New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-22
BLOODSHED IN A RACE WAR
BOTH WHITE MEN AND NEGROES NOR
TALLY WOUNDED.
FIERCE FEUD STARTED AT RIvEfTON. ALA
BY THREATS OF LYNCHING a NEGRO
THE ENTIRE COUNTRY ROUND
ABOUT UP IN ARMS.

THE ENTIRE COUNTRY ROUND
ABOUT UP IN ARMS.
fBY TELEGRAPH 70 THE TRIBuNE
Chattanooga Tenn. July 21.-Riverton. Ala,
Just below Florence. is in the throes Of a race
war, one of the most serious in the history Of
Alabama The entire country for one hundred
miles around has armed, and the people are
crowdng into Rverton tonight. All day the
feeling has been intense between the blacks and
the whites, and pitched battle is likely to result
at any minute
The trouble arose over negro named Rogers
attempting to assault Mrs. S. l.. Vaughan the
wife Of prominent citizen Of that town, yester-
day afternoon Mrs Vaughan fought the negro
off, and aroused the neighborhood by her
screams. Searching parties were quickly organ
lied, and soon several hundred men and boys
were looking for the negro. The entire country
was secured, and the posses returned to town
several hours later 1t was believed that the
negro had been found and lynched but none of
the party would tell anything about It,
Riyerton is the headquarters Of the Govern
works on Colbert Shoals Canal. The Govern
ment works on Colbert Shoals Canal. The
Government employees on the works became
highly ncensed at the action OF the negro
and armed themselves to run the negroes
out Of town. In the surrounding county
at least half the population is made up OF
negroes who work the plantations. They
are I'D in arms and angry. They say they Will
protect their brethren at any risk. All day long
crowds of excited negroes have been congregat-
ing on the outskirts Of the town. heavily armed
with old fashioned shotguns. The Sherln warned
them of the seriousness Of the situation, and ad-
yised them to disperse. The messenger was
mocked and barely escaped with his life.
The white men were determined In the mat
ter and late this afternoon about two hundred
and hftv marched out in line to where the ne
eroes were and ordered them to disperse. This
was followed by a regular fusillade OF shots from
both parties The negroes outnumbered the
whites more than two to one, but were poorly
armed, and were forced to retreat in haste The
white men followed them for about half mile
and then returned. Few negroes remain In
town tonight.
Information comes that three negroes were
wounded one perhaps fatally and two white
men mortay wounded in the battle. VINO the
wounded men are cannot be learned at this hour
dispatch from Riverton says that about two
hundred white men are picketed around the
town prepared for an attack by the hesroeS'
which Is expected at any time.
mob of more than one hundred men Is chas-
ing three deputy sherffs. who are said 10 nave
Mrs Vaughan's assailant In custody. Ihey
have the officers surrounded In swamp, near
the Tennessee River and will probably lynch
the negro as soon they can lay hands upon
him. Runners have been sent out to the adJon-
ing counties to summon the planters ana citi-
zens to help the besieged town Ine SITUATION IL
critical and a bloody encounter Is hourly ex-