The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-31

Palestine. Tex, July 3O.-The
country about Slocum, Anderson
County, resembles a battlefield to-
night. There are three armed
camps. In one field is pitched the
camp Of 300 negroes, each armed
and thirsting for vengeance for the
killing Of twenty-four of their num-
Der in clashes with white men last
night.
In another field are the tents Of
Texas soldiers, who arrived late to-
day from Marshall, and on still an
other section OF the plains are en-
camped 200 or 300 whites, many Of
whom participated in the killing Of
the negroes. There is peace on the
surface, but the black men declare
there viii be more fighting.
WARNED RACK By BULLETS.
Sober citizens in the white mems camp.
have attempted 10 parley with tssl an
tagonists. Each time man mas a.
preached the negroes headquarters he Is
been warned back by the vhiz Of nun-
berless bullets that blazed the plains
about him.
The hamlet OF slocum was turned into
q battle ground yesterday when a negro
known as Pinkey Graves attacked John
Afford. a planter. Afford got away alive,
told his story 10 neighbors. and imme6i-
ately it was proposed that Graves be
lynched
When the posse formed for this pur-
pose. reached Graves shanty they found
him on his porch. armed with q rife. In
the rear OF the house were twenty ne
groes. The posse called on Graves TO sur
render. He replied with bullets This
was a signal for the other blacks 70 be-
sin firing. AT the hrst voliey the white
men retired and reorganized for battle.
Meanwhile the blacks had been reinforced.
and when the two columns OF white men
and negroes finally clashed a score fell in
the preliminary volleys.
Telephones Bring Aid.
Telephones had been utilized following
the first clash. and shortly after the on
set white men from the country for miles
around rushed 70 the hamlet. All went
armed. and they Travelled by all means.
from dashing bronchos 10 high-powered
automobiles. The negroes got REINFORCE
ments and sixty men lined up on each
side. The whites put the negroes 10 rout.
Twenty black men were left on the bat
tleheld, many fatally injured.
The white men who fell were carried
from the field 10 a near-oy house, where
they received medical treatment. AT least
twenty-one negroes were killed and three
whites we're mOrtally hurt
The fighting began late yesterday aft
ernoon and continued late in the night
This Nnorning this battle was renewed
along the lines OF guerilla warfare Five
negroes, caught away from their rendez-
vous al the Graves cabin, were shot down
or lynched
More Negroes ArminE.
Two hundred negroes are encamped at
Denison Springs tonight. and their num-
Der is hourly increasing. They are well
armed and led by some OF the venture
some blacks in the Southwest. A report
from the Springs tonight says the
negroes are preparing 20 fight before the
arrival Of the militia
Another fierce battle seems inevitable.
White men from all corners Of Texas
are coming here 70 aid their brothers in
color Rangers. garbed in the attire OF
early plain days. walk the streets. ac-
companied by men who wear wind gog-
giles and the long automobile duster.
From Houston arrived an automobile.
its tonneau equipped with iron uprights.
between which sheet iron was stretched.
From holes in the sheet iron guns bristled
when the cars owner showed how ne
Intended to skirt the mob Of blacks and
shoot them down from his gasoline fort.
The negroes are Of the new generation.
who refuse 20 accept white domination.