The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-24
DESPERATE BATTLE FOLLOWS
THE KILLING OF A WHITE
OFFICER.
POSSE KILLS NINE NEGROES.
ADJOINING COUNTIES SEND REIN
FORCEMENTS TO THE WHITES.
Gov. NcLaurIn Leaves Brandon for
the Scene-FOur Negroes in Cap
tivity at FOrest-severaI of
the Officers wounded.

Meridian, Miss, Oct. 25-The most bloody
race war that has occurred in Mississippi
since the exciting days of the reconstru
ton period is raging in Scott county, fifty
miles west of Meridian.
The war grew out of an assault on
Charles d. Freeman, a white man by Bin
Burke a negro.
Freeman and Burke became involved in
q quarrel which ended in Burke assault
ing Freeman with a hoe.
warrant was sworn out for the ar
rest of Burke, and Constable Thompson.
with fifteen men, went to the house of
Burke, who lives a mile from Harperville.
at o'clock last night to execute the writ
When Constable Thompson and his posse
arrived they found Burke fortified in his
little log hut with fifty or sixty negroes
ambushed on the premises, and the Off
GERS demand for a surrender was answer
ed with a volley.
Officer Sibley, one of the posse was in
stantly killed, and three others. including
Constable Thompson, seriously wounded.
The posse was thrown into confusion bv
the volleys, but the fire was returned and
for time a desperate battle ragged in the
dark
The negroes were greatly In the major
ity however, and the officers retired and
sent runners for help The sheriff re-
sponded with heavy reinforcements and
the battle was renewed this morning.
bo Gob
when the last courier reached the nearest
telegraph Office ten miles from the scene
Of the battle,at a late hour tonight. he re-
ported that nine negroes had been killed
and several wounded.
-Four negroes We're captured and taken
to Forest, where they are guarded by 200
White men 10 prevent their rescue by
negro sympathizers.
general alarm has been sent out over
Scott and the adjoining counties of Ran
kin, Newton and Smith, and hundreds of
white men are under arms and on their
way TO Harperville.
Gov A. ]. McLaurin left Brandon for
Harperville tonight.
Memphis, Tenn, Oct pa special to
the Commercial-Appeal from Forest, re-
garding the race trouble near Harpers-
vile, says in part:
Nhen the crowd Of white men returned
TO Harpersvlle after officer Sibley was
Killed and several men wounded the
news spread like wildfre During the
Hisht a large crowd gathered from the
TmeIshoorhood. They Immediately went to
I'ui Ne mouse and got from his mother
,Ae names of all the parties who am
puSned the men the night before In all
eHeie were about forty negroes, who had
s"I"'Ieu 10 prevent the arrest of Burke,
''u llst was made up at their dicta-
uoh' All of them had fled. Then the pur-
eU' ana search for each of the prescribed
men began. According to the statement
Ul reliable citizen, six negroes were
louud and Killed by the crowd of armed
arrived ''ie ~
rms morning Sheriff B. M. Stevenson
va. "Hed from HarpeIsville, of the threat
tn-ns condition Of affairs and he was asked
~ 7,l Ioselher posse and come at once
9 lldTpersWlle. When he arrived in the
tL,g.ooh noon at Harpersville with twenty or
ci,i-S ,S men he was joined by crowds of
'''1T"S untH conservative estimate Dlac-
men ''e Po99e "s over ovO
,,.t Immediately after leaving the house
'.ele lae first tragedy was committed. the
s 9-ols scattered through the surrounding
cd i.y,c y, Inc sheriff's pursuit had resolv-
l,li,atelL ,''eL INTO chase of the negroes i'm
t,,eaIeu and not of mob which is keeping
'"eI as was first reported.
a. ieHable telephone message received
~, j." .ate hour tonight states that three
r,ai,t.u uesroes have been found and killed
f.4'Is total of nine to date with about
o'y more 70 be heard from Sheriff Stew
49, reahzing the danger immediately
in wy ~" GOV. McLaurin at Brandon for aid
,rtt~e,tnS a probable disturbance.
al d. NoVefhor procured a special train
oe tbti"ndon and, accompanied by a posse
C.,Ia5 ~ y men armed with shot guns. pro-
,b( '1u % Forest. Arriving there early in
s,,,.,J TJNthlhg and finding that there was
- 80 uangec of the riot assuming pro-
i,' Y' So"s beyond the ability of the posse
'"r.d 70 keep in bounds, he wired Adjt.
fa 'L l4enry that it would be unnecessary
a -''n 70 bring volunteers from Jackson,
go, 'e tdd offered 10 do so. The posse is /
pVuaLhS in the swamps about a mile
I'm ON f'arpersville. where most Of the fug-
~ NJ are supposed 10 be concealed.
,te'e 1e'e IS message here to ihe effect
'"al the citizens are apprehensive of
80 -i'eu negroes entering the town tonight !
pri guards VIII be sent TO prevent sur
~ ne names OF the men wounded when
DlHcer Sbley was killed are: James John
9i' James Hamilton and James Wells