Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-24
RACE WAR llsARkANsAs.
Seven Negroes Already BEAD and Whole Fam
lilies Are Fleeing for Lives.

Tcxarkana, Ark. March "a race
war is on in Little River county. ami.
during the last As hours. an indefinite
number of negroes shave met their
death at the hands Of the white pOpu-
lation. Seven are known to have been
lynched and the work is not yet done.
The bodies of the victims Of the mob's
vengeance are hanging to the limbs
of trees in various parts Of the county.
The country is in a state of intense eX-
element. White men are collecting IN
mohs, heavily armed and determined.
negroes are fleeing for their lives.
The exact number Of negroes who
have been summarily dealt with may
never be known. Seven bodies nave
been found and other victims are be-
ing hunted down and will meet a SINH
lar fate when run to earth. The known
dead to date are: General Duckett,
Edwin Goodwin. Adam King. Joe
Jones, Ben Jones. Moses Jones and an
unknown man. Joe King and John
Johnson were also taken in hand by
mohs and whipped. They We're after
wards turned loose and have disap-
peared.
Little River county is in the extreme
southwest corner of the state, being
bordered on the west by Indian terri
tory and on the south by Texas. The
negro population is large and has Tor a
long time proved very troublesome
Frequent murders have occurred and
thefts and fights have become common
affairs.
One or two negroes have previously
been severely dealt with when the peo-
pie found it necessary to take the law
into their own hands. but it was not
until Tuesday that the trouble assumed
a serious aspect. 1t then developed
that carefully laid plans had been made
by number of negroes to precipitate
a race war and that many white men
had been marked for victims.
1t is learned that 90 negroes were impli-
Gated IN this plot and the whites are now
bent on melting out summary punishment
to the entire coterie OF conspirators
Seven have been killed and the work or
wiping out the entire list continues with
out relaxation.' All implicated in the plot
are known and parties OF wnile men,
varying in number from % to 50. are
securing the country for them. Wherever
one is found he is quickly strung up ana
his body. perforated with bullets.
Inc WORK Oh uISidltulHS tiC III wv VI
three was an easy matter. But the news
soon spread among the negroes. who, IN
stead of making the resistance and offer
ing the battle they had threatened, be-
came panic-Stricken and began getting
out of the community as quickly as pos
sibic. Two whose names were on the list
of conSpirators. made il good start ana
succeeded in reaching the Texas state me
before being ovcrtaken. They were strung
up without ceremony. .
The trouble arose over the killing OF
James Stockton by Duckett. Just prior
10 the lynchins of Duckctt, the negroes
had planned the inauguratio OF race
war. .-Duckett was the leader and at his
death the negroes let the matter out. The
citizens became greatly cnraGed. Joe
King and John johnson were taken to the
woods and whipped. Other negroes made
their threats. but nothing occurred. until
yesterday. when the wholesale lynchins
began.
In the gang that was plotting for a race
war were % negroes and 1t is probable
that the entire number have been killed.
II is known to a certainty that seven
riugleatlers are dead. The negroes are
fleeing from the district. Three wagons
filed with negroes arrived at Texarkana,
today having crossed Red river at Index,
last midnight.