The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1919-10-09
;PLOT MASSACRE
j ! N ARKANSAS
r4ND NEGROES WELL ORGANIZ-
ED FOR GENERAL
~
49, ATTACK

Helena, Ark. Oct. 5.-That organ
lied neefoes of Southern Phillips
count! of which this city is the seat
Of government, had planned gener-
al slaughter of white people IN the
locality was definitely revealed here
today by authorized Investigators OF
the past weeks disturbances IN that
section.
According to these anDnities, the
plot included a widespread uprising
in the event certain demands were
not met. With octobe- 6, set as the
day for the uprising negro prisoners
are said to have confessed, each mem
ber of the organization at SPECIAL
places was to have picked a bale OF
cotton by that date, take the Gotten
to certain prominent land cwners,
plantations managers aid merchant;
and demand a settlement"
The confessions, Us annorncai,
made it appear to the Investigators
that without. further aco following
this demand the blacks were to shoot
down all whites in sight. A list OF
twentv-one names, admitted to rep
resent the men to whom the demand
would be placed, is IN the hands OF
the investigating committee.
: Killing of these twenty-cne, the
prisoners said, was - be the signal
for all members of the organization
to attack the white population. An
extensive courier system was explain
ed in the evidence, providing for
messengers known to the negroes as
paul Reveres." These couriers had
been duly appointed to ride into all
parts of the territory according to
the testimony and summon members
to arms.
The organization concerned was
declared to be the local lodge Of the
Progressive Farmers and Household
Union of America, confiscated litera-
ture of which designates Washington
d. c., as national headquarters with
State Offices at Winchester, Ark.
"We've just begun" was the pass
word of the uprising, the negroes
told the investigators. this pass
word and the "Paul Revere" couriers
were confessed 10 have been employ
ed last Tuesday night and Wednesday
morning in summoning BLACKS to
Hoop Spur, eighteen miles south of
Helene, after w. A. Adkins special
agent of the Missouri Pacific Rail-
road, had been killed and Charles
Pratt, deputy sheriff, had been
wounded.
The confessions were taken to ex-
plain the rapid;ty with which armed
blacks were assembled to Hoop Spur
and the neighboring town of Elaine,
following the incident. The state
ments added that at the time Adkins
was killed there were $50 negroes in
the church at the scene Of the shoot
ing. Some of these were women. 1t
was said, carrying automatic revolV-
ers in their stockings.
Questioned about their supply Of
shctguns, rifles and ammunition, ne
groes declared that they often had
been advised by speakers always to
keep their racks full" and "f your
rack isn't full fill it now"
Fifty thousands rounds of anlmu-
milton were discovered last night in
the Branch Normal School at Pine
Bluff, according to telephone mes
sage received here today from Mayor
Hollis, of that city. The institution
is a negro school maintained by the
State. This report and evidence found
locally lead authorities here to be-
lieve the contemplated uprising was
of more than local nature.
Members of the investigating COM
mittee declared there is every evi-
dence that mercenary individuals
have been inciting the negroes to the
name of the federal government.
Among other things, it was stated,
they were led to believe a part OF the
government at Washington upheld
them in aruing and organizing
against the whites; that large tenn
ple' and armories weretS6 be erected
kat Washington for the convening OF
their congress" and for federal
training of 5000 soldiers to protect