Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-10-31
RIOT IN LOUISIANA,
WAR OF THE RACES
II Took Place Near a Church, Where
Negroes We're Holding a
Revival Service.
A SPEAK EASY AT CAMPMEETING
Ten Persons Killed and Many
Injured. o Al
ORDER FOR TROOPS CouNTERMANDED

Columbia, Miss. Oct. 90. The town
of Columbia and its vicinity was thrown
into grent excitement yesterday by
several messengers from tho neighhor.
hood .of Balltown, La, about 20 les
below here, who brought the news that
race riot had been Erecl pitated be.
tween the whites and blarRs OF that
section by the shooting and burning OF
William Morris, colored, who criminaliy
assaulted and almost murdered Mrs.
John Ball a few days ago. Several
runners brought the news that numerous
white men were killed, and that the
negroes were arming themselves for the
fray. This information created the
widest excitement, and number of
men, headed by Deputy Sheriff Branton
of this county and Marshal 4. It. Ford
of Columbia, all fully armed, left for
the sc0ns OF the trouble.
CALL For TROOPS.
kilograms were sent to Gov. Hearti
of Louisiana by citizens of Washington
Parish who were in Columbia, inform.
ing him of the situation, and an at
tempt was also made by Sheriff Ball OF
Marion county to reach Gov. Longine
| of Mississippi. As the wires were down
between here and jackson for quite
while, nothing could. bu accomplished
until last evening, after tidings had
heen received from the scene of trouble.
ihen answers were received. instruct.
| ing the sheritfs to call out the nearest
troopB II needed.
III seems negro named Urea LOTT
was really at the bottom OF the trouble
IL was reported TO the o'ncers OF wash
inSton parish mat LOU, wha iiseu near
Bootn, Lar was running q restaurant
| withont license az cafhPmaeting at
Live YAK 5hurch' Wharea negro revival
| was 10 progress. Inc constable OF the
distrlct gathered puasr' ana starttd
10 investigate LOU was appflsed OF
the approaeh, and was ready for trouble
when IL reached Live Oak Church.
GEoEa oPErED FIRE
The DoEse was about 100 wards from
the church when ambushad, and the
negroes opened fire from two or three
| directions, The constable hade his
men nay no attention TO the firing, as
it was from a distance. lie said ali
he wanted TO do was to capture Lott.
When the restaurant where Lott had
his goods was reached, the posse WAS
fired on by Lott and negroes who we're
concealed behind toe counters. Tho
light terame genera between the posse
and the restaurant crowd, and also
between whites and negroes al over the
Rround,
AT this ,unoture the posse deemed 1t
necessary to lire the Lott restaurant In
order to dis lodge his gang, Lott rushed
out when the TORCH was applied and
discharged double barFelled shotgun
into the crowd OF whitas. Twenty two
buck shot took effect IN the side OF
Joseph Seals one OF the posse, from the
effects or which he died. negro
who followed Lott shot man named
Elliott, one of the posse, through the
stomach with a ~ calibre pistol. The
negioea then tried to escape, but others
OF the posse haa their guns leyeled, and
completely riddled their bodies with
bullets Lofts head was almost shot
from his shoulders, and he was "a shape
less mass OF blood and brains before his
body hit the ground. During tho fight,
negro preacher came out OF the
ohuren a.iinu witn mushet; ZIG was
sho' aua h''4eu oo'o'o he couiu uee W.
MANY KILLED OR WOUNDED.
After the smoke Of battle had cleared
away, there we're five dead negro men,
including the preacher, three women,
two burned beyond recognition, who
persisted in Lofts restaurant, and one
child, who was with it's mother 10 tho
restaurant and persisted with her. The
fsnues, trees, church and camp we're
thoroughly riddIcd with bullets, and
there must have been fully 1000 ehots
| fra1 IL Hntnnral thatt alma tha