The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-11-06
THE BlLLTOWN RIOT.
A Detailed Story of the Trouble
Between Whites and Blacks.

New Orleans, Oct. ga special to
the Picayune from Balltown, La, says
that the race war between the blacks
and whites, which started at negro
camp meeting at Duncan Chapel
Sunday, forms a story OF blood un-
equalled in the history OF the Pearl
River Valley.
One white man is dead, another is
dying, with bullet hole through his
stomach, and third white man is
badly Injured.
Nine negroes were killed in the
bloody ARRAY, FIVE men, three women
and one small child. A dozen or
perhaps more negroes escaped to the
woods and swamps with wounds that
are believed to be certainly fatal IN
the brush away from medical atten-
ton.
The dead, white: Joseph Seal, son
of Wills Seal, aged 50, residence at
Varando, La. Wounded, white: Clar-
ence Thomas Elliott, aged rs, fatally
woundesd, now dying, residence Va
rando, La: Edward Thomson, 45, shot
through thigh and heshy portion Of
leg, residence Varando.
Dead, colored: The Rev., Alexander
Connolly, 80, pastor Duncan Chapel 5:
Mary Davis, 80, his daughter; Clear
Lott, 45, Julia Peters, 80, Lofts
daughter; Mellon Peters, her child,
aged 5; Amy Tony, Is. mother-in-law
of Clear Lott; Lewis Duncan, Is, son
of Helen Duncan; Thomas Parker,
d; Kid Beverly, Is turpentine work
er from Georgia.
No one is able to estimate the num-
Der of wounded negroes who escaped
the carnage behind the church. They
scattered in all directions. Some are
known to have been shot. but they
have not been found. The conflict
ragged for half an hour. Those at q
distance say the firing sounded like a
battle between troops.
To the camp meeting negroes had
come from 200 miles, all mp and down
the valley: Elder Duncan, of New
Orleans, for whom the chapel was
named, was present. On last Thurs
day the meeting opened with several
hundred negroes eneampe5 around
the church in tents and in radely con-
structed shanties.
One day previous to the camp meet
ing, when the negro, Bill Morris, had
been burned at the stake near Balltown
for an assault on Mrs. J. j. Ball,
public feeling was at high pitch.
Under these conditions the negroes
gathered at Live Oak. There was
trouble over license and Clear Lofts
tent became the center of contention.
Some trouble occurred Saturday even
ing, but there was no bloodshed. It
came up again Sunday afternoon when
Constable Boon and posse rode up to
Lofts tent with warrant.
Lott came out and is reported to
have shouted with an oath:
Zone negro has been burned. but
a white man will be the next.
Wade Walker, one of the constables'
posse, was struck over the head with a
Winchester and then the slaughter be-
gan. The blacks fed from the frail
wooden church, for it was no shelter
from the rain of bullets Lott retired
into his tent, shooting and fighting.
John Seal received his death wound.
Preacher Connolly was shot while
standing in his yard. His daughter
fell just inside the house. The other
negroes around Lofts place kept up a
steady rain of bullets.
Lofts old mother-in- law, his two
daughters and the little boy fell in a
heap inside the shelter. Sophie Lott
saved her life by concealing herself
behind the stove. Then she escaped
and the men did not harm her. They
were after Clear Lott. He was barri-
caded and the next move was to fire
the place, which they did. When the
fire forced him from under cover he
appeared in the doorway and twenty
rife balls went crashing through him.
He fell in a heap headforemost on
the ground. Parker and Beverly, both
blacks, fell with him.
For twenty-four hours it looked as
f a general uprising would wipe out
the black race in Washington Parish.
Over 1000 armed men yesterday were
at the scene of the battle.
Yesterday the negroes: who were left
in heap where they hae- died, were
piled into their unmarked graves, dug
near the charred remains of Lofts
tent house. There was no ceremony.
The minister and MS daughter nlled
enc of the holes, the women and child
another, the men third. At the
same time prominent citizens held a
conference, which was attended by
Sheriff Simmons, and a message was
sent to the negroes:
..Do you want any more?" was the
query.
NO came the reply.
This had Quieting effect and the
negroes left the country. 1t is believ-
ed there cwill be no further trouble.
New Orleans, La, October 29.-Gov-
ernor Heard today countermanded the
instructions to Gen. Glynn to send
troops to Balltown. A company of the
Louisiana field artillery and troop
of cavalry had been in readiness all
night and were about to start for the