The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-06
NEGROES HAD SET
OCTOBER 6, AS DAY
OF BIG MASSACRE
Confessions to Committee of
Seven Prove ThatiBIaCkS in
Phillips County HAD Armed
for General Uprising.


ELAINE, Ark, Oct 6,-DiscoVery of
what is believed to have been a wide
spread plot on the part of organized
negroes for a general killing of whites
In this locality and possibly in other
parts Of the South. led officials today to
tighten up on emergency measures and
redouble their efforts to apprehend
leaders OF the alleged organization who
are still uncaught.
The existence Of the alleged, conspira-
cy was brought to light by fRe COM
mlttee OF seven appointed by civil and
military authorities following the race
disorders here last week through the
questioning of negro prisoners.
According to committee members, the
negro captives readily revealed to them
the INNER workings of the plan. To-
day, Oct s, the negroes declared, was
the date set for the uprising. Women
are said to have been members of the
organization which the authorities say
We're known as the Progressive Farm
ers and Household Union of America.
TWenty-one white planters in this
district, according TO the alleged con-
fessions, had been marked to be killed
llrst' The killing of the 81 it was as-
serted, was to be followed Immediately
by a general massacre Of whites, after
which the negroes were to take over
the land and till it.
According to committee members the
negro captiyes readily revealed 10 them
the inner workings Of the plan. Today,
Oct. 8, the negroes declared, was the
date set for the uprising. Women are
said to have been members of the or
sanization which, the authorities say,
was known as the Progressive Farmers
and Household Union Of America.
Twenty@one white planters in this dis
20. tl, nod
been singled out to be killed first. The
killing Of the 21, it was asserted, was
to be followed Immediately by gem
eral massacre of whites after which the
negroes were to take over the land and
till it to suit themselves.
II was said authoritatively that eff
forts were being made to connect white
men with the propaganda to arouse the
negroes and incite them to killing the
white residents.
According to the authorities, the plot
in Phillips county included a wide
spreSd uprising in the event certain de-
mandS were not met. With Oct 6 set
as the day for the uprising. negro pris-
oners are said to have confessed that
each member of the organizations at
specified places was to pick bale of
cotton by that date, take the cotton to
certain prominent land owners, planta-
ton managers and merchants and de
mand a settlement" The confessions,
as announced, made it appear to the in
vestigtors that without further ado fol-
lowing this demand the blacks were to
shoot down all whites in sight. A list
of Il names, admitted to represent the
men to whom the demand would be pre-
scented, is in the hands Of the investi-
eating committee.
Marked for Slaughter.
Killing of these 81, the prisoners said,
was to be the signal for all members
of the organization to attack the white
population. An extensive courier sys-
tenn was explained in the evidence,
providing for messengers known to the
negroes as Paul Reveres." These eour-
iers had been duly appointed to ride
into all parts of the territory, accord
ing to the testimony, and summon mem
bers to arms. The organization con-
cerned was declared to be the local
lodge of the Progressive, Farmers and
Household Union of America, confis-
Gated literature Of which designates
Washington, d. c., as national head
quarters with state offices at Winehes-
ter, Ark. A
We've just begun" was the password
OF the uprising. the negroes told the
Investigators. This password and the
Paul Revere" couriers were confessed
to have been employed last Tuesday
night and Wednesday morning in sum-
monlng blacks to Hoop Spur, IS miles
special agent of the Missouri Pacific
railroad, had been killed and Charles
Pratt, deputy sheriff, had been wounded.
Rapid Mobilization.
The confessions were taken to ex-
plain the rapidity with which armed
blacks were assembled at Hoop Spur
n naiUhhnrinO n ir0 nj
lowing the incident. The statements
added that at the time Adkins was
killed there were $50 armed negroes in
the church Vat the scene of the shoot
ing. Some of these were women. it was
said carrying automatic revolvers in
their stockings
Questioned about their supply of shot
guns, rifles and ammunition, negroes de-
clared they often had been advised by
speakers always to keep their racks
fulP' and ''if your rack amt full fill
it now"
Fifty thousand rounds of ammunition
We're discovered last night in the branch
normal school at Pine Bluff, Ark, ac-
cording to a telephone message received
here today from Mayor Hollis of that
city, The institution Is negro school
maintained by the state. This report
and evidence found locally lead authori-
ties here to believe the contemplated
uprising was OF more than local ma
ture, jossibly planned for the entire
south
Members of the investigating COM
mittee declared there is every evidence
that mercenary individuals have been
melting the negroes in the name of the
federal government. Among other things
It was stated they were led to believe
part OF the government at Washing
ton upheld them In arming and or
ganizing against the whites that large
temple and armories were to be erected
at Washington for the converting of
their congress" and for federal train
ing of 1000 soldiers to protect them in
their uprising.
Much of the investigation is known
| to be directed in an effort to establish
conclusively connection of white men
with the agitation and there is said to
be strong indications Of such a relation.
Only two whites were in custody here
| today following last weeks disorders.
A man named Fuller was brought in
| from Postelle Saturday night and placed
| in the county Jail, 0. s. Bratton of
| Little Rock, Ark, law firm, has been
in custody several days pending investi-
| CATION
| a-,-----N