The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-12-20
Arrival OF Disabled Vessels-Depredn-
sions by Negroes-The Late Riot in
Portsmouth.

Portsmouth.
FORTRESS MONROE, Dec. 1I.-The
steamship Monterey, Captain J. b. Ed
wards, arrived here at late hour last
night, short of coal, from New Orleans,
bound to New York. She left New Or
leans on the 5th, and experienced strong
southern gales from Southwest Pass to
the Tortugas. From there northerly
gales prevailed, which retarded her pro-
Sress and compelled her to put into
Norfolk for coal. She sails for New
York tonight.
Two other steamers put i'll here, with
many sailing vessels, for harbor The
names of the steamers were not asccr-
tanned.
Five desperate negroes, forming part
of gang that have been committing
numerous depredations on the peninsu-
Ia, reached here to-day on their way to
the Norfolk Jail, in charge of a guard of
soldiers. They were tried yesterday in
Warwick county, at the County Court,
before Chief Justice William c. Mar
row and four other justices, and found
guilty of the murder of Mr.. John Woot-
ten, the proprietor of a store at the
Halfway House, situated on the road
between Hampton and Yorktown. On
the night of November ID, body of
these negroes, presumed to be twelve in
number, made an attack on the store
and shot Mr.. Woottcn, who was sitting
in his office. They then plundcred the
store of everything they could carry off.
and escaped to the woods. The body of
Mr.. Woottcn, pierced by six balls, was
found the next morning with life cX-
tinct.
The negroes divided their booty and
struck out through the woods, design
inc to reach some of the upper counties
on the Rappahannock River. The civil
and military authorities combined or
ganized pursuing parties of soldiers and
citizens combined, who secured the
country in all directions. One of the
negroes was shot while attempting to
escape, and five others captured and
brought to Yorktown. The Others made
their escape. Those captured had q
speedy trial, and the evidence is so
strong against them as to leave no
doubt of their identity. They VIII
shortly be hung for their crimes.
A truly alarming condition of affairs
exists on the peninsula, where fifteen
thousand of these negroes are huddled
together in villages, without work and
almost destitute OF the means Of obtain
ING the necessaries of life. The farmers
and inhabitants are in constant dread OF
their property being stolen, their houses
burned and crops destroyed. Bands of
the negroes from the country around
Richmond, organized with ringleaders,
have lately made frequent descents
upon the peninsula, and there is not a
store between Yorktown and Williams
burg which has not been robbed.
A serious riot occurred last night IN
Portsmouth between negroes and white
men, resulting in the wounding of some
ten persons. 1t originated in party OF
young men from Norfolk calling at a
house of ill-fame in Portsmouth, in the
vicinity of which they met some ne
croes, and by some means got into a
difficulty with them. Blows followed
words, the excitement spread, and 9TH
ers became embroiled in the melee. The
disturbance assumed serious proper
tions, but was fortunately suppressed
by the city watch. Three white men
had their throats cut and faces injured
by razors in the hands of the negroes,
and several Others slightly. Several of
the negroes were wounded and one wo.
man. All the parties were arrested and
will be held for trial.
Hardly had the excitement subsidized
before an alarm of fire was sounded, and
it was ascertained the house which
had been visited by the young men was
on fire. The wind blew freshly, and
before the fire department could reach
the locality and stay the progress OF
the flames, four houses were burned to
the ground. The fire is presumed to be
the work of some of the negroes, and
ocemnd inthe part of the town known
as market square, near the Government
bridge.