The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-23
RIOT Inv a sMoKINa cAR.
A Band of Negroes Terrorize a Pas
senger Train.


MACON, GA. June 22.-Yesterday being
Saturday, the East Tennessee road offered
a special rate of one fare for the round trip
from Locust Grove to Atlanta and return.
Over 100 negroes took advantage Of the op-
portunity and went to Atlanta TO pass the
day. When they started home they were
all well loaded with bad whisky, aud each
man was also supplied with Jug Of bran
new fiery warranted ise-a-row corn
liquor.
Suddenly some angry words were ex-
changed between two negroes, and the half
drunken moo at once developed into avid,
conglomerated mass Of manlacs.
For q few moments blows only were ex-
changed. All at once, however, the report
of pistol sounded through the car, followed
by a wild shrek of agony. Then every man
in the fight drew a pistol and a regular
fusillade commenced.
The few white passengers who were in the
car fed at once to the car next to it, but
when the bullets commenced TO crash
through the windows that also was vacated,
and every body crowded into the sleeper at
the end of the train. Finally, the train
commenced slowing down for the Locust
Grove station, and it was decided to wait
until help could be procured.
When the train came to standstill the
platform, and the frenzied negroes turned
their wrath from each other to the fright
ened passengers.
Without the slightest warning every win
dow on the car toward the platform was
suddenly occupied by an armed darky and
volley of bullets was poured into the
crowd.
In the mean time a number of the citizens
of Locust grove, with some of the passen-
haH QaCtfrad a nd fbay Al
an organized attack on the car. As soon as
the negroes saw them approaching they fled
from the car and scattered in every direc-
tion.
When it was evident that the battle was
over an account of the injured was taken.
1t was found that the volley fired into the
people on the platform had resulted in Sc
we're wounds having been received by two
white gentlemen. j. b. Cook was shot In
the head and w. M. Bassett had lost toe,
a stray bullet having severed it from his
foot.
Terrible groans were heard from the car
where the fight had taken place. When the
people entered 1t appeared empty, except
for pair Of legs which protruded from be-
tween two seats. A closer examination,
however, showed that the legs belonged to
negroes were found, one mortally wounded
and the other In a such condition as to
make his recovery possible.
The white people were not in a frame of
mind TO waste much sympathy on the
wounded negroes. They were lifted on to
the platform, and as soon as the two
wounded white men were made comfort
able in the smoking car the train pulled out
for Macon.
A doctor found that Mr.. Cook had been
struck a little over the left eye, and the
bullet had glanced round his head, tearing
his hat to pieces His injury was very
painful, but not dangerous.
When Mr.. Bassett's shUe was removed a
rattling sound was heard inside, and when
1t was turned up his toe dropped out The
doctor did not consider that he would be
permanently lamed.
No arrests were made, as all the negroes
who had been in the car scattered at once.