The Springfield herald., 1899-03-31
eUsY KILLING NEGROES.
Race War In Arkansas In Which the
Whites Get the Best of It.

TeXarkana. Ark. March pa race
war is on in Little River county, and
during the last forty-eight hours an IN
definite number of negroes have met
their death ut the hands of an lnfurlnt-
ed white population. Seven are known
to have been lynched, shot to death or
slain in some manner and the work is
not yet done.
The bodies of the victims of the
moRs vengeance are hanging to the
limbs of trees in various parts of the
county. strung up wherever overtakeh,
while that of another who was shot TO
death while trying to escape was
thrown into II creek and left there.
The country is in II state of most in
tense excitement. White men are col
lecting in mobs heavily armed and de-
termined; negroes are fleeing for their
lives and the community is in an up
roar.
The exact number of negroes who
have been summarily dealt with or
those who may yet fall into the hands
of the mob before order is restored
may never be known. Seven bodies
have been found and other victims are
being hunted and will meet similar
fate when run to earth.
The known dead to date are:
General Duckctt, Edwin Goodwin,
Adam King, Joseph Jones, Benjamin
Jones. unknown man.
Joe King and John Johnson were
also taken in hand by mobs and
whipped. They were afterward
turned loose and have disappeared.
Little River county is in the extreme
southwest of the state, bordered on the
west by the Indian territory and on
the south by Texas. The negro popu-
I, In, f.,,. lntlV
proved troublesome to the whites. Ere
uuent murders have occurred and
thefts and fights have become common
affairs.
One or two negroes have previously
been severely dealt with when the pco-
pie found 1t necessary to take the law
into their own hands. but 1t was not
until Tuesday that the trouble took on
Il serious aspect. 1t then developed
that carefully laid plans had been made
by number of negroes to prccipitate
race war. and that many white men
had been marked for victims.
1t is learned that twenty-thrcc ne
groes were implicated in this plot, and
the whites are now bent on melting out
summary punishment to the entire co
terie of conspirntors. Seven have been
killed and the work of wiping out the
entire list continues without relaxation
of determination.
The trouble arose over the killing of
James Stockton by Duckett. Just
prior to the lynching of Duckett the
negroes had planned the inauguration
of race war. Duckett was the leader
and at his death the negroes let the
matter out and the citizens became
greatly enragcd.
Another negro named Joe King re-
marked that Stockton should have
been murdered sooner. He WAS taken
to the woods and whipped. as was also
John johnson. Other negroes made
threats. but nothing occurred until yes
terdny. when the body of Goodwin was
found hanging to II tree just across Red
river from the Stockton farm in
Bowie county. Texas. He formerly
worked for Stockton and was chased
across Mud creek.
The place where the trouble occurred
is several miles from any town of
communication and it is difficult to
obtain details. as the people are reluc-
tnnt about giving out news. y Justice
of the peace went to where Goodwin
was hanged.