Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-12-20
KAHALAK,s RAor KAR.
Story of the Fatal Encounter-The
KILLED and Wounded-The blacks
influenced by Reckless white

MACON, MISS, Dec. ia terrible battle
between negroes and white men occurred
on Sunday night near Wahalak, a little
village on the Mobile 4 Ohio railroad, 10
miles from here. Five white men were
killed outright and six more were wounded
more or less seriously.
The facts OF the case are as follows: On
Friday last negro and a white boy got
into fight. The white boys father at
tempted TO separate them when he was set
upon by the negro boy and his father and
: terribly beaten. Sunday the white man
swore out warrant for the negro's arrest,
and Constable Seth Cobb went to the
regro's house to execute 1t, when he was
attacked by a. number OF negroes and
beaten,
This terrible outrage on an officer OF tho
law aroused the indignation of the few
white citizens In the neighborhood, who
organized themselves to capture the negro.
The posse. numbering u, secured the
woods In the vicinity, but without result.
Not trace OF him could be found, and 1t
was decided by the posse to not IL body
and surround his premises. They had pro-
ceeded only few miles In the direction OF
the Negroes house when from an ambush
came deadly volley. Abort so we'll armed
negroes composed the mob. Five white
men were killed and SIX were wounded.
Among the killed were: Seth Cobb, W. B.
flare, Henry Maury, Thomas Nicholson,
William Vaughn.
The wounded are: John Drew. Thomas
Giles, Robert Harper, H. L. Harper, Frank
Maury, JEFF. Thomas. After every man had
fallen to the ground the negroes dispersed.
The horror.stricken people telegraphed
? for aid. Seventy-flve we'll armed men left
Meridian, Miss, on q special train yester-
day, They were Joined at every station
and reaching Wahalak, marched immedi-
ntely to the scene OF bloodBhed. The
negroes were barrioaded 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.
Yesterday afternoon news was received
that the belligerent negroes had retreated
tp the Bwamps while the non-combatant
negroes are heetng TO the woods In terror.
Captain Mcdowell CT the Columbus rifle
men, telegraphed the sheriff of Kemper
county that his men were ready II he should
ask the governor for military assistance.
The telegram was not delivered, az the
sheriff was not In town. There is consider
able excitement here, and news of the de-
velopment is waited with the utmost
anxiety.
4 As soon as the news reached Macon 20
young men started for the scene of the
trouble, two OF them being new arrivals
from the north. The negroes are said to
be well armed and are assembled en- masse
and seem determined to fight 1t out. Nearly
every town In East Mississippi is sending
aid to the whites. The scene Of the killing
Is about seven miles from Wahalak.
THE STORY OF THE ENCOUNTER.
MERIDIAN, MISS, Dec. 18.--A number of
kilograms were received here yesterday
morning stating that a riot had occurred at
Wahalsk, Kemper county, so miles north of
Meridian, and that Holloy Morton of this
place, had been killed. A party of 20 men
was at once organized, and left for the
an, ~ Hlf,-
quently another party Of 40 was raised, and
left on special train. A number of wild
rumors were soon In circulation to the
effect that the posse from this city had had
o light with negroes, and that several OF
them had been wounded. These rumors
were 90 Lido 6y the arrival Of the posse on
regular mail train last night. They re-
ported that everything was quiet at
Manalak, and that their presence was not
required there.
They told the following story Of the riots /:
List Thursday son OF G.. F. Nicholson, q
prominent farmer OF Kemper county was
Hriving along the road when he met a
4egro desperate driving In the opposite
direction. Young Nicholson's vehicle by
. ident eareS in collision with that OF the
gro VINO Rspt IN the lndie VI ill., 10.
IS u determined to drive the boy out. Thu
raRro cursed the youth when old Mr.
4y4vl40isOII app0si vi and interser5u. IA,
stead OF firing closed with Nicholson ant
Knocked him sepseless with the pistol. Tht
negro then fed. The following day Mr
Nicholson told his friends OF the negroes
assaults and on Saturday 1t was determined
to organize posse and arrest the negro
information Of this Determination O
the whites reached the negroes Ii
CONS way. 1t Is aaid that two white mer
gathered q party OF negroes together a
ehuph Sunday night and after haranguinf
THIN organized force Of 10 OF them to re
s1st any attempt to arrest Maury or an at
tack on his house. These whites are known
TO the people Of Wahalak but their name
cannot be learned. 1t lie the settled deter
nltnationlto lynch them when found and tn
people argue that when they are hanged
Will be the proper time to make thei
names known. The negro force raised b,
the two white men went to Maury's hous
when the church meeting adjourned an,
concealed themselves In the smok
house and cotton houses. Very 500
after this the posse Of white men came u
the road and halted In front of Maury'
house. -Four of them walked up TO tn
house but found 1t deserted. They the
we Mt to the smoke.house where they foun
thu ee negroes. These men were questione
~ to Maury's whereabouts but they pre-
teuded they could not tell where he coul
pc found. While the whites were trying /
p,ain some Information from them man o.
VI 5up
pose you come and arrest him. III
whites rushed In body from the buildin
s. nd as they emerged were met with vole
from eight or ten mu5kets and shot-Runs
William Vaughan was seriously wounded
Ky bueksbot in the left arm neck an
shoulders, and another man who's
name the whites will not reveal received
f' slight wound In the hand. This yolle
came from the cotton house and VIZ
promptly returned by the whites, but tn
negroes being behind stout plank walls re
csstved no Injury. The whites soon dis
covered that they were fighting at q grea
disadvantage and moved to the north sid
OF the structure. Here they received ar
other yolley, resulting in the instant deat
o,f Henry Maury and the Wounding Of al
brother j. T. MHury In the arm near tn
elbow. The whites now drew off and tn
filing Ceased temporarily. Eotwithstandin
their Losses, however, the posse deter
nided to make another attack on the col
ton house, approaching 1t this time fEol
the south side. AS they came up to tn
b1tiding they received third voley, til
regroes apparently awaiting the order I
previous Instances. At this third yolle
saith Cobb received % buck shot In IL
Breast and stomach, tearing the enttr
front part of his body away. John De
another OF tho Whites was probably MOI
tally wounded BY pistol ball in the groii
The whites again drew on for consultatio
when It was decided that another attack !
the building with their reduced Tor;
would be useless and they determine
to wait for Daylight and reinforce
p1ents. While they were consulting Ii
pegroes rushed from the cotton hons,
TO Maury's residence In a body ard pr
ceeded TO fortify that building and the whit
went back to Wahalak. Yesterday morE
ing another force of 50 men was raised az
proceeded to Maury's residence. The plal
was found entirely deserted, even the boz
ding and furniture having been remove
The whites burned the buildings OF ii