The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-06-28
EXCITING TIMES.
w. T. Baggett Gets Mixed
With White Caps.
UNFOLDING LAW BY FORCE.
The Chicago Fair, a Railroad Col
Iision, and a Southern Fight
Make Up a Holiday.

The telegfaphic dispatches have told of
the recent White Cap outrages in the
South, but an old resident of this city hav-
ing been through the troublous times down
there, he spoke yesterday most interest
ingy regarding the outbreak-if such it
can be called
w. T. Baggett. the well-known attorney,
left San Francisco about two months ago,
Intending TO visit the Chicago Fair, make
a short tour visiting friends, aud then pass
the remainder of his holiday with relatives
at his old home at Bro0khayan, Miss He
returned 10 the city yesterday. and in
reply to the query as TO his having had a
pleasant trip, with great JUNCTION Of spirit.
apparently. he replied:
ION, yes, I've had a splendid time. Tired
almost TO death seeing the wonders of the
show at Chicago, narrowly escaping an
accident on the railroad running south
from Memphis, and after an absence of
nearly twenty-one years from my home
very nearly having bullet hole drilled
through me, were some of the experiences
that made up my trip. Yes, all things con-
sidered, had zeal tiptop time"
Opinions as to what constitutes pleas
ant time nay differ. but the exciting &C.
currences enunciated by the genial attor.
ney do not fortunately fall to the lot of
every individual, and when they do are
scarcely viewed as calmly, not to say phil
osophically. Upon something of this sort
being introduced. Mr.; Beggett. who is
bronZed and bearded like the pard said
We'll, the fact is the living East, such as
Iendured, was just a trif1e too rich and easy
for my blood and Quiet-goin California
IS good enough for me. Now, make your
self comfortable and / will tell you all
hnn ho dal
my little adventure | think you will allow
that for mere holiday outing did pretty
we'll"
Nesting down in his Office chair and
lighting cheroot. he resumed: II need
not waste time in speaking about the fair:
It's thrlce-tOid tale, and in any case Ii is
Impossible o canvey even faint idea uf
Its magnitude, its beauty and the wonders
Of 1t when examined i'll detail. Nor will |
speak of the railroad accident just below
Memphis, which might have developed
into a disaster, but quickly come to the
point of my trip | wish to speak about.
Il had the good or the i'll fortune, Just as
you view it, to arrive at Brook haven the
day before the White Cap outbreak in that
little burg, some very brief details of which
were wired all over the country. As
matter OF fact this organization was in no
wise similar to the White Caps of Illinois
ana Iowa. It's members wore no disguises,
nor did they organize for the same purpose
as the old White Cap party. The Southern
organization had its rise about ten years
ago among the farmers. Owing TO the
hardness Of the times they found them
selves, for the most part, in the hands of
the money lenders That class are not
generally credited with being particularly
tender hearted, and in Mississippi most of
the large mercantile houses are carried on
by Northern men. THESE merchants,
at the solicitation of the farm
ers, advanced supplies, etc, and in place
of payment took q trust deed to the farm
upon which advances had been made. AS
might be supposed, with the price of the
cotton crop falling. the farmers remained
c6BsfauOusly in debt.
"a few months ago matters reached
climax. The merchants fore ICsed on
many of the estates and many farmers
found themselves on the roadside minus a
home. This was bad enough, but actual
hostility was threatened when the con-
is ated estates were leased out to negroes.
With the intention Of soaring the colOred
folks and causing them to surrender their
holdings the farmers combined together
and. took nightly rides wherever estates
were being worked under the system |
have stated. What with yelling and firing
off their pistols they contrived to make
night hldeous, and IN some cases with the
desired result, viz. of driving the
negroes out.
up to this point public sentiment was
the system that permitted an honest and
industrious farmer to be thrown out on
the hillside, his lands eaten up by a
mortgage, was considered ubiquitous. But
not content with having the public senti-
ment with them, the organized agricul-
turists, or White Caps. as they have been
called. in many cases burned down the
cabins of the cOlored people and in other
WAYS tried to terrorize them.
Right here the respec1able element in
the community made itself felt Nine
farmers were indicted by the Grand jury
and lodged in jail. This provoked retalia-
ti0n and the White Caps, in the attempt 20
lncite discomfort among the men employed
In the recently developed lumber Industry.
were the undOubted cause of more than
one mill being burned down. AS the plant
ID these mills not Unfrequently cost more
than 100000 you can understand the ssr-
BUSINESS OF the local conditions.
just at this time l arrived al my broth
er5 home. The town was in a ferment of
excitement. 1t bad been bruited abroad
that the nine prisoners in the Jail were to
be rescued. but no one seemed to have be-
lief in the report. The day following my
arrival District Judge Chrisman was hold
ing cOlr., and he is an old friend
crossed the road from where | am living
and went in TO renew my acquaintance
with him. Suddenly the bailiff rushed
into the courtroom. saying without cere-
mony that the courthouse was bang sur
rounded by armed men.
"Now, if you don't believe that court
was adjourned in double quick time you
are much mistaken" circulated Mr.. Bag
gett, as he blew great wreaths of smoke
overhead and smiled as if at pleasant
"Reminiscences.
We'll, the few people in the court
quickly found the thrOng gathering in
front, but few friends, including myself
and tile court officials, went out on the
pOItico with Judge Chrsman. Surround
ing the Jail, sure enough. were about one
shotgun or pistol in hand | can't say
was particularly attracted by The look of
things, but had to see it through.
THE Judge demanded of the leader why
the armed force appeared. The reply came
quick enough. They wanted their friends
released fsom jail on bail and they in
tended having them. l had noticed, as had
the Judge himself, that one dismounted
fellow, armed with pistol. was trying to
get in the rear of our little group. and as
evidently business was meant. things were
looking more squally each minute But
the old Judge had what Westerners call
sand Addressing the leader of the
White Caps lie said: I am a Judge under
the powers of tie land aud my powers are
limited. The Grand Jury indicted these
men and they will not be baled out, for
they are not entitled to such a privilege.
You are making a mistake and IL you
don't look out will find yourselves all In
the penitentiaTy.' AT this implied threat
a howl went up and our rearguard friend
with the haaVv navy Calf moyad nm little