The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-04-24
BRUTAL OUTRAGE.
fifty Discharged White 1Ien Fire vol!eys
into a Negro Camp Killing Nine
and Nourding More.
a TIE RiELE MIG n T.

CHATTANOOGA, April 2l.-Sunday night
at / 30 o'clock Il dark and bloody deed
was enacted at The tan lark camp Of r
l.. Watkins. situated fifteen miles from
lockwood and five miles from Nemo, on
Che Cumberland mountains
Nine negroes, some Of them Chattanoo-
Cans, are reported rs killed and as many
more wounded.
They were shot down ike dogs by des-
pcratc outlaws armed with rifles and
henyy deer guns.
Mountain Outlaws, The rilT-raff Of civil
lzaton, ha:barianS to Ike number Fifty.
walked into Ike CAMPS and for al hour
kept ~ continuous fire Into the shacks
where scecntyGyc negroes were lluddlcd
together.
Wednesday, evening, acting upon Tie
advice OF II. L. Watkins of this city, who
has the large tam bark contracts, the bark
bosses of the camp discharged fifty white
men. WHO when employed hailed from
Hartman.
Saturday night they returned to the
camp and asked TO be re-cmpioyed Iheil
request was refused and they departed
EXCEPT two or three These men ioitored
about the place and mingled with the ne
crocs. About 9 o'clock they rccitcd to
the negroes that revenue officers were
going TO visit the camp that night and
advised the ignorant laborcrs TO secrete
their guns and pistols. The poor fellows
believed them and the few firearms about
the place were hid from view and secret
cd in such a manncr that they could not
be easily reached.
Between II and II . clock. Arthur Vat
kins, the Young son OF Il. l.. " atkins. who
was Keeping tie books OF The camp, and
Joe Wichl, an elder brother Of Fred f.
Wiehl, in charge Of the commissary, and
a man named Bohsi, bark boss, were
awakened from their sleep by Il discharges
Of. muslle;ry.
The commissary is located about 4 hun
died Yards from the shacks, and looking
OF. the trio saw Il band o. mrn, fully fifty,
firing into thc log houses, heard the
screams and means of the unfortunate
occupants, and then saw a part of the
firing parry rurn towards their OWE build
ing.
Young Watkins bo,mded out the door
closely followed by lI: Wiehl and Bobs!.
3 they reached the corner OF the build
ing they we're Joined ~ Floyd FELTON,, a
cologcd man, wlo for Years has been in
the employ Of Mr. Watkins. and who was
sent to hc camp to attend to the tools Of
lie 5miiliy.
STAY with me, Arthur, said Mr.
Wiei.i, '.stay.aith me. If We die We will
die together" But the boy was tleetcr OF
foot, ard ten minutes later he was in the
woods, accompanied only ny the coorcd
man. The two never Stacked their speed
for miles. and carly Yesterday morning
thoy reached lockwood. An hour later
"Sims." coiorcd boy, dashed into the
station, his hand bleeding from the wound
Of Il rifle ball He never stopped run
ming, he said after the first fire, but for
miles could hear The guns.
This is Mr. Il. /. Watkins statement,
but his SON states that his father msun-
ders'ood him, as he did not go 10 Rock
wood until Yesterday, returning instead
10 the camp Sunday night
Young Watkins and the two negroes
reached the city last night. all frightened
AID highly excited ircm the fearful deed
oi Tic desperate moun!anecrs.
One hundred and fifty men were i'll the
camp. half white and half colorcd.
The white men were separated about
half IL mile from the colorcd men.
About thirty negroes reached lockwood
during yesterday and about twenty are
missing. Some Of tie men state posi-
lively that twelve were killed in the rude
shacks and others state six were killed
ard ten wounded.