Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-08-26
RACE WARM GEORGIA.


assumed serious aspect and last night
Brunswick was wired for REINFORCE
ments of every white man that can get
gun and ammunition. The negroes
have practically deserted Darien, prop
er, and taken to the swamps. They are
now massed about twelve miles from
Darien, and have thrown out pickets
TO guard against the whites. Word has
been sent to Darien that the negroes
will not submit to arrest. An armed
posse has left tor the scene by horse
back and a special train will carry out
another posse. A steameris being sent
to Brunswick and that city is begged to
send all re-eniorcements it, can.
The situation last night was intensely
critical and Captain Grayson, in COM
mand of all the State troops, was in
conference with committee of citizens
OF Darien as to the best thing to do. A
battle between the whites and blacks
in the swamps seems inevitable. 1t is
understood that the Liberty iDdepen-
dent troops are en- route to Darien and
will join the two posses from South
Newport. The cavalry and citizens
will then form line and march through
be swanps, erresting every negro with
a gun. Several white families hsv-
Deen sent away from Darien to allow
the men time to fight. a detachment
of soldiers have been dispatched to The
Ridge, Darien'S swell suburb, to guard
the residents there. Soldiers are pa
trolling the streets in Darien. All bar
rooms bave been closed by Mayor Ke-
nan and Captain Grayson. All this is
the outcome of the riotous situation
that has prevailed in Darien for several
days following the arrest of Henry De-
lagau. big negro politician, for an a.
legged assault on white woman.
The negros falsely conceived the idea
that Delagan was to be lynched, and
dropped everything to go to his supposed
r. scue when the sheriff started to re-
move MIN to Savannah for safe
keeping. They surrounded the
Jail and two hundred military
came from Savannah to quell them.
The day following arrests of rioters
begau, and forty were jailed. Two of
Delagan's sons were wanted, and
Thursday night Joseph Townsend
and Octavius Hopkins, as ape.
ciAl deputies, went to arrest
Them at their home, several miles
from Darien, which was surrounded by
negroes. The Delegans were handed
guns by their friends and opened fire,
after apparently submitting to arrest.
One load of buckshot tore Townsend's
entire body to pieces, and another load
partly shot away Hopkinss shoulder.
Hopkins returned the fire. Hopkins
went for his buggy, and, coming back
for his wounded companion, was threat
ened with instant death by a swarm OF
negroes who crowded around bim.
Hopkins defed the mob, and, placing
Townsend in the buggy, drove OFT
with him. Townsend died in the
buggy before home WAS reached. Hop
kins went to town with the news, and
it spread over the entire section. 4. r..
Hopkins, his brother aud party from
Brunswick came on the first train, and
every convict camp in the S;ate was
wired for bloodbounds. w. h. Town
send and mis- son Alf, from Glynn, ar
rived Yesterday evening, and council
OF war was held. The Ridge people
called for soldiers and detachment
was ordered out. Sheriff Blount's posse
was organized and equipped and is now
en- route to Delagan's swamp. Scouts
returning from the swamp report the
negroes massing and defying arrest.
The mail and passenger train on the
Darien and Western Railroad is The
spe cial object of the negroes night at
tscks, and every night they are firiug
on it. The train crows are heavily
armed, and it is feared that the train
will be attacked in larger numbers than
before.
While the soldiers are guarding
Darien and the whites preparing to
rout the negroes from their swamp re.
treat, the court and State officials are
doing all in their power to keep down
| trouble. Fearful of al attack on the
train the sheriff was ordered yesterday
to send all his prisoners to Savannah
by special Capt. Grayson, with sixty
soldiers. double quicked to the Jail and
formed hollow square. Guards we're
thrown around the churches TO prevent
the negroes from sounding their
usual riot alarm and the prisoners were
hustled out between fixed bayonets, A
run was made for the steamer under
guard of fifteen soldiers. The tug his
left for Savannah with them, where
\ tho1, ra N Iall