Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-10-29
TROUBLE AT A
CAMP MEETING
Five Negroes, Three Negro WO-
men and Child Dead.
TWO THoUsANDSHOTS FIRED
Canse Of Riot Was Attempted Iuvesti-
CATION OF Restaurant Running
without License,

Columbia, Miss, Oct. 29.-The town OF
Columbia and It's vicinity were thrown
into great excitement yesterday by sew
eral messengers from the vicinity OF
Baltown, La, about twenty-five miles
below here, who brought the news that
a race riot had been precipitated be-
teen the whites and blacks of that Sec
ton by the shooting and burning of the
negro Bill Morris. who criminally as
saulted and almost murdered Mrs. John
Ball. 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 ca.
element and number OF men, heaaed
by Deputy Sheriff Branton, OF tms
county, and Marshal 7. 7, Ford OF Co
lumbia. all fully armed, left for the
scene OF the trouble.
kilograms were sent to Gov. Heard OF
Louisiana by citizens OF washington
parish. who were in Columbia, inform
ing him of the situation ana an attempt
was also made by Sheriff Ball o. MARI lh
county TO reach Gov. Lon3lho0i
OF Mississippi AS the wires wers do"i'
between here and Jackson, Tor qu te d
while nothing could be accomplish
until last evening after tidlngs had b.ell
received from the scene OF the trouble.
Then answers, were received instruct
ing the sherlffs 10 call out the nearesl
troops II needed. II seems negro
named Crea Lott was really at the bot
tom of the trouble.
II was reported to the officers OF
Washington parish that Lott, who liVeu
near Booth, La, was running res'
taurant without a license at CAM
meeting at Live Oak church, where a
negro revival was in progress. INT
constable Of the district gathered b
posse and started 20 investigate. Lott
was a. rised OF the approach In ad'
vance . ID was ready for trouble when
Il reached Live Oak church.
The posse was about 100 yards IRON
the church house when ambushed ana
the negroes opened fire from two on
three directions. The constable babe his
men pay no attention 10 the firing, az
Il was from q distance. He said all ht
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 were
concealed behind the counters on the
inside. The fight became general be.
tween the posse and the restaurant
croed. and also between whites and
negroes all over the ground.
At this juncture the posse deemed II
necessary TO fire the Lott restaurant In
order TO dlslodge his gang. Lott rushed
out when the torch was applied and dis
charged a double barreled shotgun in
TO the crowd of whites. twenty-five
buckshot took effect In the side of Joe
Seals one OF the posse. from the effects
OF which he died. A negro who followed
Lott shot q man named Elliott, one OF
the posse, through the stomach, with b
8S-caliber pistol The negroes then trieo
TO escape but others Of the posse had
their guns leveled and completely rid
died their bodies with bullets. Lofts
head was almost shot from his should
ers. He was shaneless mass Of blo0o
and brains before his body hit the
ground.
During the fight negro preacher
came out Of the church. armed with q
musket. He was shot and killed befor,
he could use It,
After the smoke of battle had cleared
away there were Ave dead negro men
including the preacher, three women
two burned beyond recognition. VIII
persisted In Lofts restaurant and ont
child. who was with its mother In the
restaurant, and persisted with her.
The fences, trees, church house and
camps We're thoroughly riddled with
bullets There must have been fully
1000 shots fred. II Is rumored that
since the fight one negro has been founo
dead In the swamps and several wound
ed have applied for assistance The ne
groes took to the woods like scared rab-
bits after and during the shooting and
almost no one can be found in the
neichborhood Sheriff Simmons. Of
f. Washington parish. and posse assisted
by Deputy Sheriff Branton. Of Marion
county. and posse, were on the ground
early this morning and assisted in
burning the dead and taking care OF the
wounded.
Quiet prevails this morning accord
Ing to the latest reports from Ball
town but further trouble Is not at all
unlikely.