The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-18
THE SAVAGES OF THE SOUTH.
Forty Families Driven from Home, Their
Only Crimes Being that They Were Black.

Only Crimes Being that They Were Black.
JACKSON, Miss, Jan. 1.-THE following
letter will appear in the New Mississippian,
and copy was handed, tonight, to cor
respondent of the Associated Press
'sTo the Editor of the New Missssippian:
Dear Sir-I sent you a telegram, this
morning giving q short account of what is
going OH in the northern part of keWper
and the southern part OF NOXubee. / had
previously written the Governor on the
same subject. l am not sensatiOnalist,
praved and irresponsible part of our COM
munity can rob and plumber defenseless
women and children, and drive them from
their homes, carrying on their barbarous
work for three weeks without check
or hindrance, it is time that some
one take the Initiative and appeal to those
who are high III authority and have been
intrusted by the law with the preservation
of our lives and property. Crimes have
been committed that the outside world
has not dreamed of. Brutes. feeling no re-
straints of law or honor, have endeavored
to see how deep they could steep them
selves in infamy. As telegraphed you to-
day, over forty families, by actual count,
have been driven from their homes. Many
of these families, by years of industry and
economy, have paid for their lands, and
had stock and supplies sufficient to make
crops. These people have committed no
crime, unless, indeed, 1T is crime TO be
born black. No charge has ever been
made against them. Three families, who
sent to me yesterday for protection, have
been notified to leave within five days.
One woman has a child eleven days old,
and another child about three weeks old.
Their limit will expire tomorrow. They
are now rushing through mud and rain,
hauling their corn, meat, bedding and
household furniture, to save them from the
vandals. 1t is time that the press of the
State should be aroused. We have been
criminally negligent in permitting these
OutrageS to 90 on almost at our doors with
out giving any notice to the outside world.
Il am, perhaps not competent to Judge,
but it does seem to me that the Governor of
the State ought to place these people back
the enjoyment of the fruits of their labor
and the comforts of their homes, even if it
should take the militia of the State to do
it. Make what use you please of this let
ter. III 1T will serve, even in slight de-
gree, to draw the attention of lovers of law,
and order. and fair play to the vandalism
now going on at our very doors, 1T Will have
IS. d. CHAMBERLIN."
Governor Lowry is making diligent in
quiry into the facts, and viii take all nec-
cssary measures to suppress lawlessness.
South Carolina Barbarism.
CHARLESTON, 5. c., Jan. 17.-Last Satur-
day party of men went to the house of
Butler Banks, in Newberry county, where
were his wife and six little children, the
eldest being only thirteen, and set fire to
the house, compelling the woman to remain
until its destruction was certain. The men
then set fire to the corn-crib and feed-house,
leaving the mother and little ones without
food, shelter or sufficient clothing. There
is great indignation, but though the names
of the incendiaries are said to be known, no
Butler Banks lay in wait for a man in the
neighborhood and shot him. The man is
still alive. His friends took this method OF
reyeuQe.