The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1889-12-28
RACE RIOT.



Potts Camp, Miss, Dec. 22.-The
bloody conflict here Saturday night
between the whites and blacks is be-
lieved to have quieted down for the
present at least. The Sheriff from
Marshall County arrived late Saturday
night with a posse of men, and, while
they were not needed, their presence
made the sparse white population of
the Town feel much more comfortable
than they did few hours before. As
stated ia yesterdays dispatches, the
grave and unfortunate affair grew out
of q controversy between a white man
and a negro about dog. The result
is one man lies dead, another is in a
dying condition and three or four 9TH
ers seriously wounded, two of whom
may yet die from their injuries.
The beginning of the unfortunate
affair was about noon Saturday, when
John Overton had some hot words
with negro named johnson about
dog the negro had enticed away from
OYert0ns mouse.
The negro was insulting in his de-
nial and Mr.. 0verton, who is quiet
and reputable farmer, resented the in-
suits with blow. The negro was q
powerful man physically, and between
the two, Oyerton being muscular and
game, a desperate hand-to-hand fight
ensued. Three or four other negroes
ran to the assistance of johnson, and
as speedily responded Win Overton
and Aquilla Greer, Jr, TO John Over
toms aid. Clubs and sticks were free
ly used, the man most seriously hurt
being Greer, who was struck on the
head by a negro man with heavy
seantling, fracturing his skull and
knocking him senseless. The blow
laid the scalp open for five or six inch
es, from which the blood flowed freely.
The fight lasted for ten or fifteen
minutes, when the negroes were over
powered and locked up in the GALA
boose. There were great many ne
groes IN town, and all of them became
excited over the arrest and imprison-
ment of their fellows. For several
hours il seemed that there would be
serious trouble, but as night came on
tho negroes sullenly withdrew from
the town, and the trouble seemed over,
as very few took any stock in the
threats of few negroes that they In
tended to take their friends out of jail
before daylight.
About o'clock news was brought
In that the negroes were arming and
preparing to make good their threats,
and an assault upon the prison might
be expected at any moment. The
town marshall hurriedly summoned
every man he could command to arm
himself and repair to the jail to meet
the attack.
1t was about IL o'clock when long
line of negroes were TO be seen emerg-
ing from the creek bottom and max.
ing their way to the jail. As they ap-
preached the marshal demanded that
they halt and disperse. The demand
was met with volley of shots, and
was quickly responded to by the posse
that stood In front of the little Jail
The negroes broke ranks and started
pell-mell in various directions, but left
three of their members behind, one Of
them, Thomas McGhee, dead; Henry
Starks, mortally wounded IN severa
places, and the third, whose name has
not been learned, badly disabled.
All of the posse escaped unhurt.
The body Of McGheo was taken int
q store nearby, and the two wounded
men were cared for by the village ply
sician.
Both of the Overtons are badl!
bruised and beaten about tho face ant
head, and Greer, II is thought, will 10
| live through night.
To-day the four negroes arrested 70
assault and battery during the frs
fight were released on bond to appea
: for trial on Saturday next.