RIOTOUS NEGROES
Serious Race Trouble Narrowly Averted in Wilmington.
STREET CARS STONED AND WINDOW GLASS BROKEN BY EXCITED NEGROES
THE POLICE AFFORDED NO PROTECTION
The Republican Mayor Could not be Found Anywhere. Wilmington Light Infantry and Naval Reserves Slept on Their Arms.
(Wilmington Star)
An unusual ware of excitement and apprehension swept over the city last night about 11 o’clock, when it became known that a difficulty which gave promise of developing into a serious race trouble had arisen in the First Ward at the corner of Fourth and Nixon streets. It was reported that full 200 negroes were assembled there and making violent threats because of a claimed grievance.
An investigation showed that about 10 o’clock street car. No. 5. with Motorman Finch and Conductor Shaw, stopped at the corner of Forth streets and a white man carrying a repeating rifle, stepped off the car on his way home. A number of negroes (probably twenty) were standing on the comer talking in an excited manner. One of them asked the white man if he was a red shirt. He replied that he was, whereupon they moved towards him as though to make an attack. The man’s rifle was wrapped up and he commenced to tear away the paper when several rocks were thrown by negroes in the crowd. The stones went wide of their aim and one narrowly missed the head of Motorman Finch. Another struck the the street car with considerable force.
The conductor signalled for his car to start toward the city, but had not gone far when Mr. W. V. Hudson, head conductor of the conductor of the railway system, came from his home near by and investigated the trouble. As he was getting upon the car some of the negroes began to cast stones at him and the car, declaring that they would stop the cars from running. A negro also drew a pistol as though to fire upon Mr. Hudson.
The car proceeded a little away further on its return trip and came up with police officers Kuki and Sheegan. Mr. Hudson returned to the scene of the row with the officers and pointed out the negro who drew the pistol and also took part in casting the stones. He proved to be Frank Thomason, employed at the Champion Cotten Compress. He was put under arrest and carried to the guard house. This greatly infuriated the other negroes who began to make violent threats. They claimed that Thompson should not have been arrested. The crowd increased rapidly for a while and it was this condition which caused the general apprehension of a general trouble. However, several of the most influential and peaceable negroes mingled with the crowd and their efforts combined with those of the officers finally caused them to disperse.
It was discovered that during the time the stones were being cast at the street car and the “red” shirts” several window glasses in front of R.F. Sellers’ store were broken and the door badly battered. The negro Thompson denies that he threw a rock or drew a pistol. He said he had a pistol but it was broken. It is in the hands of the police and is in good condition. They took it from his person.
PROMINENT CITIZENS INVESTIGATED
A party of prominent citizens visited the vicinity of last night’s trouble at Fourth and Nixon streets, between 1 and 2:30 o’clock this morning, and are indignant at the conditions their investigation revealed. They report that they discovered from good authority that despite the fact that such riotous conditions prevailed while the cars and white men were being attacked, there were at no time more than three policemen on the scene, and one of those, E.D. George, was armed with nothing but a billy. The other two were H.R. Kuhl and W.W. Howell. They told these gentlemen that they telephoned for more help and instructions but received none, save that Sergeant Hewlett an Lieutenant Lassen came over for a while and promised to send reinforcements and orders, but never did.
It was learned that the negroes openly made threats that they would kill Head Conductor Hudson and other before morning. And that they also boasted that their children hall had matches and bottles of kerosene, knew how to use them and would run some home out of their homes before morning. Pistols were promiscuously displayed and four Winchesters were seen. The chief of police, says these gentlemen, knew of this condition and only one extra policeman was sworn in and that was George, who was provided with only a billy and sent to the scene of the trouble. The police also knew that a number of families left that part of the city, being afraid to remain there. Others were locked in their houses and afraid to come out. This condition of affairs they say reigned and yet, there were only three officers in the entire section of the city beyond the railroad.
