The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1912-11-08
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and Grayson counties Tor the purpose
OF enforcing disfranchisement OF the whites and
cniranchsement OF the blacks Companies OF
police" were formed, Of the same material, head
ed by one Captain Theal OF Denton. w.
Throckmorton, who had been elected By the peo-
pie and removed by military authority, and who,
with Sui Ross Buck Barry, Captain Lloyd (the
latter Of Fort WORTH and others, had fought the
Indians and made it possible 70 live on the from
tier, was declared unfit to hold office as the men
who elected him were disoyal, and hal fought
against the best government on earth. The ne
groes, carpet-baggers and scalawags, or rene
Qades were made the lords Of the land "trooly
Toll" and alone entitled to vote, The police rode
over the country 10 enforce the law The ne
groes were having their day, and were in high
giec They roamcd all over this congressional
district, insulting families and stealing chickens.
Negroes invaded watermelon patches and chicken
roosts in broad daylight and women and chill
dren were in perpetual terror. a negro could file
a complaint against white man, and have him
arrested and conveyed to the United States Com
missioner at Birdville Tarrant county, Whose
office was in corniied). and thence to Tyler to
be tried before Federal Judge, without shadow
ef evidence against him, except malice or pref
udice In fact, a reign OF terror prevailed in this
district Negroes were appointed as a Regis
iration Board with power to pass upon the quail
ications Of voters and send any recalcitrant per
son 20 jail who presumed TO question their right
20 exercise this authority.
Os Poppinnaugh, Sterling Johnson (negroes),
and one white man constituted the Registration
BOARD in Denton county Poppinnaugh said TO
me one day,
DE bottom rail shore am on top now. When
we git dem forty acres and de mule we u set back
aud see de white trash SWEET in de field. and he'll
be glad 70 hab de job His womenll do our
cooking, washing and ironing"
lie thought the country would be occupied al
most exclusively by negroes and mules, and
white servants.
One negro, who was elected justice OF the
peace, was so ignorant that the scalawags CON
cluded 10 have him examined before he assumed
the duties OF office. The conductor OF the ex-
animation inquired:
Nero, in case OF a suicide, what course would
You pursue|
Suicide suicide, yes sar I'd make him sport
ne chile say dc least"
The negro was allowed to take the oath Of
office, despite his ignorance II being concluded
he was about the most intelligent negro in the
country, and therefore the best qualified
Captain Theal had given instructions to allow
no two or three white men Of the DISTINGUISHED
stripe to be seen talking together, for he said he
suspected conspiracy, which he proposed to
nip in the bud
About this time rumor had obtained among
the negroes that the country was full 4 ghosts
instead Of mules One negro, whom they called
"Old Albert" a chicken and vegetable thief, re-
ported that he had been surrounded on Denton
creek BY hundreds Of ghosts. each having the APP
pcarancc OF a man and horse combined Tie said
that a. one OF them spoke 70 him, m a grave
yard tone of voice, he dropped the watermelon
which he was carrying on his shoulder aud cried
Lord, save me-"
Albert" said one Of the ghosts. give me
drink OF water ! was killed al Shiloh. and am
awful thirsty. Take this bucket and dip me up
a drink
ayes sab" went on Albert. "and Itook the
bucket. dipped it plum full OF water, and, bless