Year: 1876

statement of Doctor Spreft.
Jackson Times. Oct. oath


JACKSON, Mss, Oct. -, 1876.


EDITOR TIMES John r. Lynch wa:
advertised to speak at Port Gibson on
the 21st. From many indications was
led to believe that he would not he per.
mitted to speak.


THE LITTLE PAPER


published at that pIace-that IS ever
filed with falsehood, SANDER AMI mis-
representations of Republicans, gave out
that Lynch was to be there on The 2Ist,
and that somebody e.-e would b. there
too.


The streets and county cross roads


WERE FIRsE PLACARDED


with &" Sitting Bull war dance-wiil
commence at daylight, Dist" and again
cross bones, and 21st on each side OF it.
BY o'clock, on the morning of the 21st,
friend came to my house and informed
me that the different Democratic cubs IN
the county We're quietly dropping into
town and reporting at their headquarters;
tha. he had been informed that the
Sheriff had summoned one hundred Of
them to act as Sheriff. police at the Re
publican speaking. At 9 a. NJ, got on
my horse and started to the speaking
ground, which is about half way between
my house and Port Gibson, or say half a
mile. When / got outside of nay gate |
was told that there vas a picket Of fifteen
men just beyond the turn of the road
ahead of me- [ did not wish to go alone,
and turned back and went around
through my field and came ont on the
public road ut the two mile bridge.
HE MEETS THE NEGROES AND ADVISES


THEM TO GO TO THE MEETING ARMED.


l found the people from towards Grand
Gulf had passed up the road on their way
to town. soon caught up with them
and found them hiding their guns in the
bushes. / said to them, "Men, you are
leaving your guns too far from the speak
ing better take them farther up the
road and then hide them" We went up
the road say quarter of a mile, when
we met the same man that was at my
house in the morning, who announced
to us that there were ut least two hun
dred and fifty men in Port Gibson getting
cut their needle guns.


But CHANGES HIS OPINION AND ADVICE


When he told me this, turned to the
men and said, "Men, the best thing we
can do, is to go quietly back to our
homes | intend to do so, and you had
better do so too" They all started back
for home, and l went home and stayed
there the balance Of the day.


WHAT He LEARNED.


| learned afterwards that the people
had gone nearly to the two-mile bridge,
when the Sheriff and some of his men
overlook them, and, after much persua-
sion, induced them to turn round and come
back to the speaking, he pledging his
word Of honor that they should not be
molestcd. Perhaps two-thirds Of them
went back with him, after putting their
guns in the bushes. When they arrived
on the grounds Lynch was refused per-
mission to speak, unless under Democrat
ic direction; was repeatedly called a liar;
and declined speaking and Wash Daven-
port attempting to take the stand, the
colored people broke in all directions.


LIVELY SHAKING OF THE SHIRT TALE.


Those taking the direction of Grand
1ulI were purSueu Ot J5FSJ W SOHtc queen
or tloenty red shirted gentry, who amused
themselves by firing at them with their
pistols and striking at them with clubs,
and riding furiously at them, the people
flying terrified before them. The pur-
suers seemed to get Inducements until
there could not have been less than two
hundred and fifty rushing madly along
a regular steeple chase-along the public
road, along the railroad, up through my
field, charging ont through the sedge
grass, hunting them up like you would
partridges, and with as little danger.
While this scene was passing the flag Of
the United States was peacefully waving
over a garrison of her soldiers, in full
view When they got to the two-mile
bridge l understand few shots were re-
turned that was where the boys had
left their guns. The Sheriff and his
posse afterwards crossed the bridge and
skirmishing over the fields Of James
Page, succeeded in capturing four Of his
brother-in-law's sons, all young men
under twenty, and carried them off to
Jail. One Of them was accidentally shot
in the foot They searched Pages house
for implements of war, and finally passed
back to Port Gibson to glorify over the
henor % Of having broken up the only
Republican meeting that has been at
| tempted in Claiborne county, Miss,
this campaign.


W. d. SPRoTT.