The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-26
CONDUCTOR HARRISON IS
AMONG MISSISSIPPI DEAD
Angry Posses Are In Pursuit of Me-
groes Who Commit Crimes and
Flee to Woods-Meridian
Militia Dispatched.

stated that a race riot had prOHen Out
al Scooba, station five miles this side
of Wahalak. where the troubles of yes
terday took place, and that several IA
talities accompanied the outbreak. Tn
confirmed reports are that six negroes and
two whites are among the dead
ON orders from Governor Vardaman, the
local troops were Immediately ordered out
again and a special train prepared for
their transportation to the scene of the
trouble. Detachments of the battery, as
we'll as infantry. were ordered post-haste.
Before the special could be prepared,
however. a hurry over was received from
Jackson to rush twenty-five men to the
scene and they were picked from the first
who reported for duty.
Militiamen Hard to Find
The local officers failed to get together
enough men to make a showing and no
attempt was made to catch special
train. Being Christmas, the boys were
badly scattered, and could not be round-
ed up Those members Of the battery
and infantry who could be reached, all
under command of Col. s. L. McCants,
left the city on the morning train of
the 26th, at 1:S0 o'clock. AT that hour it
was almost positively known that six ne
groes and one white man were dead and
that another white man was perhaps ia
tally injured. The last report heard from
Seooba stated that six negroes and four
white men had been killed, but this could
not be confirmed. Additional information
is not expected until morning, after the
troops get to the scene.
The full list of dead and injured, as
far as can be ascertained, is as follows:
The Dead.
Constable O Brien killed by George
Simpson, whom he was attempting To
arrest as the instigator of the trouble
on the Mobile and Ohio train Sunday
morning.
Unknown negro killed by Conductor
Cooper on the train.
Tom Simpson, son of George Simpson,
killed by Wahalak citizens Monday after
noon near that place.
Jim Simpson, another son, killed with
Tom Sipmson.
George Simpson, King-Pe negro of the
disturbing element, lynched by infuriated
white citizens just before the arrival of
the soldiers.
Two unknown negroes lynched at the
same time with George Simpson.
The Injured.
Conductor Cooper Mobile and Ohio pas
senger train, cut and stabbed seven times
by George Simpson.
Leonard Sparkman of Shuqulak, SOL
der. flesh wound in knee from accidental
discharge of his own pistol.
In Scooby, one white man. name un-
known. and six negroes are dead.
The number of injured is unknown, but
reports say this list includes five.
Troops Back From WahaIak.
The troops sent to Wahalak last night
returned to the city this afternoon the
necessity of tn cir presence being believed
to have passed. The soldiers reprot that
they had no work to do no prisonlrs to
guard and that the county officials failed
to even meet them or to report occur
rences while they were in the place. The
soldiers state that absolutely no trouble
occurred while they were there, and tina t
by the people proved absolutely without
foundation when they were investigated.
Scouts sent out by the troops after q
o'clock developed the fact that the re-
port of fortified negroes two miles from
town developed into a myth. although
runners continually visited headquarters
with such reports. 1t was stated, however,
that three negroes had been lynched be-
fore arrival of the troops. or as reported,
'were lost in the swamps" after being
captured by the armed posses Of citizens.
Included in this trio is George Simp-
son, the negro who caused the trouble on
the Mobile and Ohio passenger train
Sunday morning that preciptated the
rioting. The identity of the other two ne
groes has not been established. The two
sons of Simpson, Jim and Tom Simp-
son, were killed during the afternoon by
the infuriated white people. When the
troops left conditions appeared entirely
satisfactory, and further trouble was not
expected. Many armed white men re-
mained in the settlement from the sur
rounding country and agreed with the SOL
diers that they were not needed. Colonel
McCants. after an investigation. called
the leaders of the white people into con-
ference. 1t is reported. and talked plainly
to them. He forbade any promiscuous rid
ing around the woods by armed white
men, and any other indication of an at
tempted or proposed lynching. His stand
was positive and absolute and quiet
reigned while the troops were in the
place.
Conductor Harrison Killed.
Conductor Robert Harrison Of this city
was shot and killed by a negro this
morning at Crawford "A station above
Wahalak, where the recent race disturb
ances have occurred. When the freight
train reached Crawford, a small station
In Lowndes county. hot box was dis.