The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-23
BLACKS LED BY PREACHER
Six Persons Have Been Shot Down and
Others Hurt.
POSSES ARE PURSUING THE NEGROES
Eight Desparadoes Brought Into Tupelo Bound
With Chains. Five Hundred Men I'm
der Arms and The Country
Wild With Excitement.
Wild With Excitement.
(By the Associated Press.)

Tupelo, Miss, Aug. 21.-Six persons Sc
riously shot and a number of injured is
the reported result of a race riot now
in progress in the south-end of Lee
county, near Shannon.
This riot was precipitated by a secret
organization of negroes firing upon and
wounding the Eubank brothers while on
their own premises. The shooting oc-
CURED Tuesday soon after dark.
Posses in pursuit had a lively encoun-
ter with the negroes six miles south OF
Shannon yesterday afternoon when more
or less shooting was done. One white
man and three negroes were badly
wounded and several more negroes were
slightly hurt. Other posses are in pur-
suit and the affair is not yet over. Deputy
Sheriff Temple has just reached the city
with eight desperadoes bound with
chains and under heavy guard. He re-
ports five hundred men under arms and
says great excitement prevails. The Off
Ger took the train at Nettleton and had
great difficulty in getting away with the
prisoners.
For some months negroes at Shannon
and Nettleton have been giving consid-
cradle trouble, secret societies being
formed under the guidance of a former
school teacher or preacher. These or
CARNATIONS are said to be for the pur-
pose of resisting the whites and pro-
tecting negroes in deeds of lawlessness.
The alleged instigator of the serious
outbreak of the last few hours is a ne
gro preacher named Jeff Rogers. He
has been held under suspicion by the
whites for some time as bad character.
He is negro of some education and has
considerable influence in his church.
The first serious trouble broke out
some time ago, when a negro named
Giles Jackson assaulted the Lauderdales
in a corn field, seriously wounding them.
About a month ago this negro died in the
county Jail from wounds inflicted while
resisting arrest. A few days ago a ne
gro was seen taking corn from field
belonging to Mr.. Eubanks who lives close
to Shannon, and when spoken to about it
he became insolent and defiant and q
warrant was sworn out for his arrest
On Tuesday evening a son of Eubanks
living just across the road noticed a
lumber of negroes congregated around
his home. He supposed they meant to
attack his home and he crossed the road
and Joined his father and young brother.
Shortly after Eubanks went to his
fathers house a command to fire was
given and binding volley rang out from
the guns carried by thea negroes. Both
of the younger Eubanks were hit and
badly wounded.
After the shooting of the Eubanks
brothers the whites Immediately organ
lied themselves into an armed posse to
bring to justice the guilty negroes Yes
terday afternoon, headed by Marshall
Randolph, of Nettleton. and Marshal Irby,
of Shannon, this posse, reaching the
cabin ordered the door opened, but the
command was UNDECIDED.
After waiting a moment Randolph
pushed the door open. He was met with
a volley of bird-shot and fell across the
threshold with blood gushing from his
face and shoulders. The negroes ran out
of the house over the Frustrated officer.
They were met by a yolley from the
posse and three negroes were injured SO
badly that they were left lying on the
ground. The others escaped in the dark
ness. some leaving behind traces of their
wounds.
A deputy has returned from Shannon
and reports everything quiet there now.