35. Trouble On The Yazoo River

In the pamphlet The Southern Work, with the subtitle “(Mob Violence),” James Edson White described the predicament of the workers on the mission boat Morning Star. The pamphlet, printed in Battle Creek, Michigan, is dated June 9, 1899.PPP 177.1

Many of our friends have been asking about reports that have been coming regarding mob violence at different points along the Yazoo River, where the Southern Missionary Society has been operating. To give any adequate statement of the situation requires considerable writing. Hence, to save time and yet give a more satisfactory idea of what has been done, the following printed statement has been prepared.PPP 177.2

Toward the close of last December Elders [G. A.] Irwin and [I. H.] Evans were with us, looking over our work at different points. While with us, they made their home on the “Morning Star,” and on it we traveled from place to place, inspecting the work from point to point, the trip ending at Vicksburg. The day after these brethren left us for Texas, word was received that an uprising against the Negroes was expected duringPPP 177.3

the holidays, and further, that a body of masked men had gone to the river landing to destroy the “Morning Star;” but the boat was down the river, and so, by the good providence of God it escaped injury.PPP 178.1

Not finding the boat, the mob searched for Brother [F. R.] Rogers, ^{124F. R. Rogers and his wife, Minnie, and their small son, Chester, arrived in Yazoo City, Mississippi, from Walla Walla, Washington, in November 1898. Rogers spent the next fourteen years ministering to blacks until, broken in health by too many malarious summers, he went to Michigan to die.} our school teacher at Lintonia (a suburb of Yazoo City), but could not find him. But next day the ringleader called at the Lintonia chapel, where the school was held, and called Brother Rogers out, ordered him to stop the school, and leave town.PPP 178.2

Just at this time all schools in the city were closed by the health officers on account of the breaking out of scarlet fever, which simplified matters for us considerably, and our school closed with the rest.PPP 178.3

I immediately wired Brother Rogers to come to Vicksburg with his family, which he did. If an uprising were to occur, every effort would be made to throw the blame on us, and hence I preferred that all our company should be out of the city during the holiday season. ^1251898.PPP 178.4

But the better element of the city took the matter in hand, called a mass-meeting, at which the matter was denounced so vigorously that the disorderly element did not feel safe to engage in any lawless acts. But the fact that arms were sent to the place from Vicksburg and other points showed that a disturbance was contemplated, and bold statements had been made to that effect.PPP 178.5

We had been warned that the “Morning Star” must stay away from Yazoo City, for it would not be allowed to land; but on the evening of Jan. 1, 1899, the steamer came to the city, and tied up at her usual mooring place.PPP 178.6

All then gathered in the chapel of the “Star” and placed the boat and its people in the hands of our Lord for protection, asking that an angel guard and night-watch might be stationed on all decks of the boat. Later it was asked if we should put out a night-watch, but I could not feel it to be right to do this, after placing it all in the hands of One so much better able to protect us, and we all retired to rest as usual.PPP 178.7

When the scarlet fever subsided, our school started again with the rest, and was very prosperous, the membership reaching about 200. From this time forward we had no trouble in our work, which was gaining strength and numbers rapidly, until May, ^1261899. when we received a telegram from Brother [Dan] Stephenson, who was in charge of the work at Calmar, saying, “Do not go to Calmar until you hear from me.” The next day a letter came stating that there had been mob violence at Calmar, the particulars of which are as follows:—PPP 178.8

Thursday night, May 11, at 11 o’clock, a mob of about twenty-five white people and a few Negroes came to the chapel and called up Brother Stephenson, sending him away on the next train. They then looted the chapel, and burned the books, papers, charts, maps, etc., contained in it. A notice was then written and nailed up, forbidding us to return, or the “Morning Star” to land between Yazoo City and Vicksburg.PPP 179.1

