Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-27
a Murderous Negro surrounded in n
Southern Swamp.


\ Murderous Negro surrounded in n
Southern Swamp.
SAVANNAH, December 26th.-The trouble at
Jessup yesterday began at 10 A. NJ, wheu Chief
Marshal Leggett and assistants were attempting
the arrest of Bob Brewer, a notorious negro out
law and fugitive. Brewer raised his gun and
deliberately shot and killed Assistant Marshal
Barnhill The Chief Marshal then fired at
Brewer but missed him. Brewer returned the
fire, and shot Leggett through both legs Brewer
and his crowd. ten or twelve men, then fed to
Mcmillan swamp.
The negroes were followed into the swamp by
several citizens, among them William Wood, a
carpenter and his son, William Wood. The ne
grOes lodged into the swamp and when Young
Wood ran in behind them Brewer rose up and
shot him through the head. killing him in
stantly, and shot Woods father in the face.
Accomplishing this much, the negroes ran
further into the swamp.
The news of the death OF young Wood, and
the serious shooting OF his father, spread like
wildfiTe, confusion reigned for Il time and
Jessup seemed to be in the hands of a violent
mob.
Mayor Hops called a meeting and hastily
Seventy-fve armed men were gathered in few
minutes and fol owed Brewer and his party a
distance into the swamp.
Mcmillan Bay covers over 400 acres, and
Brewer is so familiar with its high places that
the efforts of the posse to locate him is regarded
as in vain.
The strength of the posse was soon increased
by a posse of twenty-five armed men and g
picket line was formed.
Brewer had threatened the life of Assistant
Marshal Barnhill since the officers killed one OF
his pals few weeks ago, while attempting to
arrest some colOred men for gambling. Yester-
day was Brewers chance, and he took advant-
age of the opportunity when the assistant otii-
Ger came unarmed to the side OF Chief Marshal
Legget, who was making the arrest.
Brewer seemed to forget for a moment that
Grry- c rV n "a
Barnhill down as he would a dog. Marshal
Leggett, who is badly wounded in both legs,
was seen about the affair last night He said
when he went up to arrest Brewer, he knew he
had bad man to fool with. He wanted force
large enough to take the desperate. When
got near him. the Chief Marshal said. "and
when he saw who was, he LETT the posse who
were talking with him ana came toward me.
heard him say that is the rascal l want, and
stepped behind Mr.. Reddish. He kept coming,
and | threw my gun to my face and told him to
stop BE looked at me sullenly and put his gun
across his shoulder and started back. He
thought would return to town and get assist
snce. When got an old man named Rayford
and several others, all of whom had guns, l
turned round to see what they were going to do,
and ! saw Ray ord exchange his 3S-ealiDer Win
chester for a 32caliber and make threats and
curse the people | knew then we were in for
it. l waited and had not long to wait, when
saw Brewer throw his gun to his shoulder and
fire. / looked around and saw my assistant fall
to the ground. ! then returned the shooting at
Brewer. He then wounded me at the first fire.
l discharged both barrels ofmy gun and knew
l WAS done, and jumped down the embank-
meDt aud ran. Reddish stood, aud Brewer ap-
preached saying - - you, have grest
mind TO kill you. He struck him and took the
gun from him.
News reached the authorities that J. W Ryan,
& white man living there, was the instiget0r OF
the affair A posse was sent to his house to ar
rest him, but Ryan had escaped. 1t is said that
he put q bad idea into Brewers head about the
duty of white people to coored folks, and report
says he excited them by saying the murder oi
the colored man killed by Barnhin should be
aveuged.
Henry Anderson, one of the guards put over
Rysn's house, was accidentally shot and killed
last night by Gne of his own party. He went tC
headquarters for reinforcements, aud was going
back. when gun held by Townsend was dis
charged, blowing AndeIsOu's brains out.
Last night cOiored man was shot and seri
ously wounded by picket while coming from
Mcmillan swamp. He attempted to slip by the
officers. when be was shot.
| SAvANNAH, December 26th AT about eight
O'Clock this morning party of unknown men
attacked the Jail at Jessup, driving away the
guards. In few minutes The doois were bat
tered in and four men went inside and shot and
killed Peter Johnson and Bill Hops. The
former was the man who had been wounded
and captured in the fight The military was
stationed about half mile from the Jail. but
by the time the detachment arrived there, ey-
erything was quiet and all there was to indi-
cate what had happened were the bodies Of the
dead negroes.
The Georgia HusSaTs returned to this city this
afternoon. The Brunswick company were de-
tsired on duty by the Mayor. The returned
soldiers reported the trouble over. Their pres
ence was only required to quell the excitement
of the citizens of Jessup, who remained. Their
Kitchens and ont-houses were filed with the
col0red people of the town who sought the pre-
lection of their white friends.
A special from Jessup dated F. NJ. says Mayor
Hobbs has called public meeting to take steps
to defend the town tonight. 1t is believed
Brewer is near with a large force of negroes.
Citizens are organizing and aTming to aid the
Brunswick kites III case of an outbreak.
A special train was run out TO the brick-vaTds,
where Brewer was reported to have been seen,
aud a detachment Of armed men sent out as
scouts.
Mayor Hobbs is in receipt of telegram from
Brunswick sayiPg the White man who is sup
posed to have instigated the trouble is in that
city, but the Mayor will not take steps to have
him brought back.
There is still great excitement throughout the
country around Jessup, but affairs will doubtless
quiet down in few days. 1t is a region of tur-
pentine dIstilleries and savmils, where thou
sands of negroes are employed, and the Jessup
trouble will discourage labor for some time to
come.
Many negroes are quitting their homes and
moving TO other towns on the line of the rail
way. A large number of them were taken
from their homes by white men this morning
and severely whipped. some OF them being
women Of had ri he