Evening journal., 1888-12-18
SHOT FROM AMBUSH.
Outbreak Between Mississippi
Whites and Blacks.
TERRIBLE RACE WAR EXPECTED.

Result Of Quarrel Between white Hoy
and a Negro-A sherlnTs Posse Murdered.
Whites and Blaciss Arrning apd Gather
Ing for battle.
COLUMBUS Miss, Dec 1S-A race riot has
broken out in kempor county. A constable
and posse OF white men who were attempt.
ing 70 arrest negro fell into an ambush
prepared by negroes, who opened fire, killing
five white men outright and wounding six.
This occurred near Wahalak, small station
on the Mobile and Ohio railroad White men
from every section OF East Mississippi are
Hooking % the scene of the killing and II Ii
feared that many other lives will be lost.
The following arc L..own TO have heen
killed.
Seth Cobb.
Bill Hare.
Henry Maury.
Tom Nicholson
Bill Vaughn.
The following were wounded:
John Drew.
Tom NJ Giles
II. l. Harper.
Bob Harper
Frank Maury.
JEFF Thomas
Nothing like this slaughter has occurred in
Mississippi since thu famous riots Of 1878.
At first there were rumors that the white
Lien had rallied and had had battle with
the negroes, IN whicA l50 OF the latter were
killed, the number Of white dead being placed
at twelve. The facts as they are were
enough to arouse the white population
Nahalal a "A ert,e af,ftf,t - ,..rk.,,.. :.
dozen families near Macon, on the Mobile
aud Ohio railroad Last Friday a white boy
and negro boy got into fight The father
Of the white lad, Tom Nicholson, separated
the boys, whom the father OF the negro inter
fered and Nicholson was severely beaten by
a crowd OF negroes A warrant was sworn
out by Nicholson Tor the arrest Of the
negroes.
The news spread rapidly and the negroes
assembled and fortified themselves In an old
house about five miles from Wahalak, and
when Constable Seth Cobb attempted 10
serve the warrant he was set upon by the
negroes and beaten Upon being released
he immediately summoned posse Of twelve
men and proceeded TO the scene Of his previ-
Gus encounter.
The negroes had abandoned the building
and ambushed themselves in the thicket near
by. When The posse approached the negroes
opened hot fire on them at close range and
with deadly effect
Nine men OF the twelve were shot from
their horses, five being killed outright The
others were wounded, some Of them mortally
The telegraph operator at Wahalak tole-
graphed TO the nearest stations along the
line for help Meridian responded at once
with 200 white men, and they were Joined at
every station by many more Capt. A. j
Mcdowell, Of tho Columbus riheInen. has
notified his men to be IN readiness for tho
summons Of the governor, who IS expected
70 order state troops 10 the scene.
IL Is said that the negroes, after firing
upon the constabt's posse, gathered up the
bodies Of the dead and placed them noar tho
house, where they have refortiied them.
selves, and refuse to give up the bodies The
negroes are reported rising all over tho
county and armirg themselves, and, as they
greatly outnumber the whites great loss of
life may occur.
The scene OF the riot is about five miles
from Wahalak. All the forenoon reinforce
ments Of whites are hourly arriving here.
and starting as they arrive for the scene Of
the conflict No one as yet has returned
At noon the opposing forces were supposed
TO be about equal in number, and both were
well armed. II the history Of the race riots
IN Mississippi is worth anything, the most
terrible results may be expected