An effort was made to find the mayor so that he might take the matter in hand and provide protection, but he could not be found. They report that they searched at the hotesl, at his home, at the city hall, and even went to the gambling dive on Front street but he was nowhere to be found. There is much indignation expressed.
OTHER INCIDENTS
About 11 o’clock last night some negroes threw stones at a street car in charge of Motorman Varney Gilbert. The car was passing up Princess street near Sixth and the stones were thrown from the alley near Dr. Harris’ office. A stone narrowly missed Gilbert’s head.
As a matter of precaution the Wilmington Light Infantry remained at their armory all last night for fear of some outbreak. A large per cent of the Naval Reserves also sleeps by their arms at the Reserves’ armory
WATCH THE COUNT! THE FUSIONISTS WILL STEAL THE RESULTS IF THEY CAN. DEMOCRATS: BE VIGILANT AND DETERMINED AND DO NOT GO HOME TILL THE VOTE IS COUNTED
READY FOR THE WORST
DETERMINATION OF WILMINGTON WHITES WILL DOUBTLESS AVERT TROUBLE.
Election of DemocraTic State Senator Now a Foregone Conclusion. Bellamy will Win for Congress in a Walk.
Wilmington, N.C., Nov. 7. —The spirit of the whites is so determined and their preparations for any emergency so thorough that there, now seems small probability of any general disturbance of the existing quiet here tomorrow, though there may be troubles of a minor nature in the First and Fourth wards, where the negroes pull nearly all their city vote.
The focus of interest now in the fight for the State Senatorship; but without any other agency, it is now conservatively estimated that a sufficient number of negroes will remain away from the polls to insure the election of the Democratic candidate. Moreover, the Democrats have intimated that they must have this Senator, and this hint is full of meaning.
In this (the Sixth) Congressional district, Bellamy (Democrat) will win in a walk and from advices received here by Mr. Bernard, from the State Democratic Committee from every precinct in the district. It seems at least probable that the Democrats will elect every member of the Legislature in that district, making six Senators and fourteen Representatives. In the last Legislature the Democrats had two representatives and not a single Senator from the Sixth district.
There Is no change int he general outlook in the State. Indications point unerringly to a sweeping Democratic success.
RISE, YE SONS OF CAROLINA
(The Brevard Leader.)
Rise, ye sons of Carolina!
Proud Caucasians, one and all:
Be not deaf to Love’s appealing –
Hear your wives and daughters call.
See their blanched and anxious faces,
Note their frail, but lovely forms;
Rise; defend their spotless virtue
With your strong and manly arms.
See the dreadful storm-cloud forming,
Black as night upon the shore;
See the wave which now is rolling.
And must ere-long sweep you o’er.
Rise! dispute its. onward progress.
Soon too late ’twill ever be
Stem this tide of desolation-
Roll it back upon the sea.
Shall the laws which now protect you
Be repealed by ruthless hand,
And your sacred homes invaded
By a vile, marauding band?
Worse, far worse that Goth or Vandal
Is the foe which lies in wait
To enslave you. Rise and drive this
Black despoiler from your State!
Stand together. Anglo-Saxons !
Rally, white men, to your race !
Party ties no longer bind you.
Every man must know his place.
On one side is Law and Order,
Honest government for all;
On the other negro master,
With Commissions, great and small.
Rise! the time has come for action,
Stand united for the fray.
It each hero does his duty.
You will surely win the day:
But, divided – shame, dishonor,
Despot rule – will be the cost:
And the liberties you cherish,
By your folly, may be lost.
Stand for home, for race and color,
Other issues now are past;
Fight for life, but let the weapons
Be the ballots which you cast.
Let each man from old, historic
Currituck to Cherokee,
Ask himself the single question:
“White or black – which shall it be?
THEY CANNOT INTIMIDATE US
THEY CANNOT BUY US, AND
THEY SHALL NOT CHEAT US
OUT OF THE FRUITS OF OUR
VICTORY – HON. F.M. SIMMONS
STATE DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN