The Ranchero [Corpus Christi, TX], August 4, 1860
Mr. Chas. R. Pryor, editor of the Dallas Herald, writes to the State Gazette, under date of 16th July, giving an account of the destruction of that place by fire, and makes a statement which, if true, will produce exciting times in that quarter. After narrating the particulars of the fire, he says:
All of these were so plainly the work of an incendiary, that suspicions were excited and several white men and negroes were arrested and underwent an examination. This lead to the detection of a most diabolical plot to destroy the country. The scheme was laid by a master mind, and conceived with infernal ingenuity. It was determined by certain abolition preachers who were expelled from the country last year, to devastate with fire and assassination, the whole of Northern Texas, and when the country was reduced to a helpless condition, a general revolt of the slaves aided by white men from the North, and many in our midst, was to come off on the day of Election in August. The object of firing the town of Dallas, was to destroy the arms of the Artillery Company, ammunition and provisions known to be collected here; to destroy the stores throughout the country containing powder and lead—burn the grain and thus reduce this portion of the country to a state of utter helplessness.
When this was accomplished, assistance was expected from Indians and Abolitionists. Many other places have already been fired, Denton, Pilot Point, Belknap, Gainesville, Black-jack Grove; some stores in Kaufman, Navarro, Waxahachie and other places, that I do not now remember.—Each county has a special superintendent, a white man, and each county is laid off in districts under the supervision of a white man, who controls the action of the negroes in that district. The negroes are not permitted to know what is doing outside of their immediate sphere of action. Many of our most prominent citizens were to be assassinated, when they make their escape from the burning houses. Arms have been discovered in possession of the negroes, and the whole plot revealed, for a general insurrection and civil war at the August election. I write in haste; we sleep upon our arms, and the whole country is most deeply excited. Many whites are implicated, whose names are not yet made public. Blunt and McKinney, the abolition preachers, were expected here at the head of a large force at that time. You had better issue extras containing these facts, and warn the country of the dangers that threaten it. We are expecting the worst, and do not know what an hour may bring forth. Do the best you can for us. We have no printing press and can do nothing in that line. We may have to call on the lower counties for assistance—no one can tell. All is confusion, excitement and distrust.