The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1898-10-27
A RACE WAR ON.
mhite Deputy Dead, Three Wounded,
and Nine Negroes Reported Killed.
Gov. McLaurin Arrives on the scene-The
Sovernor Was Accompanied by
Posse OF 80 Armed Men-An-
other Battle Expected.

FOREST, Miss, Oct 24.-As the resul
OF an attempt to arrest Negro nea
Harpersville, Scott county, in the east
ern part of the state, one white deput,
Is killed, three wounded and according
70 the latest report nine Negroes hav,
been killed by the citizens of the Har
persville neighborhood and the sher
iHs posse combined. The pursuit OF
about so Negroes which had Joined
the original offender with the
avowed determination TO prevent
his arrest and capture and
which ambushed the party attempting
the arrest continues and by morning
the number of fatalities will undoubt-
edly have assumed larger proportions.
The whole country is terrible aroused
and the sheriff's posse has been rein
forced with men from all the neighbor-
ing towns. Gov. McLaurin has gone
TO the scene, which is about ten miles
north of Forest, the nearest rail-
road point. The trouble originated
last Friday when a Negro named
Bill Burke had an alteration with his
employer, Charles Freeman, a white
man, in which the Negro got the best
of the difficulty. The next night a
crowd of white men headed by Wallace
Sibley, who was dcputized to arrest the
man, went TO Burke's house. which
is about mile from IIarpersville.
When they arrived upon the scene
and called for Burke they were greeted
by a fusilladc from the Negroes con-
cealed in ambush in the bushes sur
rounding the house and in the house
itself. Wallace Sibley, the leader, fell
dead at the first volleyy and three moro
white members of the crowd, james
johnson, James Hamilton and James
Wells were wounded. The whites
the fire, but were un-
able to do any execution as
their assailants were all concealed.
There were not more than eight men
in the white crowd, and finding it inn :
possible to resist effectively, they dis
persed towards Harperville. sit was
not known at that time that Siblcy
Wa injured, but upon return to the
scene Sunday morning he was found
lead in the yard. The wounded depu-
lies were able to get back to town
With the assistance of their com
'ades. This occurrence took place
'arly in the night. When the crowd re-
urned to Harpersville the news spread
ike wildfire. During the night a large
rowd gathered in the neighborhood.
they Immediately went to Buriles
Iouse and got from his mother the
James of all parties in the crowd which
ad ambushed the men the night be-
ore. In all there were about forty Ne
rocs who had gathered to prevent the
rrest of Burke, and list was made
p at her dictation. All Of them had
ed. Then the pursuit and search for
ach of the prescribed darlSies began.
ccording to the statement of reliable
tizens, six Negroes were found and
illed by the crowd of armed and de- {
,rmined citizens before the sheriff ar
we'd.
Sunday morning Sheriff J. VI. Steven 4
IN was wired from Harpersville Of
lie threatening condition of affairs 1
nd he was asked TO get together a
)sse and come at once 10 IIarpcrsvlle.
he sheriff lives at Morton, ten miles
ON the scene Gathering together a
,sse of citizens the sheriff started I
once for the place. When he I
rived in the afternoon he was P
ined by crowds of citizens until a u
nservative estimate places the num- "
n in the posse as over 800 men. Im- n
after leaving the house G.
here the first tragedy was committed
e Negroes scattered through the sur. p
unding country. The sheritf's pursuit Il
IS resolved itself into chase of the y
ngroes implicated and not of a mob 1
hich is keeping together as was |,
st reported. A reliable telephone
essage received at late hour Sunday "
ght states that three more Negroes W W
We been found and killed, making Ii'
tai of nine TO date with about forty
IRE TO be heard from. Sheriff Stew -
son realizing the danger apprehended -
mediately wired Gov. McLaurin for
| in quelling a probable widespread -
-. r I;., tr
am the governor wired Adjt. Gen. :"
nry, at Jackson, TO get together
npany of the national guard and 80
,ceed to the scene upon the first ~
in. Gen. Henry Immediately re-
,nded that there was no national
ard company obtainable, but that he
uld get together company of armed ia
n and render necessary assistance. gu
N the meantime the governor pro- tr
ed a special train at Brandon and lie
by posse of 80 men arm he
with shotguns proceeded to Forest lee
ted States and Japan Exchange Money ,
Orders. n
7AsHIyGroS, Oct "a The post OF. me
department has arranged with the ha,
Io,o,, To-. th., II.