The Grenada sentinel., 1889-09-07
THE RACE TROUBLES IN
LEFLORE COUNTY.
"A Number of Negroes Killed.

News was received in Grenada on last
Saturday that trouble was expected at
or near Shell Mound, Lefore county.
between the whites and blacks. which
created some talk here. On Sunday
morning, Mr.. Charlie Townes-who has
large plantation al or near Minter
City-was here, and received a telegram
from his manager to the effect that the
negroes had assembled by the thou
sands, and that riot was almost inevi-
table, and requested Mr.. Townes to come
at once and bring all the white men he
could. This telegram created a sensation
in our town, and spread like wild-fre.
Our streets were soon full of citizens,
and in short time about thirty.five
men succeeded in getting needle and
shot-guns and volunteered to 90 to the
scene of the trouble. Shortly after IL
o'clock they marched to the depot,
where they organized by elo"ting Hon.
J. G. Longstreet, Captain J. !. Thomas
First Lieutenant ; G.. L. Townes, Sec
ond Lieuteant; w. J. Jennings. First
Sergeant and A. G. Hebron, Ordnance
Sergeant. When the 1916 train came
along they boarded the same, and were
soon in Winona. Upon their arrival
there they were shown a telegram from
Gov. Lowry, who was at Greenwood, to
the Winona Rifles, to come at once.
Shortly after 3 O'Clock special train
came along and the Grenada Volunteers
and Winona Rifles got on board, and
arrived in Greenwood about 4:30.
When we arrived we found Gov. Low
ry on hand, as well as the Durant Grays,
the Jackson Company, Yazoo Volun-
teer Company and large number from
Carrollton and other places. After
hearing the news it proved not near as
bad as had previously been reported
The Grenada and other volunteer COM
panies got on board the Steamer Allen
that night, and intended going to the
scene OF trouble, but were requested by
Gov. Lowry not to go, which request
was acceded to, and the Grenada COM
pany left there at midnight, somewhat
disappointed, at the turn matters had
taken, and returned home Monday
evening and night via Durant.
During the evening Gov, Lowry made
a sensible and law-abiding speech to the
crowd, which was endorsed by Judge
Williamson, and other conservative
heads. Two or three OF the regular
militia companies were sent up to Min
ter City that night by order OF the Gov
ernor to investigate the matter, on the
Steamer Allen, and upon their arrival
there they made quite number of ar
rests, and returned to Greenwood Mon
day night. Since then we learn some
six or eight OF the ring leaders have
been killed, and others are being hunt
ed down by the white men who have
focked there from different portions of
the country, and we think before they
get through there will be other negro
agitators who will "bite the dust. y
The trouble is said to have been
started by negro named Oliver Crom-
well, who is an ex-convict, and who
was at the head of the negro Alliance.
Since the above was in type we see in
Wednesdays dispatches that some oi
these negro scoundrels went to the store
of Mr.. Jamison at Shady Grove, on the
Tallahatchie river, and burned his store
and Mr.. Jamison made a narrow escape
himself. This crowd of negroes was
said to have been lead by Geo. Allen
once a drayman in Grenada. We hope
the other guilty leaders will be caught
and dealt with as they deserve.