The age-herald., 1899-06-27
THE NEGROES BENT ON
 PREVENTING HIS CAPTURE Special Train Carried Armed Men from Birmingham. ALL TRACES LOST OF CRIMINAL Negroes of That Vicinity Have Secret Organization, and Keep Arms
 Stacked In Readiness
 For Use.
ALL TRACES LOST OF CRIMINAL

9 Brookside Station, June 26.-(Special.)- Two bodies of men heavily armed are keep ing determined vigil here tonight. One body is composed of whites-officers of the law-the other of blacks who seek to pre- vent the capture or lynching of John Shep- herd, the negro who so brutally assaulted Mrs Monroe Jones near Corona late last "Wednesday afternoon.
 All day armed white men and negroes car rying Winchester rifles have passed eacn other in the mountain paths about here each determined to outwit the other. Early in the day a clash seemed imminent but the calm, deliberate speech of Sheriff O'Brien to a crowd of negroes in the after noon had peaceful effect and the negroes dispersed although not evincing the best of humor. At midnight the sentinels posted by the sheriff's posse report everything quiet. A few struggling blacks are seen occasion ally, but they appear peaceful enough. Shepherd seems to have made his escape. Although seen twice today all trace of him has been lost tonight.
 The negroes are all armed with Winches- ter rifles, and though they have made no outbreak up to this time, trouble may oc- cur at any moment. Nearly all of them be- long to a secret organization called the Knights of Africa" and the Mysterious Ten" It is said they have 2o Winchester rifles stacked in an armory in Glasgow Hollow. Several negroes have been heard to say that they are well armed with rifles and ammunition and will not hesitate to use them if trouble arises.
 The white miners are thoroughly aroused and have joined the deputies in the search. Any demonstration on the part of the ne- groes will in all probability result in serious race riot.
 when Last Seen
 The negro, John Shepperd, was last seen about 6 o'clock this evening. Two white mon have reported that they saw him run ming down the mountain. He disappeared near the mouth of an old mine near Bloss- burg. The men state that he was armed with Winchester rifle and two revolvers.
 The deputies under Captain O'Brien re- turned to Birmingham tonight, and Sherin ORear, of Jasper, is in charge. A close search is being kept up and the officers e1- pect to find the man by morning.
 Sheriff O'Brien made the negroes a snort talk this afternoon and they dispersed but later reports say they have again assem- bled in Glasgow Hollow.
 The trouble started this morning when report came to Brookside that John Shep- herd had been seen near the tunnel beyond Cardiff The excitement was intense.
 A mass meeting of miners was in session at the time, and 1t was feared for while that a race riot would result. The Wnlte miners left the meeting immediately wltn the intention of capturing the rape fiend, and 1t was thought lynching would foi- low. A large number of negroes were pres ent and declared that no one would be all lowed to lay hands on the man. Within thirty minutes they were all armed with Winchester rifles and revolvers, and left in A body for the tunnel, the white men coming on behind them.
 Wired for Deputies
 MT. Clark a leading man of the com munity before starting on the hunt, stopped at the telegraph office and wired the sheriffs of Jefferson, Walker and Fayette counties for armed deputies to assist In the capture and to stop any demonstration on the part of the infuriated negroes With in an hour Sheriff O'Brien of Jefferson was here with a small posse of deputies. He found the situation more serious than was at first supposed. A few white men were standing at the mouth of the tunnell poor ly armed with revolvers and shot guns, while large body of negroes were at dis tance armed to the teeth with Winchesters. Sheriff O'Brien ordered the negroes to dis perse, telling them if they did not every one of them would be placed under arrest and probably dealt with in more serious manner.
 The negroes were very sullen in their replies and moved down the railroad about thirty steps and halted. Captain OBrien approached them again and loading a double barrell shot gun he had in his hands ordered them to move on and be quick about it. He told them if they did not move within twenty-five minutes every one of them would be arrested and that he had enough men on hand to do the work Trail- ing their guns behind then the negroes slowly walked down the railroad and then turned into the woods. A message was then sent to the sheriffs office in Birming- ham ordering twenty-five deputies to be ready quick possible and come to Brookside on a special train. This message