The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-12-19
The War of Races in Wah-
ajax, Mississippi.
PARTICULARS OF THE ARRAY
The White Men Get the Worst of It
Latest RepOrts-LiveIy Scenes
IN a Court RoOm-Etc.

had occurred at Wakalak, Kember
County, fifty miles north of Meridian
and that Holly Morton, of this place,
was killed. Two parties, aggregating
sixty men, were despatched to the
scene. They returned last night, re-
porting everything quieted down.
they give the following account of the
disturbance: On Thursday, a son of
u. f. Nicholson, a prominent farmer,
driving along the road, was met by q
negro desperate, driving in the oppo-
site direction. Young NichoIson's We
hicle by accident came in collision
with the negroes, who kept in the
middle of the road as if determined to
drive the boy out. The negro cursed
the youth, when the father of Nichol-
son appeared and interfered. The
negro drew a revolver, and closed with
Nicholson, knocked him senseless
with the pistol and then fed. The
following day Nicholson told some
friends of the Negroes assault, and
Saturday was determined to organize
posse and arrest the marauder. In
formation of this reached the negro. 1t
is said two white men
GATHERED A PARTY OF NEGROES
together at a church, Sunday night,
and organized a force of ten to resist
any attempts TO arrest Maury. These
whites are known to the people of
Wahalak, but their names cannot be
learned. 1t is a settled determination
to lynch them when found. The negro
force went to Maury's house and con-
cealed themselves in the smoke house
and cotton houses. Soon after this a
posse of white men came up the road
and halted in front of Maury's house.
Four of them walked up to the house
and found it deserted. They then went
to the smoke house, where they found
three negroes. These men were ques-
toned as to the whereabouts of Mnury.
They pretended they could not tell
where be could be found. Then a man
on the outside shouted: Here Is
Maury, suppose you come and arrest
him." The whites rushed in a body
from the building, and as they emerged
WERE Nit WITH A voLLEY
from eight or ten muskets and shot
guns. William Vaughan was seriously
wounded by buckshot in the neck and
shoulders, and another man, whose
name The whites will not reveal, re.
ceiYed slight wound in the hand.
This volley came from the cotton
house, and was promptly returned by
the whites, but The negroes being be
hind stout plank walls, received no in
jury. The whites discovered that they
were fighting at great disadvantage
and moved around to the north side of
the structure. Here they received an
other yOlley, resulting in the instant
death of Henry Maury and Wounding
his brother, W. ]. Maury, near the ell |
bow. The whites now drew off and fir |
ing ceased temporarily. Notwithstand-
ing their losses, however, the posse |
were
DETERMINED TO MAKE ANOTHER ATTACK |
on the cotton house, approaching it
this time from the south. As thew |
came up they received third volley,
the negroes apparently awaiting the |
order to fire as they had done in the
two previous instances. At this third
volley, Seth Cobb received twenty-five
buckshot in the breast and stomach, |
tearing the entire front part of his body
away. John Dew, another of the |
" lites, was probably MORALLY wounded |
by pistol shot in the groin. The whites |
again drew off for consultation, when it |
was decided that another attack, with |
their reduced force, was useless, and |
they determined to wait for daylight
and reinforcements. While they were
con q ing the negroes rushed from the
cotton houses to Maury's residence in
a body, AID proceeded to fortify that
building, and the white men went back
to Wahalack. Yesterday morning
another force of fifty men was
raised, who proceeded to Maury's
residence. The place was found en-
tirely deserted. They
BURNED THE BUILDINGS
on the place, together with those on the
negroes but could find no trace of them.
1t was impossible to find the negroes
within five miles of the scene OF the
trouble, while the people from adioin-
ing towns poured into Wahalak all day
and joined in the search, but as none
of the negroes, except Maury, are
known, they accomplished nothing.
One negro was seen lurking in the
woods and fred upon by a party of
whites, but instantly disappeared. 1t
is believed there will be more trouble.
1t is certain if any of the negroes who
fired on the whites are caught they will
be killed. The feeling, however, is
now against the white men who are
said to have organized the negroes. Not
a single negro is known to have re-
ceived any injury. Two white men,
besides those already reported, are
wounded but their names are not given
1t does not appear that the whites in
attempting to make the arrest were
UNDER ANY LEGAL AUTHORITY,
but are sustained by the entire white
population of Kemper and the adjoin-
ing counties. 1t is unlikely that any
proceedings will be taken against them.
AFTERNOON REPORT.
There is no change in the situation at
Wahalak The village is crowded with
men from the surrounding country.
Parties are searching the swamps in
every locality where the negroes are
supposed to be secreted. Up to 10 a.
m not one was found. 1t is supposed
they left the country. All the parties
who left Meridian yesterday for the
scene have returned and report every
thing quiet.
JACKSON, December 18.-A desperate
fight occurred between negroes and
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