Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-19
A MISSISSIPPI HORROR.
WHITE MEN IND NEGROES ARMED
AND IN DEADLY CONFLICT.

The First Report Makes the Number
i of Fatalities Over One Hundred and
Sixty-Other Stories Mitigate the
Horror Very Much-white Men Am
bushed by the Colored People and
Then Shot Down-Confiicting State
ments.
WAHALAK, Miss, Dec. ia terrible
twelve white men and $50 negroes lie dead
as result. For long time there has
there has been much in-feeling between the
whites and blacks at this place, aggravated
by the impertinence OF the latter, and yes
terday the two elements became involved
in quarrel, which ended in great loss OF
life. The facts, as far as can be ascer-
tained, afe as follows:
a negro and white man became engaged
in a quarrel and the negro was killed. This
was an excuse for an assault Immediately.
The black horde swept down upon the
whites, who were greatly outnumbered.
Not knowing it was a fight to the death,
the whites prepared to reeeive their black
assailants, aud when the battle ended it
was found that twelve phite men and over
one hundred and fifty negroes had been
killed.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT WITH FEWER HoRRos.
New ORLEANS, December ia special
to the Picayune from West Point says:
News reached here this morning OF horri-
BILE tragedy enacted in the quiet village of
Wahalak, Miss, 40 miles south of this
city, on the Mobile & Ohio railroad, last
night, where four white men were killed
outright and eight wounded. three more
mortally, by a volley OF lead from the
hands OF desperate mob OF negroes. The
particulars to be learned are as follows:
Some two months ago q white farmer
living a few miles from the village lost his
gin house, together with eight or ten bales
OF cotton, by fire, which was evidently the
work OF an incendiary. Suspicion was at
once directed to one or two negroes living
in the vicinity. with whom the farmer had
had trouble. Officers in the meantime
have been searching for evidence against
the negroes.
At a late hour last night, sufficient evil
dence having been secured, one OF the ne
groes was appro ached by an officer, who
demanded that he surrender.
THE NEGRO BECAME FURIOUS,
and terribly assaulted the officer, after
which he made his escape.
This attack on an officer OF the law
aroused the indignation of a few white
citizens in the neighborhood, who organ.
lied themselves t capture, not to mob,
the fugitive. The woods in the vicinity
were secured, but without result. Not a
trace of him could be found, and it was de-
cided by the posse to act in a body aud
surround his premises.
the direction of the negroes house when,
from an ambush, came deadly volley.
Fifty well-armed negroes composed the
mob. After every white man had fallen to
the ground the negroes dispersed,
HORROR STRICKEN.
People have telegraphed for aid. Seventy
five we'll armed men left Meridian, Miss,
at 10 o'clock this morning fer the scene of
the tragedy. West Point will furnish more
help as soon as the necessary advices can
be had.
Reports from the scene OF the tragedy
are conflicting. The "Picayune's" Mason
Miss, special says: THE people here are
excited over the Killing or henry MaurS,
Cobb and Vaughan, three prominent white
men in Kemper county, by negroes, and
the wounding OF other white men, 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. The negroes are said
to be we'll armed and assembled enmasse
and seem determined to fight it out. Vari-
Gus rumors exist. Feared there will he
LI1olu worH to DiUht ~