Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-05-02

Yesterday Sunday afternoon most out
rsgeous scene was witnessed on the banks
of the canal, near the Central Railroad
bridge, adjoining the water works, which
resulted In the instant death OF Mr..
Patrick Reagan, worthy and molten
siye citizen. The report OF the
tragedy created the most intense
excitement throughout Yamacraw, and In
less than half an hour crowd, estimated at
fulIv fifteen hundred negroes and many
| whites. had gathered at the spot, ana the
| minors in reference to the killing were hu-
merous. .uo
Upon thorough investigation, the repre-
sentative of the NEWS ascertalneo ING AoA
| lowing facts: .4o-5ou
Ahont balf-past three O'Clock YESTERDAY
| afternoon Mr.. Patrick Reagan anu WI
| John Knox accompanied by two little SOLE
of the latter, left their homes on "Slnu aI
street 10 90 TO a pasturage on the canal
| where their cows were pasturlnss toi go
purpose of bringing them H. ,,1no,,o-odd
neared the water works they uIsco 800
sitting around some ten OF GMe We, within
| engaged in gambling, and When WITHIN -
few Yards of them. a quarrel suddenly 11,I. en-
| - between the negroes IIs1ols
SUE SUI drawn and firing COM
m me indiscriminately, a. K regQ-
lar fusiIade being kept up. Mr. Hn SS'
who was a short distance aneau VI vi;
pasaan called to him to hurry on, ana
Is~1so,,s' for the safety of himself ana
49, so1. moved off to the right. At
~ time he saw one negro, who was
J-osseJ IN LIGHT clothes, fire four successive
times at another negro, who was In the rear
of Mr.. Reagan, but not exactly In range.
other negroes were also firing, and as he
turned he was surprised to see Mr.. Reagan
fall across a log. The negroes retreat
and Mr.. Knox, leaving his
sons fastened to Mr.. Reagan, and raising
him I'D. discovered to his horror that ne was
DerfectIy dead, ball having struck him In
the breast, penetrating the heart and killing
Elm instantly.
The outrageous conduct had been witness
ed bv parties on the Central Railroad wharf,
and the special Waterman ran forward to
render ass stance, and succeeded in catch
log one of the fugitive negroes
named George Miller. Meanwhile
policeman, who was in
Yamacraw, was informed of the occurrence,
| and, by promptness, managed to secure an
other negro named Thornton Williams.
Subsequently two or three other negroes
were arrested, and are held as witnesses.
The police barracks was telephoned, and
| In a very short time Lieut.. Howard made
his appearance, and found gathered around
| the lifeless body of the unfortunate man
| an immense crowd. Finding it impossible
| to disperse the crowd, under the circum-
stances, he gallOped to the residence OF the
| Coroner, whom he found at home, and VINO
| at once proceeded to the spot, and a1ter
viewing the body gave directions Tor lts re-
moval to the home of the deceased
A wagon was provided and the remains
/ placed therein and carried TO the hoIhe VI
/ Mr. Reagan, which, a short hour DeIore, ne
/ had left in perfect health, and Win NO
| Thought of the fate that befell him. The scene
/ At +be bouse was distressing in the extreme,
! and the Grief of the wife, who was terribly
| sS,~eIred when the body of her deceased
| husband was brought in, having no prevt-
Gus intimation of his being killed, was truly
heartrending.
through the streets, and the most intense
excitement prevailed throughout the neigh
bOrhood. as the deceased was generally
respected by all who knew him, being very
| worthy and industrious man. Great indigna
/ tion was expressed towards the negroes
engaged in the disgraceful affair. We are
| informed that the locality where fhi'
| occurred is q rendezvous for negroes
every fair Sunday afternoon VINO pas
4 their time in gambling, and that rows
| yerv frequently occur, and promiscuous
| firing is INDUCED ia. The place commands
an open view for several hundred yard,
| around, and as soon as a policeman is seer
| the narties scatter in every direction and
manage to escape. Thus, it has been
found very difficult to surprise
them and effect wholesale capture. Ons e
# the negroes concerned in this affair had
two holes shot through his coat, but was not
| injured.
| Joun Williams, one of the negroes who
was seen firing and whose shot it Is thought
| killed Mr.. Reagan, succeeded in getting of.
| There are several others at large, and hence
the Coroner decided to postpone the hold
/ ing OF the inquest until this morning, in the
hope-of getting some further information:
Ma Reagan leaves wife and seveTa
aud was employed at the upper Centra
Railroad warehouse. He was stepfather o.
Constable Thomas Folliard.
During the war he was member OF Capt
Reads battery, and was a good soldier. ID
was also member of st. Patr1ck's Catnol
T. A. B. Society, which organization VII
| attend his funeral this afternoon.