Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-18
FIVE WHITES KILLED.
How the Trouble Originated - The
Swamps Full of Negroes.

How the Trouble Originated - The
swamps Full of Negroes.
New ORLEANS, December 17th.-The fol-
lowing is the latest from the Mississippi
tragedy, and is believed to be an authentic
account. A special dispatch from Column
bus, Miss, to the PicaWeae says: Several
gentlemen reached this city this morning
from Artesia, bringing the news of whole
sale slaughter of Constable's posse near
Wahslak, a small station on the Mobile and
Ohio Railroad, near Macon, Miss.
On Friday last, negro and 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. Yesterday the white man
swore out warrant for the negroes arrest,
and Constable Seth Cobb went to their
house to execute it, when be was attacked
by number of negroes and beaten. He
then summoned a 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 tele-
graphed along the line for help, and Meri-
dan responded with about seventy-fiye
well-armed men. They were joined at
every station, and on reaching Wahalak
marched Immediately to the scene of blood
shed.
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 belEgerent negroes had retreated to the
swamps, and are stubborn, while the nom
combatant negroes are fleeing to the woods
in terror.
There is considerable excitement here.
and news OF the developments is awaited
with the utmost anxiety.
Following is a list of the killed and
wounded: Killed-Henry Maury. Seth
Cobb, 1om Nicholson, Bill Vaughan and
Bill Hare. Wounded-Frank Maury, Tom
Giles BOB Harper, II. l.. Harper, John Dew
and Jeff Thomas.
LATER.--A special from Macon saws !. I.
is reported this evening that seven of the
negroes implicated were shot this morning.
Two armed squads left here to-day for the
scene of trouble, and more bloodshed may
be expected.
THE NEGROES WELL ARMED.
LATER.-The negroes have not been idle.
Reports from the county where they are
congregating state that their number is be-
ing continually increased by reinforce
ments, and that they are fully armed and
determined to fight to the end.
BATTLE IMMINENT.
MIDNIGHT.-Advices lust received from
the scene of trouble state that the negroes
have become alarmed at the number of re-
lnforcements which the whites have re-
ceived from all quarters and have retreated
farther into the swamps, where they are
fortlfylng themselves and making every
preparation to resist all attack. They are
armed with shotguns, muskets and pistols.
and are abundantly supplied with ammuni-
ton.
The whites are mostly armed with Win
chester rifles, shotguns and some sidearms,
and are determined to put a stop to all such
outbreaks.
The present scene of trouble is about five
miles from Wahalak, and reports Iare hard
to get. Late reports are to the effect that
the whites and blacks are now about equal
in numbers, and that the whites were about
to advance to the swamp.
This, of course, increases the excitement
here, and reports of an encounter are
hourly expected. That it will be fearful in
its results, no one for a moment doubts.
Judging from the past, the situation is
anything but reassuring. Those who re-
member the riots of 1875 shudder as they
contemplate
ALL THE HORRORS OF A RACE WAR.
The affair is greatly regretted by all good
citizens, who foresee that much bloodshed
may be the result; and, while there is no
doubt as to who will be the yictors when
the crisis comes, still it is most deplorable
affair, and one that will have baneful in
fuence on the South.