The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-18
SLAIN BY A NEGRO MOB.
EIGHT OR A DOZEN WHITES RUTH
LESSLY SHOT DOWN.

The Carnival OF Blood Opened by the
Murder Of an Officer Attempting to
Arrest an Incendiary-A Mob of SO
Negroes Opens Fire on Posse in
Pursuit of the Murderer Re-
Inducements of Whites En- Route
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. IA special to the
Pcaylne from West Point, Miss, saws;
"News reached here this morning of a hor-
rible tragedy enacted at the quiet little vii
Iage of Wahalak, Kenlper county, Miss,
forty miles south of this city, on the Mobile
and Ohio railroad, last night, where four
white men were killed outright and eight
wounded, three mortally, by a volley of
lead from the hands Of desperate mob of
bloodthirsty negroes.
CAUSE OF THE TRAGEDY.
"The only particulars to be had are as fol-
lows: Some two months ago a white
farmer, living a few miles from tho almost
desoate village, lost his gin house, together
with eight or ten bales of cotton by fire,
which was evidently iucendiary. Suspicion
was directed to one or two negroes living
in the ,icinity, with whom the farmer had
had some trouble.
ARREST RESISTED.
"Officers in the meantime had been
searching for evidence against the negroes.
At a late hour last night sufficient evidence
having been secured, one of the negroes was
approached by an officer, who demanded
that he surrender. The negro became furi.
Gus and terribly assaulted the officer. after
which he made his escape. This outrage on
an officer of the law aroused the indignation
of the few white citizens in the neigh
borhood, who organized themselves to
capture, not to mob the scoundrel.
SECURING THE WOODS.
"The woods in the vicinity were secured,
but without result. Not a trace of him
could be found, and it was decided by the
posse to act in a body and surround his
premises. They had proceeded only few
miles in the direction of the negro's house,
when from an ambush came a deadly vol
lev. Fifty well armed negroes composed
the mob. After every white man had fall
len to the ground the negroes dispersed.
Horror stricken the people have telegraphed
for aid.
ARMED MEN ON THE WAY.
"Seventy-five we'll armed men left
Meridian, Miss, at 10 o'clock this morning
for the scene Of the tragedy. West Point
will furnish more help as soon as the neces-
sary advices can be had"
ANOTHER VERSION OF THE AFFAIR.
A special from Columbus, Miss, to the
PicGylJne says: "Several gentlemen reached
this city this morning from Artesia bring
ing news of the wholesale slaughter Of
cOustable'S posse near Wahelak, q small
station on the Mobile and Ohio railroad.
near Macon, Miss. On Friday last
a negro and q white boy got into a
fight. The white boys father attempted
to separate them when he was set upon by
a negro boy and terribly beaten. Yester-
dav the white man swore out warrant for
he and ctoh 10 Sail oh
went to the negros house to execute it,
when he was attacked by a number of
negroes and beaten. He then summoned a
posse of twelve men, and went yesterday
evening to arrest the negro.
THE FUsILADE.
The posse We're fired upon from ambush,
and five killed outright and six wounded,
more or less seriously. The news spread
rapidly, and the negroes were strongly re-
inforced. Wahalak telegraphed along the
line for help, and Meridian responded with
about seventy-fve well-armed men. They
were Joined at every station, and
reaching Wahalak, marched Immediately
to the scene of the bloodshed. The negroes
were barricaded 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
afternoon news was received that the bel
and are stubborn, while non-combatant
negroes are fleeing to the woods In terror.
RIFLEMEN READY.
''Capt. Mcdowell, of the Columbus Rifle
men, telegraphed the sheriff of Kemper
county that his men were ready if he should
ask the governor for military assistance.
The telegram was not delivered, as tho
sheriff was not in town. There is consider
able excitement here, and news of develop
ments is waited with the utmost anxiety.
Following is a list Of the killed and
wounded:
Killed-Henry Maury, Seth Cobb, Tom
Nichols Bill Vaughn, Bill Hare.
Wounded-Frank Maury, Tom Giles, Bob
Harper, II. L. Harper, John Dew and jeff
Thomas.
MACON EXCITED.
A special to the Pcay,tne from Macon,
Miss, says: 1.-THE people here are excited
over the killing of Henry Maury, Cobb
and Vaughn, three prominent white men,
in Kempa county, by negroes, and the
wounding of other whites, among whom is
Thomas Nicholson, who was shot in the
body and had an arm broken, A number
of negroes have gone to the scene
of the trouble, two OF them be-
ing recently from the north. The
negroes are said to be well armed and as
sembled en- masse and seem determined
to fight it out. Various rumors exist. 1t
is said that six white men were killed and
as many more wounded, and that the
trouble originated in two negro
men whipping white boy. w.
p. Hare, president Of Noxubee county,
near the Kemper line, was also killed: 1t
is feared that there will be bloody work TO-
night, as the negroes are concentrating.
Nearly every town in East Mississippi is
sending aid to the whites. The scene of the
killing is about seven miles from Wahalak.
THE REPORTS CONFLICTING.
MERIDIAN, Miss, Dec. H.-The 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.
special train left here at 1 o'clock this
afternoon bearing troops for the scene OF
the trouble.