Bismarck weekly tribune., 1888-12-21
Conflicting Reports Regarding Row
Between Armed Negroes and
Sheriff7s Posse.
One Report that Whites Only We're
Killed, While Another Includes
$50 Negroes.
The News OF the Day From All
Over the World Presented to
''Tribune'' Readers.
An Early Report.

WAHALAK, Miss, Dec. I7.-There was a
terrible riot at this place last night and
to-day. Twelve white men and $50 ne
groes lie dead as the result. For long
time there had been much ill feeling be-
tween the whites and blacks here, which
has been.aggravated by the eimpertinances of
the latter, and yesterday the two elements
became involved in quarrel which ended
in great loss of life. The facts as far as
they can be ascertained are as follows: A
negro and white man quarreled and the
negro was killed. This was the excuse
for all assault. and the negroes immedi-
ate:y swept down upon the whites who
were greatly outnumbered. Knowing that
it would be fight to the death the whites
prepared to receive their black assallants
and when the fight was ended it was found
that twelve white men and over $50 blacks
had been killed.
ANOTHER REPORT.
WEST POINT, Miss, Dec. IT, News
reached here this evening that horrible
tragedy was enated at the little village of
Wahalah, Miss, 40 miles sonth of this city
on the Mobile s. Ohio railroad last night,
%here four white men were killed out
right and eight wounded, three mortally,
by a yolley of lead from desperate mob
of negroes.
CONFLICTING.
MERIDIAN, MISS, Dec. 15.-Reports from
the scene of the riot are conflicting. 1t is
now stated that no negroes were killed
but that twelve white men lost their lives.
A special train left here at p. m. bearing
troops for the scene of the trouble.
MACON EXCITED.
MACON, Miss, Dec. I7.-People here are
excited over the killing of Henry Mallory,
Cobb and Vaughn and three prominent
white men in Kemper county by negroes,
and the wOunding of other whites, among
the number. Tom Nicholson, who was shot
in the body and had an arm broken. No
negroes were killed or wounded. Twenty
young men of this city have gone to the
scene Of the trouble.
STILL ANOTHER REPORT.
COLUMBUS, Miss, Dec. H.-Several
gentlemen reached here to-day from Ar
tesla bring the news of the wholesale
slaughter of constables posse near
Wahalak. Friday last negro and white
boy got into fight. The white boys
father attempted to separate them when
he was set upon by the negro boy and his
father and terribly beaten. Yesterday the
white man swore out warrant for the
went to execute the order when he was
beaten. He then summoned posse of
twelve men and went yesterday evening to
arrest the negro. The posse were fired
upon from an ambush and five were killed
outright and six wounded more or less
seriously. The news spread rapidly and
the negroes were strongly reinforced.
Wahalak telegraphed along the line for
help and Meridian responded with about
seventy-five we'll armed men. They were
joined at every station and reaching Wah-
lake marched Immediately to the scene of
the blOOdshed. The negroes were barri-
caded and refused to surrender or give up
the dead whites. At noon the forces were
supposed to be about equal and what the
result is no one here knows. This after
noon news was received that the billigerent
negroes had retreated to the sWamps and
are stubborn, while the nOn-cOmbatant
negroes are fleeing to the woods. Captain
Mcdonald of the Columbus riflemen tele-
graphed the sheriff of Kemper county that
his men were ready if he should ask the
government for military assistance.