The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-24
SEVEN FOR ONE.
A Wholesale Lynching Takes
Place in a Georgia Town.
Seven Blacks are Killed for MUIR
dering a White Man.
"A RACE WAR LIKELY.
Armed Whites and Blacks Are
Ready to Clash.
4 RACE WAR LIKELY.

CurrMAr. Ca, Dec 24.-The lives Of
seven negroes have been taken in
revenge for that of one white man.
and unless all signs fail utterly many
more lives are in Jeopardy
Two bodies of determined men, be-
tween 400 and 500 in all every man
being heavily armed and each body
about equal in numerical strength to
the other, separated by less than
mile Of country and liable to clash at
any minute-that is the spectacle pre-
scented in Brooks county.
One body is made up Of stern, deter
mined white men, bent on revenge
for the brutal murder of one Of the
best citizens Of this county, the other
is made up Of egroes-terror-str ick-
en- and fearful lest they or their fam
lilies be made the objects of the same
fate as has already befallen seven Of
their number and ready to defend
themselves from such fate as well as
they may be able
on Thursday Mr.. Joseph Isom, one
of Brooks county's most prosperous
farmers and best citizens. was muir
dered by a party Of negroes. 1t leaked
out that the killing Of Isom was a
who were in the posse which few
weeks ago arrested Jesse Jeffreth for
the killing Of Mr.. T. Moulden- When
it developed that the same gang of
negroes had sworn to kill other white
men the whites gathered together as
if by one accord and the work OF
death and destruction began
Of the seven who are dead, the
names of only four could be obtained
when a reporter visited the scene late
last evening Every cross road was
found picketed with sentinels and
every man ina the county is armed to
the teeth When one of these race
excitements occur, terror rules in the
homes Of whites as well as blacks
There are probably five hundred
men under arms, covering an area OF
about five square miles. A bout a
mile and a half from the home Of the
Isoms were about 200 whites all we'll
armed and breathing all sorts of ven
geance- A mile further was a crowd
of negroes Of about the same size
armed with Winchester rifles. pistols,
axes. clubs and every available weap-
ON. waiting for the whites to attack
them They are ent-enched in and
around a lot VI gro cabins in the
midst of thick grove and the latest
Information is that the whites are adj
vancing on them from two sides
Sam Taylor, Eli Frazer, Sam Pike
and Henry shepard ire four negroes
known to have been killed It IS IN
derstood that Waverly Pike. Jim Nc
Call and a negro named Herring were
proba bly, the others.
Details OF the killing of the seven
negroes are very meaRre. Taylor,
Frazer, Pike and Shepard were to-
gether about sunset Saturday night
They were regarded as four Of the
ringleaders OF the conspiracy to kill
and burn, and were being especially
sought for. a half dozen whites, one
Of whom is said to have been Isom's
brother-in-law, came upon them and
ordered them to SD bmit to arrest
One Of the negroes answered with a
shot that struck one of the whites.
and the four blacks were shot down
ia their tracks. The other three men
were caught one at time.
The killing of Isom occurred in the
PA bIic road not far from his home,
and the circum stances attending it
seem to throw doubt on the com
spiracy theory. IsOn was here TIL urs-
day. and while in town had some
words with Waverly Pike, negro
living IN the neighborhoOd- Appare Mt
ly everything was smoothed over
when he left for home After arriv-
ing there he started with Henry
Timmon. his brother-in-law. for Cap
tain Timmon's home. about half
mile from Isom's- They met four
negroes. two on horse back and two
in wagon Pike and West Mccall
were on orseback and the two
Herring boys were in the wagon.
They came near riding over Isom,
who remOn strated- He said. Look
out. don't rum over me-" and had
stepped out Of the way Just then
Pike drew a pistol and. without a
word. fred he bullet pierced Isom's
heart Pike and Mccall fred three
shots each at the PROSTATE body of
Isom. Then they broke for their
horses Pike made his escape. but
Mccall and the Herrings were arrest
ed and are in jail