The Morgantown monitor. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1863-1864, 1863-06-06
RIOT BETWEEN SOLDIERS AND NEGROES
A Raid on the Negro Quarters
Whole Squares Of Houses Gutted-
Windows Broken indoors Bat
tered Down, &c, sc.

Correspondence Of the Philadelphia Inquirer
HARRISBURG, May pa riot Of
some magnitude occurred here late
last night. 1t was emphatically "a
war between the races first, black
pitted against white, and the Ito do
black no injustice) white against
black with a vengeance-in which
white, Of course, came off trium-
phant and victorious 1t was almost
literally "a war carried into Africa.
But to the circumstances. 1t ap-
pears that at about 7 o'clock last
evening a party of soldiers called at
drinking saloon iu Short street, in
the rear of Capitol buildings, kept
by negro named William Toop,
where they drank several glasses of
lager beer. The assertion Of the
negro is that after drinking they re-
fused to pay him, and left with seve-
raj beer glasses in their possession.
On the other side, the soldiers assert
that five dollar bill was laid on the
counter in payment, and that ToeP
refused to make the required change.
High words ensued, and the negro,
after bitterly cursing the party and
striking one in the face, called on Of
fcer Campbell, and made complaint
against them. The officer succeeded
in arresting several Of the party for
the alleged offence, who, after g
hearing before the Mayor, were ac-
Quilted for want of evidence.
In the meantime the news spread
to Camp Curtin, and at about eleven
o'clock regiment appeared at the
scene Of the fray Hearing the story
as recited by their comrades, they
made savage attack on the resi-
dence of Toop, and completely "gut-
ted" the tablishment from cellar
to garret. A negro, much exasper-
ated, firing at the soldiers from q
concealed place, shot one of them, q
member of the 136th regiment thro'
the hand. In returning the FIRE the
soldier, by accident, hit comrade Of
the 134th, the ball passing through
his left side, inficting painful but
not dangerous wound. The scene
then became wild and tunultuous.
Still mere infuriated the soldiers pro-
ceeded to tina centre Of the negro
quarters, and with yells and shouts,
battered in windows and gutted the
houses for squares.
Fears were entertained that the
soldiers would fire that quarter of the
town, and the fire bells were rung
and several fire companies we're pre-
pared to proceed to the scene should
their services be required. Happily,
their services we're not needed. Be-
sides, the presence Of the fire csmpa-
nies in such tumult could not 9TH
erwise than add to the spirit Of vie
lence then prevailing.
All this was accomplished between
the hours of II and IL, after the Pro-
yest Guard had retired and when
the guard had been aroused and
Mayer Rumford had proceeded to the
scene of the rist, everything was
comparatively quiet, most Of the SOL
diers having returned to camp.
This morning the scene about the
negro quarters was truly deplorable:
The windows and doors of nearly all
the negro huts we're broken and de-
molished, and their furniture taken
away. Most of the furniture was
taken away by the afrighted owners.
Crowds of soldiers are still lingering
around the premises. Occasionally,
too, soldier sends "a rock" through
a window-pane that has thus far es-
capped the breaking propensity. No
white inhabitant' g residence has been
harmed.