The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-12-20

whites prepared to receive their black
aSsailants. and when the battle was
ended it was found that twelve white
men and over 100 negroes had been
killed.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
MEMPHIS. Dec. I7.-Only meagr6 de-
tails Of the riot near Wahalala, Missis-
sippi, have been received here. The
causes which led to the disturbance are
said to be as follows: About two
months ago a farmer living near that
town had his gin house and eight bales
of cotton burned. The act was thought
to be incendiary and the matter was
placed in charge of an officer to ferret
out the criminal. Suspicion pointed to
attempted to arrest one who was be-
IieYed to be the ring leader of the gang
who fired the gin. The negro resisted
arrest and gave the officer a severe
beating. He returned to Walhala for
assistance and posse of white men
went with him to arrest the suspected
gin burner. As they approached his
cabin they were fired on from ambush
by a party of about fifty well armed
negroes. The result was that four of the
posse were instantly killed and eight
wounded, three mortally. The great
est excitement prevails. and an armed
force of seventy-five men lett Meridian.
Mississippi, this forenoon for the scene
of the trouble, and doubtless more
bleodshed will follow.
NEW ORLEANS, Dec ia special
to the Picayune from West Point, Mis-
sissippi, saws: News reached here this
morning of a terrible tragedy enacted
at the quiet little village of Walhala,
Mississippi, forty miles south of this
city on the Mobile s. Ohio railroad last
night, where four Xhiteimen were killed
| outright and eight wounded, three
mortallY, by a volley of lead from the
| hands of a desperate mob of negroes.
The only particulars to be had are as
| follows: Some two months ago white
| farmer living a few miles from the
almost desolate village lost his gin
house and eight or ten bales OF cotton
| by fire which was evidently the work
| of an incendiary. Suspicion was at
once directed to one OF two negroes
| living in the vicinity with whom the
| farmer had some trouble. The officers
in the meantime had been searching f0r
evidence against the negroes and at a
late hour last night sufficient evidence
had been secured and one OF the
negroes was approached by an officer
who demanded that he surrender
The negro became furious and terribly
| assaulted the officer after which be
made his escape. This attack on an
bofficer of law aroused the indignation
of the few while citizens in the neigh
bOrhood, who organized themselves to
capture, not to mob, the fugitive
The woods in the vicinity were secured
but without result, not Z
trace of him could be found
IL was decided by the posse to act in &
body and surround his premises. They
had proceeded only few miles in the
direction of the negroes house wbeI
from an ambush came a deadly Volley
of fifty well armed negroes who com
posed the mob, and after every white
man had fallen to the ground the ne
groes dispersed. The horror stricken
people have telegraphed for aid anC
seventy-five we'll armed men have LET
Meridian for the scene of the tragedy
West Point will furnish more help a
soon as the necessary advice can b.
Il obtained