The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-10-30
RACE RIOT IN LOUISIANA.
Three Whites and Eleven Ne
groes Already Killed.

New Orleans, Oct. 2S.-The Plea
yune's Amite City special says:
Three white men and Ii negroes kill
ed is the startling and terrible news
from Washington parish tonight:
Your correspondent has just conversed
with man from Franklinton and he
confirms the above information, but
he knew nothing of what has happen
ed since yesterday evening. The first
news of the race riot was brought here
today by Cornelir1s Nixon, who, with
his mother, left from near Franklinton
this morning. He stated that white
men rode into Franklinton at 9
o'clock this morning asking for help,
saying that the negroes were up IN
arms threatening to exterminate the
whites. The scene of the trouble is at
or near Balltown, where negro was
bnrned last week for .criminally as
saulting white woman. This was not
the cause, however, of the murders
yesterday, in which three white men
and II negroes were killed and several
wounded. Mr.. Nixon saw and talked
with many men from the scene and
they said that worse trouble was ex-
pected today as armed men were flock
ing to the scene and it was reported
the blacks were equally active in pre-
pairing for battle.
"P. B. Carter arrived from Frank
linton tonight after dark and told your
correspondent that 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, we're dead and E.
81. Thompson, white man, wounded,
and IL negroes were dead. His IN
formation was up to last night and was
obtained from people who went to
Franklinton for help. At 3 O'Clock
this morning a posse left Frankllnton
for the scene in charge Of SherifsSim-
mons, and from all over the country
armed men were hurrying to the same
place. Mr.. Garter said that probably
500 men were under arms today In
Washington parish. The trouble oc-
currd at negro camp meeting and the
origin as near as can be ascertalned
was as follows:
''Creer Lott, a nergo, was running
a refreshment stand and a constable,
white man, name not given, went to
him and asked for his license. He had
none and became impudent, cursed the
constable and defed him. The consta-
BILE withdrew and obtained assistance.
He returned with several white men
when the negro Lott rushed out and
fred pointblank into the crowd, kill
ing Joe Seals and Charles Elliott.
The whites returned the fire and kill
ed Lott. Then negro preachersnamed
Connolly rushed out Of a house with
gun in hand, attempting to shoot,
when he was killed. His daughter
also was killed, it is said, accidental
lv. In the shooting which followed
another white man was killed and E.
II. Thompson wounded, and seven or
eight negroes killed. The shooting
had no direct connection with the
burning OF the negro Morris in that
section last week but it is undoubted-
ly a sequel to that tragic event. Since
that time it is reported that the
negroes have been holding nightly
meetings, preparing to attack the
whites.
Balltown is about 20 miles from
Franklinton in a sparsely settled Sec
ton. It is isolated and almost entire
ly cut off from the outside world.
Franklinton is 277 miles east of this
place and there are no telegraph or
telephone lines.