The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-05-09
Kit Carson's Band Causes Civil War.

Kit Carson's Band Causes Civil War.
Walnut Ridge, Ark, May 4.-This
community is excited by the devel-
opments in the grand jury probe Of
recent dynamiting outrages perpe-
trated by Kit Carson and his band"
AS a result of the operations of that
mysterious organization, resulting in
an exodus of the greater part of the
negro population, a company of the
State militia was called here last
week to quell a threatened race riot;
and this week nine prominent citi-
zens were arrested on the charge of
night riding in connection with the
dynamiting of the home of John Sar-
ders, a negro, April 19.
The men arrested are Robert Nc
Call, Dan Tolston, Dock" Drover,
Cliff Wilkerson, Cliff Poe, w. F. Cut
singer, A. J. Straton, J. R. Porter
and Bert Belk. Other arrests are
expected, as detectives and deputy
sheriffs are busily engaged in the
collection of evidence. Several of
those arrested are among the most
prominent residents of Walnut
Ridge.
The trouble began on the night of
April 1S, when unidentified persons
posted warnings threatening all negro
residents with violence if they did
not at once leave the town. These
warnings were signed kit Carson
and His Band" and produced con-
sternation among the negroes, who
began. to get out singly and by fam
lilies.
The following night another circu-
lar was posted, in which a commit
tee of white residents warned the
kit Carson" crowd that they would
not tolerate such interference with
the negro labor of the city. This
counter-threat was as follows:
To Kit Carson and Band:
You are hereby given notice not to
interfere with negroes holding jobs
and working for people, as we will
protect our help and prosecute you
to the limit of the law.
Furthermore, the white people will
arm their servants, with instructions
to shoot the first intruders who dis
turb them. Your notice to the ne
groes to leave, if you try to enforce
it, will more than likely get you in
the penitentiary. We are determined
not to be put to trouble and annoy
ance by you and the sooner you are
dealt with the better it will be for
the community. When you go after
the niger be sure you are not
caught.
Negroes are notified to give alarm
by telephone is bothered and assist
ance will BE quickly rendered.
Authorized by the White Citizens
committee.
This only aroused the enemies OF
the negroes to greater bitterness, and
that night a crowd of white men
dynamited the home of John San
ders, a negro. The porch of the
house was torn away, but he and his
family escaped injury. Several shots
we're fired into the house of another
negro, but no one was injured, and
for several hours the band ran amuck
in the negro district, terrorizlng the
negroes and overawing the few off,
GERS who realized they were unable
to subdue so formidable an array OF
lawless citizens.
An appeal was made to Governor
Donaghey for aid and he sent the
Black Rock militia company. The
appearance of the soldiers had
quieting influence upon the disturb
ers, as they realized they were up
against it," 1t stopped the exodus
of negroes to other towns, after at
least so per cent. of the original
population of 400 had departed.
Those left behind felt that peace and
safety were again assured.