The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-01-02
OVER IN GEORGIA.
EXCITING TIMES AT JEsSUP-A NEGRO
DEsPERADO:KILLs THE ASSIST
ANT MARSHAL.
THE CHIEF OF POLICE SHOT
A Posse Pursues the Murderer and His
Gang Into the Swamps, and Many
Negroes are Killed.

SAVANNAH, Ca, December 26.-Advices
from Jessup at midnight say: The situa-
ton is somewhat quieter at this hour and
only an occasional shot is heard. The
streets are still paraded by armed men, A
negro was fouLd dead in an alley few
moments ago and two of the wounded are
reported to be dying. Fear is now enter
tanned for the safety of people remaining in
the nelghborhood, but as all the negroes
and whites seem to be congregating here
very little danger need be apprehended.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
SAVANNAH, Ga, December 26-The follow.
ing has been received from Jessup, Ga. /:
A posse of twenty men under the COM
mand of L. White left on the East Ten.
nessee, Virginia and Georgia mail train for
Lumber City, to intercept Brewer and his
gang who it is rumored have gone there
for reinforcement.
Brewers mother lives at Lumber City
and it is supposed thatjf he gets out of.Mc-
Millan's swamp he will go to his mothers.
Firing along the picket line keeps up, but
it is principally boys. A crowd of armed
men have just returned from trip to the
swamp, and they report four colored men
were found dead, but gave no names and
said they did not know the negroes.
The jail was broken into early this morn
ing and two negro prisoners riddled with
bullets. A. OF Ter negro was found athome
shot through the heart and one with flesh
wound in the shoulder. 1t was reported
others had been killed, but the officers have
not found them.
Search for the bodies will be kept up to-
day. The negroes are quitting their homes
and moving to other towns on the line of
railroad. A large number of negroes were
taken from their homes and whipped,
many of them being prostitutes. A crowd
of white men went to several houses after
breakfast this morning and compelled the
negroes to leave. They punished some of
them.
The Hussars have started for Savannah,
but the infantry company of Brunswick
will remain until tomorrow in the swamp,
where the Brewer gang are hiding, which
will be searched this afternoon. If the
negroes are found lynching will probably
follow. The coroner is now holding an in
quest on, the dead bodies.
HISTORY OF THE TROUBLE.
The trouble at Jessup yesterday begun at
10 a. M, when Chief Marshal Leggett and
assistants attempted to arrest Bob Brewer,
notorious negro outlaw and fugitive.
Brewer raised his gun to his shoulder and
shall Barnhill, killing him instantly.
The chief marshal then fred on
Brewer but missed him. Brewer returned
the fire and shot Leggett through both legs.
Brewer and his crowd of ten or twelve men
then fled to Mcmillan swamp, few yards
away.
The report of guns threw the town into
whirlwind of excitement and the negroes
were followed into the swamp by several
citizens among them Mr.. Wood, carpen-
ter, and his son VIM. Wood, who is on a
visit from Ridgeland, s. G.
The negroes lodged into the swamp and
when young Wood ran in behind them
rose up and shot him through the head
killing him instantly, and shot Woods
father in the face. Accomplishing this
much the negroes ran further into the
swamp and escaped.
News of the death of young Wood and
the serious shooting of his father spread
like wild fire over the town. Confusion
reigned for some time and Jessup seemed to
be in the hands of a violent mob. Mayor
Hobbs called meeting and hasty arrange
ments were made to protect the town. Sew
enty-ive armed men were gathered in q
few minutes and followed Brewer and
party some distance into the swamp.
McMillan's swamp extends over 400
acres and Brewer is so familiar with
its hiding places that the efforts
of the posse to locate him in the swamp
posse was increased by at least twenty-five
armed men before an hour had elapsed
and picket line was formed ON either 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 hid
ing there fishing and hunting for several
months. Brewer had threatened the life of
Assistant Marshal Barnhill since the Off
GERS killed one OF Brewers pals few weeks
ago, while attempting to arrest col
terday was Brewers chance and
he took advantage of the opportunity.
When the assistant officer came unarmed
to the side of Chief Marshal Leggett, who
was making the arrest, Brewer seemed to
forget for moment that anybody was try
ing to capture him and he shot Barnhill
down as he would dog
Marshal Leggett, who is badly wounded
in both legs, was seen about the affair at
his home last night. He said that 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 and he saw who |
was he left two men who we're talking with
him and came toward me. ] heard him
sry That is the rascal want and stepped
behind Mr.. Reddish. He kept coming and
| threw my gun to my shoulder and told
him to stop. He looked at me sullenly and
put his gun across his shoulder and
started back. / thought that l would
return to town and get assistance, when
met an old man named Ragford and sew
eral others, all of whom had guns. turned
around to see what they were going to do
and ! saw Brewer exchange a As alibre
Winchester for a 80 calibre and make threats
and curse the white people. / knew we
were in tor it. SO waited and had not long
to wait when saw Brewer throw the
gun to his shoulder and fire. / looked
around and saw my assistant falling to the
ground and knew he was fatally wounded,
l then returned the fire, shooting at Brewer.
He then turned loose on me and wounded
me on the first fire. / discharged
both barrels of my gun and knew
L was done. jumped an embankment
and ran for my life. Mr.. Reddish stood
and Brewer approached him, saying: DIN
you, have great mind to kill YOU He
struck him and took his gun from him."
The news reached the authorities that
w. Ryan, white man living in Jessup,
was the instigator of the affair.
A posse was sent to his house to arrest
him but Ryan had made his escape. Men
are on the lookout for him. II is said that
he put bad ideas into Brewers head about
the duty of white people to colored folks,