Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-27
REPORTS TO THE GOVERNOR.
Some of Them Very Ainrming-Th'
situation.

a
first messages received by Governor Cand-
Ter to-day. regarding the uprising OF
negroes in Mcintosh county. was from
Captain j. II. DevOe, OF Savannah, COM
handing the colored militia, who offered
his company 10 the Governor 10 assist
in quelIing the rioting at Darien. mo
Governor had previously placed the com
mand OF all the militia forces under COLO
mel LawtOn. and referred the matter 10
him. The First Regiment had, however,
been called out. and the negro company
was not needed.
Governor Gambler was in his Office sew
eral hours before he began 10 receive any
information from the seat of the trouble.
Colonel LawtOn reported by wire TO the
Governor that II would be impossible
to restore peace and order unless the
Delagels were arrested. The Governor
answered that Colonel Lawton was in
command, and should do as wisdom and
discretion demanded.
ALARMING MESSAGES.
Messages from Darien, Brunswick and
Jesup came rapidly into the Executive
office. and some Of them brought alarming
reports.
1.-THE situation in Mcintosh county 10
extremely critical and srave," said the
Governor. 1.-THE entire First Regiment,
composed Of seven companies. is on the
scene, and ] have ordered Companies
and +. Of the Fourth Regiment. 10 report
at their armories, ana hold themselves
in readiness for a call from Colonel Law
ton.
THE law does not provide that militia
can make arrests" continued the Cow
ernor, but the troops will back up the
Sheriff, who is surrounded by a large
posse, and will see that he has all She
assistance needed"
TENTS FOR THE TROOPS.
The Governor received a message from
Colonel IawtCn, asking that tents be
shipped 10 the soldiers who are now
in the western part Of Mcintosh county
ct Is expensive 10 make the shipment
by express" said the Governor. but the
occasion demands AN possible haste, aud
we are doing everything In our power 20
get the arms. ammunition, tents, ana
equipments on the scene as speedily as
possible"
From Savannah the tents will be sent,
and the soldiers Will be- made as COM
Portable as possible. This IS the hrst
time that It has been necessary for me
soldiers to 20 into the country to qucu
riOting. as the crimes which they nave
been asked 10 prevent I'm the past nave
been in towns, where there We're accom-
mCdatiOns.
NEGRO POSITION STRONG.
One report was received during the day
10 the effect that not less than h'W
negroes were Under arms in the swamrs
and that they were in position 10 Sis
tain themselves for some time.
Another message said that several nun
dyed citizens, acting upon their own re-
suonsibility, had left Brunswick tais
morning. and were en- route for tho seems
Of the crime.
GEORGIA'S BLACK BELT"
That section II Georgia comprising Nc
Irtosh and Liberty counties, where lhe
outbreak has occurred. is the black
belt" Of the State. The negroes there
number five to every one white inhabi-
tant. Liberty Is recognized as one or
the sections IN the South most l-hy
inha blted by negroes, ana there are NJ i'y
towns and villages there composed soteY
If nero families. and in which no white
families live.
The land. which IS owned largely by
white people is tenanted by negroes.
Some of the best farms are owned by the
negroes themselves. II is known among
the negroes that should a prolonged am
Guilty with the whites occur, the blacks
would have sufficient food TO suslaP
them. supplied from the farms either by
owners or tenants, the latter of whom
would appropriate the landlord crop
without conjunction.
THE SWAMP STRONGHOLD.
The Okeefenokee swamp, in portion
Of which the negroes are hiding, IS pro-
badly the largest in the United states
being in many parts absolutely lmpene-
trable and uneXplored il IS low marsh!
land, fed by sea water, ana covered WIN
a heavy growth of vines, tough grasses,
and semi-tropical plants.
Colonel 4. II. Lawton who Is In con-
tro, of the militia, commanded the First
Georgia Regiment, United States Nolun-
teers. during the Spanish-American war.
He has the fun confidence Of the ENecu-
tive Department, and the authority given
him in the present trouble attests this
fact.