The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-31
Behind Breastworks, Ne.
groes Fire on Troops
and Planters.
SEVENTY KILLED
In RACE CONFLICT
Riot Follows Quarrel Between
Two Men-Governor Orders
Out Soldiers to Stop Fight
ing-Battle Expected to
Be in Progress for
Several Days.
[special 10 The Tlmes-pispatch.

Especial to The Times Dispatch.l
Palestine. Tex, July 30.--titty ne
groes and seventeen white men are
| dead in the woods surrounding this
place tonight, and pitched battle Is
in progress between the whites and
| blacks. The known dead are.
William Pekor, John Samuels. AL
| fred Whitten, James Arnolds. Hervey
wilkins, William Good, Albert 1iilan.
James French, Sol Lee, Jefferson Har-
ris. William Timmons. James Edry,
George Edmundson and Henry Frazier,
all white
The names OF the negroes slain in
the battle are not known, and num-
Der of bodies of white men are lying
! in the brush surrounding the settle
ment into which the negroes have
been driven Tonight, and 1t is i'm
possible to determine who among
| those which were engaged In tile rush
into the negro stronghold have been
|fthe victims of the fire of the blacks.
| Troops are being rushed from Hous-
tton and Jacksonville to the scene of
| the lighting, and 1t is expected that
| their arrival will awe the blacks. and
effect their surrender
| Not since the famous battles OF the
Texas Rangers against the bad men
OF the Southwest has there been an
engagement fought in Texas like that
which began Friday afternoon and is
continuing Tonight
| For moro than thirty-six hours the
blacks and whites have been battling
The arrival of troops Is anticipated to
put an end to the fighting. but the
negroes are determined. and as they
nave a plentiful supply of ammunition,
1t is feared that the lighting will con-
tinue for several days.
Fresh Recruits of Negroes.
/ Fresh recruits OF negroes from the
vicinity Of Jacksonville and Palestine
are continually joining the ranks of
the negroes, who are thought to num-
ber a thousand or more in the woods
that surround Palestine.
The hardware stores OF Palestine
were stormed by horde OF negroes
and looted of all the guns and am
muni,ion that they contained. This
was accomplished despite the fact tha,
the constabulary OF the town had been
augmented BY special deputies. and
there were detchments of State troops.
John Wilson. a farmer. travelled from
| his place near Palestine to collec, the
balance OF note due him from Edgar
Henry. negro tenant, who occupied
| portion Of the Wilson plantation. The
negro saw Wilson riding toward his
place and hid himself In thicket near
his cabin. Without warning ne fired
both barrels OF a shotgun he had se-
cured, and both charges took effect in
! Wilson, killing him instantly. The
noise of the shots attracted the at
tention OF Jim Cruise. neighbor,
and he accused the negro of shooting
Wilson.
The negro advanced on Cruise, who
was unarmed, and loaded his gun with
shells he carried in his pockets. He
shot Cruise without warning. Mrs
Cruise saw her husband fall and tele-
1 phond to Palestine. and posse was
formed Immediately to capture Henry
| The negro fed to a settlement Of his
race, a mile distant, and told the ne
groes that he had been attacked by
two white men. Immediately the set
tlement was aflame. and every negro
armed himself with gun and advanced
About five miles from that Texas town
i the negroes and whites met. and bat
tie followed.
Members Of Posse Killed.
Every member of the posse was
killed. and 1t is said seven of the at
4 tacking negroes We're fatally shot Z
A small boy observed the battle and
hurried to his home and telephoned tc
Palestine that every member of tbe
attacking party had been killed The
Palestine residents We're inflamed and
500 citizens formed a posse to him,
down the negroes. In the meantime
word had been telegraphed to Jackson.
Vile and Houston that race riot WAS
in progress In the vicinity of Palestine
and It was asked that Governor Canon.
pe4l De Wlred ana troops ordered to the
scene N'N
The Houston authorities put the ma.-
ter up TO Governor Campbell. who I'm.
mediate!y ordered the two Hnnstn,
companies OF the Texas National C;nar,
+ aboard train on the International and
4 Great Northern road, and a snacin
train was rushed to Palestine Al that
point automobiles We're provided . ~
the soldiers We're hurried to the sec.
ton where the lighting was in propress
When the negroes who had throw
brush in the forests about their sauea sat 4,a
lments saw the troops apnrnanh ms,
opened fire. Three soldiers fell at ny, ~,
first volley. and the negroes wer,
toaeed .oas @ oy tne rush OF the troops to re-
4 had constructed. >''e' - =
\ Fire Against Planters.
The first rush of the soldiers wa,
accomplished during this morning. ant
arter rs fatal results the troops with
drew TO determine II possible til,
strength of the negroes, Again in til, ii,
aIternoon the troops made an attemp
20 invest the fortihcatlons of th'
Of the. vicinity Of Palestine and Pack
sonville. The planters detachmen
vas assigned to attack one side Of th'
negro stronghold, while the detach
ment OF troops stormed another, Fol
some reason the negroes chose to di
rect the fire against the planters. ans
\ IN stormiTg eleven We're killed out
, right. After this attack darkness fel
and the troops and planters Withdrew
!. .lfromSthe attack.
It ts stated Tonight that, 400 fresl
men and troops are being rushed t
:. Palestine to engage in an attack or
!, the negro strong hold 4 early sunda!