Then they went to the house of Brother [N. W.] Olvin, a colored man of considerable intelligence. He had given Bible readings in many places, and so was a marked man. They called him out, but he asked the privilege of reading a chapter and praying.PPP 179.2

After this he went with the mob. His little daughter took him by the hand and went with him to the door, and as he left her, said, “Well, papa, I suppose you must give your life for the truth!” Before leaving the room a shot was fired by one of the mob, striking Sister Olvin below the knee, from which she is recovering very slowly.PPP 179.3

Brother Olvin was taken out, stripped, and whipped with cowhide whips, three people taking part. But there was one whose heart had evidently been softened, for after a few blows had been struck, he told them to stop, for it was enough. But they did not stop, and he then drew a revolver and ordered them to stop, or he would shoot the next man who struck a blow. This had its effect, and Brother Olvin was released and allowed to go to his house.PPP 179.4

Here he stayed until night after the Sabbath, but fearing further violence, he walked to Vicksburg that night. In response to a telegram I met him there the next Tuesday to plan for the future.PPP 179.5

Brother Olvin is a strong-feeling, impulsive man, fearing nothing when aroused, and naturally vindictive. The ordeal through which he had passed had stirred these elements in his disposition to the very depths, and he was almost crazed. He had secured aWinchester through friends, and proposed to return and make reprisals. The man is known as an expert hunter and a dead shot; but when he accepted the truth he sold his rifle, for he felt he could no longer engage in such pursuits. But now he decided that he must not only avenge his own injuries, but that the work he proposed to do was also for the good of the cause.PPP 179.6

In talking with him he would cling to the statement that he could pass by anything that had been done to him, but he could not get over the shooting of his wife. I assured him that this was always the case. We can endure every trial and every temptation, but just the one that comes to us. We fall under temptation, and excuse ourselves by saying the same thing: “We could have stood anything but this.” Of course the devil knows our weak points, and that is just where he directs his strongest efforts.PPP 180.1

Well, we talked Bible principles to him for over an hour. I quoted to him that “the wrath of man shall praise him, and the remainder shall he restrain.” The thought was pressed upon him that God never allowed the wrath of man to break out against his people unless it was for the advancement of the work of God, or for the benefit of the individual. And God will restrain man whenever his wrath will not do this. This impressed him deeply.PPP 180.2

Then came the text, “Vengeance is mine. I will repay, saith the Lord.” I told him that if he would keep his hands out, God would take vengeance; and if he would only leave it in the hands of the Lord, he would be perfectly satisfied with the settlement that the Lord would make.PPP 180.3

Then his attention was called to the fact that anything of this kind would arouse the whole white people in that part of the State, and would close it to our work, and probably shut out the work in the whole State, for we would be held responsible for the whole trouble.PPP 180.4

The Lord worked on his heart, and at last he surrendered, and said he was willing to leave it all with the Lord. It was a pleasure to see the change that came over his countenance. Before he had a sullen, unhappy look. Poor man, he had passed through a terrible experience. It would shake many a man who has had better opportunities. But now his face had a look of relief. I asked him if he was not happier since he had decided to leave the matter with the Lord. He replied that he had not been so happy for five days.PPP 180.5

Brother Olvin returned with me to the boat at Yazoo City to remain until some way should open for him.PPP 181.1

A week later he went down the river on a steamer, stopping at the home of Brother Jones, four miles^{1276.4 km.} from Calmar. From this point he made inquiries, and found that the white members of the mob were deciding that they had made a mistake; and the leader of the mob assured Brother Olvin that he could safely return to his home, and that he and others would see that he was protected. In fact, the leader of the mob is interesting himself to arrange so that meetings may be resumed in our little chapel.PPP 181.2

I think they fear that some effort is under way to punish them for what they have done. I think they are troubled because we have been so quiet in this matter. They know they have put themselves where the strong hand of the law will punish them.—James Edson White, The Southern Work (Mob Violence), June 9, 1899, pp. 1-6.PPP 181.3