The herald., 1898-10-24
MISSISSIPPI NEGROES
BAND TOGETHER TO RESIST AN
ARREST
NINE NEGROES ARE NOW DEAD
Forty More Needed to Revenge Two
White Men Killed and Six Others
Wounded
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Oct. pa special to
| the Commercial Appeal from Forest, Miss,
says:
As the result of an attempt to arrest a
negro near Harpersville, Scott county, in
the eastern part of the state, one white
deputy was killed, three wounded and, ac'
cording to the latest report, nine negroes
have been killed by the citizens OF Harpers-
vile and neighborhood and the sheriff s
posse combined. The pursuit of about fifty
negroes who 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 undoubtedly have assumed larger pro-
portions. The whole country is terribly
aroused, and the sherifrs posse has been
reinforced by men from all the neighboring
towns. Gov. McLaurin has gone to the
scene, which is about ten miles north OF
Forest, the nearest railroad point.
The trouble originated last Friday, when
negro named Burke had an alteration
with his employer, Charles Freeman, a
white man, in which the negro got the best
OF the difficulty. The next day crowd Of
white men, headed by Wallace Sibley, who
was a deputy, went to Burkes house.
When they arrived upon the scene and
called for Burke they were greeted with a
fusillade from the negroes concealed in am
bush in the bushes surrounding the house
and in the house itself.
Wallace Sibley, the leader, fell dead at
the first volley, and three white members
of the crowd-James johnson, James Hill
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 it
impossible to resist effectively, they dis
persed toward Harpersville. 1t was not
known at that time that Sibley was injured,
but upon return to the scene this morning
he was found in the yard. The wounded
deputies were able to get back to town.
This occurrence took place early in the
night. When the crowd returned to Har-
persville the news spread like wildfre. Dur
ing the night large crowd gathered. They
Immediately went to Burkes house and got
from his mother the names OF all parties in
the crowd who had ambushed the whites
the night before. In all there were about
forty negroes who had gathered to prevent
the arrest of Burke, and list was made up
at her dictation. All of them had fled. Then
the pursuit and search for each of the ne
groes began. According to the statement of
reliable citizens, six negroes were found and
killed by the crowd of determined citizens
before the sheriff arrived.
This morning Sheriff Williams was wired
of the condition of affairs, and he was asked
to get together posse and come to Harpers-
vile. Gathering posse OF twenty men he
started. He was joined by crowds of citi-
zens, until posse OF over 800 men was made.
Immediately after leaving the house where
the first tragedy occurred the negroes scat
tered through the surrounding country. The
sheriff posse has resolved intself into a
chase of the negroes implicated, and not OF a
mob, which is keeping together, as was first
reported. A reliable telephone message re-
ceived at a late hour tonight says that three
more negroes were found and killed, making
a total of nine killed today, with about forty
more to be heard from.
Sheriff Stevenson, realizing the danger,
Immediately wired Governor McLaurin al
Brandon for aid in quelling a probable wide
spread disturbance Upon receipt of his
celegram the governor wired Adjutant Gen
eral Henry at Jackson to get together a COM
pany OF the National guard and proceed to
the scene upon the first train. General
Henry Immediately responded that there
were no National guard obtainable, but he
would get together company OF armed men
and render all necessary assistance. In the
meantime the governor secured special
train at Brandon, and, accompanied by a
posse of thirty men, proceeded to Forest.
Arriving here early in the evening, and
finding that there was small danger of the
riot assuming proportions beyond the ability
Of the posse on hand to keep in bounds, he
wired General Henry that it was unnecessary
for him to bring his volunteers from Jack
son.
The posse is operating in the swamps about
a mile from Harpersville, where most of the
fugitives are supposed to be concealed.
There is message here to the effect that
the citizens are apprehensive of armed
negroes entering the town tonight, and
guards will be set to prevent a surprise.
The governor and Mr.. Henry are naturally
counselling moderation, but in the excited
state Of the public mind a general fear is
expressed that the public will not regard the
suggestion favorably.
The presence OF troops will have good ef-
feet in restraining the number of fatalities
after enough negroes have been killed to
satisfy the outraged feelings in that section.