The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-22
RACE WAR RACED
WHITES AND NEGROES IN BLOODY
CONFLICT.
FIVE HUNDRED MEN IN ARMS
SIX MEN SERIOUSLY SHOT AND
SOME WILL DIE.

Country District Near TupeIo, Miss,
Scene of Strife-Secret Societies
Among Blacks. Formed to Foster
Crime, Precipitated TroubIe-Ne-
of some Educatfon-Mob of Blacks
shot Down Eubanks Family in
Cold Blood - Resisting Arrest,
Three Negroes Are Left ON Ground.
Tupelo, Miss, Aug. 21.-Six persons
seriously shot and a number injured
Is the reported result of race riot now
in progress in the south end of Lee
county near Shannon.
Three negroes and three white men
are badly injured and others probably
more or less so. This is the result of
a race riot precipitated by a secret or
ganization of negroes firing upon and
wounding the Eubank brothers while
on their premises. The shooting oc-
Cured Tuesday soon after dark.
Posses in pursuit had a lively en-
counter with the negroes six miles
south of Shannon yesterday afternoon,
One white man and three negroes
were badly wounded and several more
negroes were slightly hurt. Other
posses are in pursuit and the affair
is not yet over,
Whole County Under Arms.
Deputy Sheriff Temple has just
reached the city with eight despera-
does bound with chains and under a
heavy guard. He reports 500 men I'M
der arms, and says great excitement
prevails. The officer took the train
at Nettleton and had great difficulty
In getting away with the prisoners.
For some months negroes at Shan
non and Nettleton have been giving
considerable trouble, secret societies
being formed under the guidance of
a former school teacher or preacher.
These organizations are said to be for
the purpose of resisting the whites and
protecting negroes in deeds of lawless-
less
The alleged instigator of the serious
outbreaks of the last few hours is a
negro preacher named Jeff Rogers. He
has been held under suspicion by the
white men for some time as a bad
character. He is a negro of some edu-
cation and has considerable influence
In his church.
The first serious trouble broke out
some time ago, when a negro named
Giles jackson assaulted the Lauder
dales in a cornfield, seriously wounding
them. About a month ago this negro
died IN the county Jail from wounds in
fiicted while resisting arrest few
days ago a negro was seen taking corn
from field belonging to Mr. EUbanks,
who lives close to Shannon, md when
QnOEan n a mn IN
and defiant and a warrant was sworn
out for his arrest.
On Tuesday evening a son of Eu-
banks, living just across the road, no.
ticed a number of negroes congIe gated
around his home. He supposed they
meant to attack his home and he cross
ed the road and joined his father and
young brother.
Shortly after Mr.. Eubanks went to
his fathers house a command to fire
was given and binding volley rang
out from the guns carried by the ne
groes Both of the younger Eubanks
were hit and badly wounded
After the shooting of the Eubanks
brothers the white men Immediately
organized themselves into an armed
posse to bring to justice the guilty
negroes. Yesterday afternoon, headed
by Marshal Randolph. of Nettleton,
and Marshal Irby, of Shannon, this
posse went after two members of the
negro mob. who were supposed to be
hiding in a cabin about six miles from
Shannon.
Marshal Randolph Shot.
The posse. reaching the cabin, order
ed the door opened. but the command
was UNDECIDED. After waiting a mo-
ment Mr.. Randolph pushed the door
open. He was met with a volley of
birdshot, and fell across the thresh-
old with blood gushing from his face
and shoulders.
The negroes ran out of the house
over the PROSTATE form of the officer,
ana were met by a volley from the
posse. Three negroes were injured so
badly that they were left lying on the
ground. The others escaped in the
darkness, some. leaving behind traces
of their wounds.
A deputy has returned from Shannon
and reports everything quiet there