The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-30
RIOT BEGUN AT CAMP MEETING.
A Sequel to the Burning Of the Negro Morris
For Assault.
Inv the Associated Pres

\ -..-s..ss+ by the aSSUCldtcu 1891
New Orleans, Oct. 2S.-The Picayune
Amite City special says:
Three white men and eleven negroes
killed is the startling and terrible news
frcm Washington Parish tonight. Your
correspondent has just conversed with a
man from Franklinton and he confirms the
above information. But he knew nothing
of what has happened since yesterday
evening.
1.-THE first news of the race riot was
brought here today by Cornelius Nixon
who with his mother, left from near
Franklinton this morning. He stated that
white men rode into Franklinton at two
O'Clock this morning asking for help, say
ing that the negroes We're up in arms
threatening to exterminate the whites.
.'The scene of the trouble is at or near
Balltown. where negro was burned last
week for criminally assaulting white
woman. This was not the cause, how
ever, of the murders yesterday in which
three white men and eleven negroes were
killed and several wounded. Nixon saw
and talked with many men from the scene
and they said that worse trouble was ex-
pected today as armed men were fiocking
to the scene and it was reported the
blacks were equally active in preparing
for a battle.
"P. B. Carter arrived from franklin
ton a little after dark tonight and told
your correspondent that the situation was
terrible. He said Joe Scales and Chas.
Elliott and another white man whose
name he did not know were dead and e.
Fl. Thompson, white man, wounded and
eleven negroes were dead. His informa-
tion was up to last night and was obtained
from people who went to Franklinton for
help. At three O'clock this morning a
posse left Franklnton for the scene in
charge of Sheriff Simmons and all over
the country AIMED men were hurrying to
the same place.
'Mr. Carter said that probably 500 men
were under arms today in Washington
Parish.
1.-THE trouble occurred at negro camp
meeting and the origin as near as can be
ascertained was as follows:
Greer Lott. negro was running a
refreshment stand and constable, a
white man, name not given, went to him
and asked for his license. He had none
and became i,npudent, cursed the consta-
bic and defied him.
The constable withdrew and obtained
assistance. He returned with several
white men when the negro Lott rushed
out and fred point plank into the crowd,
killing Joe Scales and Charles Elliott. The
whites returned the fire and killed Lott.
Then a negro preacher named Conrad
rushed out of house with gun in hand,
attempting to shoot, when he was killed.
His daughter also was killed. it Is said,
accidentally. In the shooting which fol-
lowed another white man was killed and
E. H. Thompson wounded, and seven or
eight ~ '-f1ted
1.-THE shooting had no direct connection
with the burning of the negro Morris In
that section last week, but it is undoubt-
eddy a sequel to that tragic event. Since
that time. it is reported that the negroes
have been holding nightly meetings, pre-
pairing to attack the whites.
"Balltown is about twenty miles from
Franklinton in a sparsely settled settle
ment 1t is isolated and almost entirely
cut off from the outside world. Franklin
ton is % miles east of this place and
there are no telegraph or telephone
lines"