The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-07
FOUR DEPUTIES LAID OUT
NEGROES OPEN FIRE ON THEM IN
GROCERY.

A OHOCHhHs
The Ohcers Given No Warning When
the First shot Was Firec-One CT
the Deputies Mortally Wounded by
the First Shot-Ar the Others
Quickly Hors de Combat.
MEMPHIS, TENN, March 6.-word
reached the city about 10 O'Clock last night
that riot was in progress at the curve on
the fernando road. three miles from the
city. 1t was ascertained thas four deputy
sheriffs who had gone to that point to
arrest some negroes, had been fired upon.
The trouble dates back TO last Wednesday,
when there was fight between a white man
aud negro, the latter accusing the white
manof abusing his child. Pistols we're drawn
and the white man was wounded. Four
deputies last night went out to arrest the
man who had done the shooting. and
learned that he was in q corner grocery at
the curve. The deputies went into the store
and began talking to the keeper. Tho room
seemed to be filed with negroeL
THE NEGROES OPEN FIRE.
Suddenly there was shot and Deputy
Sheriff Clarke Cole fell to the floor mortally
wounded. This seemed to be the signal, for
in an instant firing become general. Deputy
Bob Farrell went down next with a load Of
huckshot in his back. The deputies were
taken completely by surprise, aud were
unable to return the FIRE. At this great
disadvantage the remaining two made
feeble attempts to defend them.
selves, but In minute the
remaining two, E. A. Yerger and
O. L. Webber went to the floor. The
former was riddled with birdshot aud the
latter with charge of buckshot in his legs.
The negroes, after firing q large number of
shots, made their escape as quickly as they
had entered the store. Not a negro was
hurt No arrests have been made. The
wounds of Yerger and Webber are not
necessarily fatal.
TWENTY NEGROES ARRESTED.
Twenty negroes have been placed under
arrest by the authorities in connection with
the trouble. Those arrested include Calvin
Mcdowell. manager of the cooperative
store. where the shooting took place, and
Tom Moss, q letter carrier, who are believed
to have been the ringleaders in the affair.
Josh Shields, who shot Deputies Harold
and Yerger, is still at large. The trouble
resulted from the existence of
nest Of turbulent and unruly negroes
living at or near the neighborhood
OF, the curve" where Mississippi avenue
verges into the Hernando road. For years
this locality has been notorious for the
character of negroes residing there and Of
late they have been more turbulent than
ever before. A short time ago a negro
youth named Armour Harris assaulted a
child Of Cornelius Hurst, an express mes
senger. Hurst caught Armour and thrashed
him. Other negroes fnterfered and Hurst
clubbed one Of them. On last Wednesday
night the negroes assembled at the curve
rfn
A sToREKBEPER cLUBBED.
W. r. Barret. who runs grocery, tried
to quiet them and was set upon and dubbed
and shot at, several bullets passing through
his clothes The assault occurred in the
Peoples grocery, an establishments owned
by stock company Of negroes and run by
Calvin Mcdowell. Mcdowell was arrested
thursday and gave bond for his appear
ance at the criminal court. Since then the
negroes have been holding secret meetings
and evidently preparing for trouble
Yesterday they boasted to white
residents that no deputy sheriff dare at
tempt to arrest them. The white people
were uneasy a3d their families left their
homes and moved 10 town. Judge Duboise
was appealed ~ and issued bench war.
rant for Harris and Viii Stuart, and in
stiucted the officers of the court to get as
sstance and arrest the negroes, and also to
curve. Three officers called on nine other
men, most of them deputy sheriffs and pro-
ceeded at 10 o'clock last night to the scene
Of the recent disturbance.
THE LULL BEFORE THE STORM.
Everything seemed quiet at the curve,
but when the posse entered Barret's store he
told the members to be careful when they
entered the Peoples grocery. as they might
be ambushed. The officers thought Barrett
was unnecessarily alarmed but they took
the precaution to divide and one party went
70 the back door of the negro grocery.
Perkins, Harold, Cole and Yerger of the
posse went to the front door. Calvin Nc
lowell was pacing up and down
the floor Several other negroes
were standing behind the counter Per-
klns asked Mcdowell IL Will Stewart was
there. He is in the back room," replied
Mcdowell. Perkins entered the back room,
leaving Cole, Harold and Yerger standing
In the front door.
THE FATAL FUsILLADE.
As Perkins walked into the back room be
was greeted with volley of shots, the other
deputies at the same instant entering the
oack door. These men supposed that fight
ing mad oegun in front and charged upon
group OF negroes who were partly concealed
py screen. The negroes were armed with
eaotguns, but the officers closed In on
uGem and used their pistols as
clubs, having no idea that their comrades
mad been shot down. In a minute the
negroes N the back room had dropped their
guns and fed. No sooner had the negroes,
VINO we're behind the counter in the front
room, heard the posse enter from behind
uan they lifted the shotguns that they had
concealed behind the counter and fred on
.Ge deputies in front. Each of these
9tllcers was struck in the face or head.
Cole was desperately wounded. One of his
eyes was shot out, but he strove gameiy
while calling for help to draw his pistol
and return the fire. The weapon, however.
taught in his pocket and he ran into the
street, where he fell. The other officers
we're slightly wounded, although Harold
as, sas dangerous hole in his head. The
tohce station at once dispatched squad to
SSue scene, where four arrests were made.
due balance of the arrests were made to-
SSay without trouble. Cole is still alive.
suV MS condition is critical. IL Is thought
uat the others will recover