The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-26
A FATAL RIOT AT JESUP.
TWO WHITE MEN KILLED AND
TWO BADLY WOUNDED.

The Georgia Hussars Sent to the
Scene-Assistant Marshal Barnhill
and William Wood, Jr., the Dead,
Marshal Leggett and William Wood, ,
Sr., the Two Wounded-An Attempt
to Arrest a Drunken Negro the
Cause.
JEsUP, GA, Dec. 25.-To-day has been
one of the bloodiest that Jesup ever saw.
Bloodshed and death have made Christ
mas holiday appalling and terrible.
Two of Jesup's prominent citizens have
been shot dead in their tracks, and two
more have been dangerously wounded.
Gloom shrouds the town.
The dead and dying are receiving the at
tention of part of the citizens, while the
other part is waging war on the murderers.
The affray which has thrown the town
into the excitement and caused the gloom
began at 10 o'clock. Just as Chief Marshal
Leggett was making his rounds he saw a
negro on the site of the hotel firing a rife
in rapid succession.
DREADED DESPERADo.
''It's Bob Brewer" somebody said as
the people began to pour out of the
stores. The name of the notorious out
law and fugitive sent terror to she hearts
of the citizens who watched the ant cs of
Brewer. 1T must be stopped, said Officer
Leggett. He then went into his st IRE ami,
armiug himself with shotgun, deputized
William Austin, Mr.. jackson, and w. I.
Reddish to arm themselves and go with him
to arrest the man. Accompanied by these
men, the officer went up to where the negro
was.
pprwrp,c pArs
Brewer was in a party of four or five
negroes, all Of whom were armed, when the
officers got within 100 yards of Brewer. Mr..
Austin and jackson got in front, and
walked up to Brewer, Marshal Leggett
and Mr.. Reddish remained where they
were, and after conversing with the men a
few minutes Brewer coolly threw the gun
upon his shoulder and started toward the
officer. THAT rascal with the brass bat
tons is the ma / want" he said, loud
enough for the officer to hear.
BOTH ARMED.
Mr. Leggett and Mr.. Reddish were both
armed, the former having q shotgun and
the other a Winchester rifle. The negro
stopped before he reached the officer and
turned as If he were gJing back, but
party of other colored people came along
and, stopping, began to threaten the white
people. and Brewer turned and started
toward the officer again. Just then As
sistant Marshal Barnhill ran up, and Brewer
threw his gun to his shoulder and deliber-
ately shot him down. The ball entered the
abdomen, causing death instantly. The
chief marshal then fred on Brewer, but
missed his mark.
LEGGETT SHOT DOWN.
Brewer returned the fire and shot Leg
get through both legs, the ball entering be-
low the thigh. Brewer and his crowd of
ten or twelve men then ran up on Mr.. Red
dish and took the riffs away from him and
fed TO Mcmillan swamp few yards away.
The report of the guns threw the town into
whlrlwind of exciteme 1t, and the negroes
were followed into the swamp by several
citizens. Among them were William
Wood, carpenter, and his son, William
Wood, who is on visit from Ridgeland, S.
c., to his father.
YOUNG WOOD KILLED.
The negroes lodged into the swamp, and
when young Wood ran in behind them
Brewer rose up and shot him through the
head, killing him instantly, and shot Woods
father i'll the face. Accomplishing this
much. the negroes ran farther into the
swan1p p and escaped. The news of the
death of young Wood and the serious shoot
ing of his father spread like wildfire over
the town. Confusion reigned for tune,
and Jesup seemed to be in the hands of a
violent mob Mayor Hops called meet
ing and hasty arrangements were made to
protect the town.
A POSSE IN PURSUIT.
Seventy-five armed men were gathered in
q few minutes and followed Brewer and his
party distance into the swamp. Mcmillan
bay covers over 400 acres, and Brew wer is SO
familiar with its hiding places that the
efforts of the posse to locate him in the
swamp are considered in vain. The strength
of the posse was increased by at least
twenty-five armed men before an hour had
elapsed, and a picket line was formed on
the east side so as to prohibit anybody from
coming out of the swamp to the town.
Brewer is thoroughly familiar with the bay,
having been skulking around and hiding
there fishing and hunting for number of
months.
CALL FOR TROOPS.
Mayor Hops, after finding that his line
had been formed, and that sufficient pro-
lection was guaranteed until night, began
to advise with his council as to what steps
to take to protect the town during
the night He feared that Brewer
was being re-enforced, and would
make another outbreak at night. Mayor
Hops then wired Gov. Gordon that riot
was in progress, and asked for military
protection. Tie mayor had not taken the
step any too soon in order to get the military
to Jesup in time for night service.
RE-ENFoRCEMENTs FOR BREWER
He recei we'd notice a few minutes later
that a company of armed negroes had been
organized near Johnston Station, and were
marching toward Jesup to aid Brewer. AS
the west side of the swamp is unguarded, it
Is supposed tbatBrewer's re-enforcementsa are
falling In on that side and inclosing. Brew
er's influence among the colored people is SO
great that he can collect as many OF them
as he wants aud accomplish al most any
purp Sc he wishes The absence Of colored
people in the town is an indication, the clti-
zens say, that the outlaw has large force,
and he puts no value on the life Of a white
man. Brewer shot Citizen Austin, who
was one of the party that went to arrest
him, few years ago, and is wanted on
bench warrant for assault with intent TO
murder young man named Wright.
Brewer is yellow colored negro aud
IS supposed to have Indian blood in him.
lie Is known throughout the surrounding
counties as desperate, and is wanted In
good many counties for bad offenses. he
is terror on the railroad trains, and has
been put off them q number of times. de
has wife and child and lives in Jesup. bis
house is guarded closely.
had THREATENED BARNHILL.
Brewer had threatened the life of Assist
ant Marshal Barnhill since the officers