Riot in Paulding.

Our town was startled last Sunday by the announcement that a serious riot was in progress on the Cincinnati and Georgia Railroad at a point called the tunnel.  The reports are so conflicting that it is a hard matter for one to come to any definite conclusion.  From a correspondent of the Rome Courier we learn that the whole row was the cause of whiskey, as is usually the case.  The correspondent then says that “Mr. John Hicks, on Saturday, in company with Mr. George Foote, undertook to take the pistols from the hands at the tunnel, and after having taken several they demanded a pistol from one negro who refused to give up his and said he would die first.  So Mr. Hicks shot him four times and Mr. Foote once so he says, at which time the whole crowd charged upon Hicks and Foote, firing as they charged.  Hicks stood his ground until overpowered and then ran, as also did Foote.  Hicks was killed very near where the fight began.  Mr. Foote escaped with a very slight wound in the heel.  Mr. Hicks had a little son with him who also fought bravely, but was captured by the negroes, but later was liberated on account of his age.  Mr. Hicks was a very dangerous and overbearing man when drinking.”

From a private and reliable source we hear that there are now incarcerated in the Dallas jail twenty-nine of the rioters and an occasional arrest being made.  There are strong feelings against Mr. McKechney, the bridge contractor, who, it is claimed, furnished the negroes with pistols to do their deadly work.  On his arrival at Dallas on Tuesday some excitement was caused, and, when our informant left, he was liable to some injury.  We hope the worst is over and peace reigns supreme over the bloody battle ground.