The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-24
NINE NEGROES KILLED
A Fierce Race War Started In
0ississippi
FIRED ON THE OFFICERS
One OF the Pose Killed While Making
an Arrsst-The Whole Country
Aroused and In Hot Pursuit
OF the Blacks.

Memphis. Tenn. Oct. 23.-A special to
the Commercial Appeal from Forest,
Miss, says: As the result Of an at
tempt to arrest q negro near Harpers-
willie. Scott county, in the eastern part
OF the state. one white deputy is killed,
three wounded and according to the
latest report nine negroes have been
killed by the citizens Of the Harpers-
willie neighborhood and the sherifrs
posse combined. The pursuit Of about
so negroes. who had Joined the original
offender with the avowed determine
tion to prevent his arrest and capture
and which ambushed the party at
tempting the arrest, continues and by
morning the number Of fatalities will
undoubtedly have assumed larger pro-
portions. The whole country Is terribly
aroused and the sheriff's posse has
been reinforced with men from all the
neighborhood. Governor McLaurin has
gone to the scene, which Is about 10
miles north OF Forest. the nearest rail-
road point.
The trouble originated last Friday
when a negro named Burke had an al
tercation 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
deputized to arrest the man. went to
Burke's house. which is about a mile
from Harpersville. When they arrived
upon the scene and called for Burke,
they were greeted by a fusillade from
the negroes concealed in ambush in the
bushes surrounding the house and in
the house itself. Wallace Sibley, the
leader, fell dead at the first volley and
Of he
crowd, James Johnson, James Hamil-
ton and James Wells. were wounded.
The whites returned the fire, but were
unable to do any execution as their
assailants were all concealed. There
were not more than eight men in the
white crowd. and finding 1t impossible
to resist effectively they dispersed to-
wards Harpersville. 1t was not known
at that time that Sibley was injured,
but upon a return to the scene this
morning he was found dead in the yard.
The wounded deputies were able to go
back to town with the assistance of
their comrades.
This occurrence took place early in
the night. When the crowd returned to
Harpersville the news spread like wild
fire. During the night a large crowd
gathered from the neighborhood. They
went to Burke's house and
got from his mother the names of all
the parties in the crowd which had am
bushed the men the night before. In
all there were about 40 negroes who
had gathered to prevent the arrest of
Burke. and a list was made up at her
dictation. All of them had fled. Then
the pursuit and search for each of the
prescribed darkies began. According to
the statements of reliable citizens, six
negroes were found and killed by the
crowd of armed and determined citizens
before the sheriff arrived.
This morning Sheriff ]. NJ. Stevenson |
was informed Of the threatening condi- |
ton Of affairs and he was asked to get |
together a posse and come at once to |
Harpersville. Gathering together a |
posse Of 20 or 30 men, the sheriff start |
ed at once. When he arrived in the |
afternoon he was Joined by crowds OF |
citizens until q posse Of over 300 men |
was secured. Immediately after leav- |
ing the house where the first tragedy |
was committed the negroes scattered /
into the surrounding country. The |
sheriff's pursuit has resolved itself into |
a chase Of negroes implicated, and not |
of a mob which is keeping together, as
was first reported. A reliable telephone
message received at a late hour to-
night states that three more negroes
have been found and killed, making a
total OF nine up to date, with about 40 /
more to be heard from.
The posse Is operating in the swamps
about a mile from Harpersville, where
most OF the fugitives are supposed to
be concealed. There is a message here
to the effect that the citizens are ap-
prehensive Of armed negroes entering
the town tonight. and a guard will be
set to prevent a surprise.