33. People Came From Outside The County To Join The Massacre
With the sensationalized newspaper stories, white supremacists who were determined to make sure that a black rebellion did not happen came in from outside Phillips County to join the sheriff’s posse. Estimates say that as many as 1000 armed white men participated in the massacre.
The fear and mayhem were so severe that in nearby Camp Pike, troops stationed there indiscriminately began killing African Americans throughout the area. The use of force by soldiers there would be a precursor to what would happen when the National Guard would come to Elaine to dispel the violence.
