the trampling of the horses
aud the clanking Of the sabers, and without
knowing who his asssilants were, gave bat
tie. Al the first fire Buck was killed. An
other was killed, and third knocked into
a we'll. and the balance retired. when Har-
rison Psge got away. In his escape he kill
ed another. Then the croxd went to Port
Gibson. and organized small army Of $50
men. They we're provisioned with supplies
from the stores supplied the Howards for
yellow fever sufferers, AMI went on hunt
for any negro who was relsted to Harrison
Page, or who was supposed to know where
hs was or which way be had gone, whether
related to him or not. On the Saunders
plantation they killed one negro, in no way
related 10 him. aud whipped several others.
On one plantation they found FIVE cousins Of
Harrison Page, who were made to stand up
in line, and we're shot to death.
James Page was the father of Harrison
Page. He had been volunteer nurse in
The yellow fever atilc,ion and had nurted
back to life some Of the miscreants who
we're now hunting down his flesh aod
blood. He was made to dig his own grave,
VA then shot aud doubled away into the
earth. One small boy related 10 Harrison
Page. VA killed In the hunt seventeen in
ali we're murdered. and not one OF whom
had anything more to do with the killing