Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-08-11
COMMUNICATED.

WASHINGTON, ARK, Aug. 8, 1888.
Editor Mansion:
Dear Sir-DOubtlesS bysthis time you
have heard of the troubles in this county.
Thought would pencil few lines on the
subject for the information of yourself and
friends. I give it as 1 understand it. A
great many conflicting statements are made
concerning the thing. The immediate
cause arises from the surveying of piece
OF land, between some colored and white
parties. The chain gave the one portion
of what the other had taken to be his
Gland" This brought on personal alter
cation, in which colored man or two were
beaten with guns, &c. The next day
white man went into the colored ones field
and shamefully beat his daughter for some
thing she had said about the survey. Last
Monday a crowd of colored men (twenty,
sixty, or eighty-tive,) went into one Wyatts
field (white.) and opened fire on him. He
killed one of them. They shot Wyatt to
pieces. This was about the woman beat
ing. This crowd of colored men also cap
tured another white man, and finding him
not guilty sent him on his way rejoicing.
They then proceeded to q school house to
find the teacher, who had taken hand in
beating this woman, but the educator
thinking that his broad mind should no
longer be confined within such narrow
limits, at once began the making of more
favorable impressions throughout and
across the country. He escaped.
In less than fifteen hours srmed men
were seen in every direction. The scene
of action is in the north of Hampstead and
south Of Howard.
Our deputy sheriff and officers from How
ard met at or near the ground. They depu-
tized men to put down the mob. Every
colored man found with arms was captured.
A general search was made for those en-
gagged in the Wyatt killing. Some Of them
are arrested, others at large yet.
Wednesday two as good men (colored as
our county has were killed; they were not
in the Wyatte killing either; old man Eze-
kiel amble was shot dead while making
coffin for the man whom Wyatte killed.
Alouzo Flowers was also killed at the same
time and place, as was fourteen year old
boy. These deputies were at the time try
ing to arrest one Charles Wright, who 1T ls
charged was in the Wyatte killing. Some
say that these colored men resisted the
deputies, and others say they did not.
Every man Oh lnteluSence mere loohs upon
Wednesdays killing as a shame and dis
grace on the good name of our country.
The Wyatte affair was Just over in Howard
county, and the colored men engaged in 1T
did not want to be taken by the officers
from that county, for fear that they would
be mobbcd.
About seventy colored men were arrested
and taken to Mineral Springs; some of these
seventy men are citizens of this cou Mt y and
some of Howard. On yesterday twenty
seven were taken to Center Point. The
other forty-three were brought here last
nj ghs and lodged in Jail. Many of the latter
crowd think will be turned loose to-day
for want of evidence. 1t is to be hoped
that this unfortunate affair is at an end,
except SO far as concerns the courts.
In the crowd brought here last night are
several OF as good men as live in this coun-
ty. This thing has created great deal of
excitement-all is and has been quiet here.
None of the citizens of this place, white or
colored, were engaged in either killing.
Inasmuch as l have drawn up this hasty
account of this disgraceful state of things,
you shall know other particulars if any of
importance are developed.
Respectfully,
A. STEPHENSON.