The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-29
Race Riot in Progress ia WASH
ington Parish, louisiana
Hundreds of Armed Men Hur-
rying to the Scene---Troops
Ordered Out

New Orleans, Oct. 2S.-A special to
the Picayune from Columbia, Miss,
says the sheriff of Marion County has
telegraphed Gov Longino for troops to
suppress a race riot on the Louisiana
and Mississippi border. A number have
been killed at Balltown. La. The great
est excitement prevails at Washington
Parish and Marion County farmers are
rushing to the scene with shotguns
and rifles to join in the conflict. The
death list is now estimated at 80.
New Orleans, Oct. ga special to
the Picayuae from Jackson, Miss,
says that Gov. Heard OF Louisiana has
telegraphed Gov. LONGING of Mississip-
pi that there is race riot at Balltown,
Washington Parish, La, and that 80
are reported killed. Washington Parish
adjoins Marion County, and Gov.
Heard asks for permission for Louis
lana troops to pass through Mississip-
pi. Gov. Longino promptly granted the
request
Jackson, Miss oct. 2s-At the re-
quest of the sheriff of Marion county,
which adjoins Washington parish,
Louisiana, where a race war is now in
progress, Gov. Longino has ordered the
Columbia Guards to the scene to pro-
tect Mississippi citizens should the
mississippi line be crossed.
The Picayune's Amite City special
says:
Three white men and II negroes
killed is the startling and terrible
news from Washington Parish tonight.
Your correspondent has just con-
versed with a man from Franklinton,
and he confirms the above information,
but he knew nothing of what has
happened since yesterday evening The
first news of the race riot was brought
here today by Cornelius Nixon, who
with his mother left from near Frank
linton this morning. He stated that
white men rode into Franklinton at 2
o'clock this morning asking for help
saying that the negroes were up in
arms there threatening TO kill the
whites.
THE scene Of the trouble is at or
near Balltown where a negro was
burned last week for criminally as
saulting a white woman. This was not
he cause, however Of the murders yes
terday in which three white men and II
negroeG were killed and several
wounded
Mr. Nixon saw and talked with many
men from the scene, and they said
much worse trouble was expected to-
day, as armed men were fiocking to the |
scene, and it was reported the blacks
We're equally active in preparing for a |
battle.
''P. B. Carter arrived from Franklin |
ton, little after dark tonight, and
told your correspondent the situation
was terrible, and that trouble is
feared. He said Joe Seals and Charles
Elliott and another white man, whose
name he did not know, were dead, and
E. H. Thompson, white man, was
wounded, and II negroes were dead
His information was up to last
night, and was obtained from people
who went to Franklinton for help. At
8 o'clock this morning a posse left
Franklinton for the scene, in charge of
Sheriff Simmons, and from all over the
armed men were hurrying un
der arms today in Washington Parish.
'sThe trouble occurred at a negro
and the origin, as near
as can be ascertained, was as follows:
Greer Lott, a negro, was running a
stand, and a constable, a
white man, name not given, went and
asked for his license. He had none
and became impudent, cursing the con-
stable and defied him. The constable
withdrew and obtained assistance He
with several white men when
the negro rushed out and fired point
blank into the crowd, killing Joe Seals f,
and Charles Elliott.
THE whites returned the fire and
killed Lott. Then a negro preacher,
named Connolly, rushed out of a house
with gun in hand. attempting to shoot, |
when he was killed His daughter also
was killed 1t is said, accidentally. In
the shooting which followed, another
white man was killed and E. H.
Thompson wounded, and seven or
eight negroes killed.
THE shooting had no direct connec- /
ton with the burning of the negro
Morris in that section last week but 1t
is undoubtedly a sequel to that tragic
event Since that time IL is reported
that the negroes have been holding
nightly meetings. preparing to attack
the whites.
"Balltown is about 20 miles from
in a sparsely settled sec
ton. It is isolated and almost entire