The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-05-10
IN CIDEN rs, SC.

Yesterday afternoon, at about o'clock,
| while the visiting Delaware fremen and
| the Richmond firemen were trying their
steam engines at the foot Of Eighth street, a
disturbance took place in the large crowd
| assembled to witness the washing, which,
in very short time, grew to be general,
and threatened to be very serious in its
consequences. In the intense confusion
and excitement, many particulars could
not, of course, be gathered but, after
persistent and diligent inquiry, we have
succeeded pretty we'll in getting at the
facts concerning the cause and continu-
ance Of the disturbance, and we shall en-
deavonto give faithful and impartial &C
count.
THE CAUSE.
From the facts given US by those upon
the spot at the time, the disturbance
seemed to have commenced somewhat as
follows: A freedman who was crowding
into the space reserved for the iremen
and their engines was gently pressed back
by Captain Charters, with the request that
he would stand aside. The freedman per-
sisted in holding his position. He was
pushed back with more force, and re-
assuming his position, struck at the Cap
tain, who is not positive whether or not he
was struck by him, as several blows
came from the crowd who were stand
ing around. A member of q City
Company who was standing near the
Captain was struck one or two blows,
and became engaged with one of the color
ed men who struck him. This was the
inception to the general disturbance. A
large crowd gathered around the two who
were fighting, and when policemen Snooks
and Southall reached the scene they had
been separated. Policeman Snooks ar
rested the colored man, and policeman
Southall started in quest of the fireman,
who had disappeared in the crowd. When
policeman Snooks arrested the colored
man, crowd of freedmen closed in upon
him, insisting that he should not be arrest
ed unless the white man was also
arrested. Policeman Snooks assured
them that the other man would be
arrested, as Mr.. Southall had gone after
him. In the mean time, the latter being
informed that the fireman had been at
tended to, and seeing the large crowd
around Mr.. Shocks, went to his assistance.
The freedman was then arrested, and imme-
diately upon this, a shout was raised by the
blacks, who made charge upon the party
with the intention of rescuing the priso-
ner. A colored barber, who keeps small
shop at the corner Of Eighth and Cary
streets, raised portion of his barber
pole over his head, and waving it, ex-
claimed: "Come on, freedmen Now's
the time to save your nation" The crowd
instantaneously caught up the spirit of the
barber, and shouted his exclamation
loudly, following the policemen and
their prisoner in menacing manner.
The policemen had reached the cor
ner of Eighth and Cary with him, when
the crowd rushed upon them, and took
him away from the policemen. The pri-
soner, as soon as rescued, ran up Cary
street, pursued by policeman Southall,
who overlook him at the corner Of Seventh
and Main streets, and again attempted to
arrest him. The crowd commenced to
throw bricks at him, several Of which
struck him and knocked him down, inju-
ring him severely. His left shoulder was
badly bruised by one of the brickbats, his
right shoulder was bruised, and both Of
his hands were cut by something-it is
hard to say what-as they were evidently
not cut by knife.
THE MELEE.
The melee was by this time well COM
menced, and from appearances threatened
riot such as Richmond has never seen.
The crowd, Of which the large majority
/ l. H. 1,x,
hundreds, and the greatest excitement ex-
listed.
Policeman Southall, as soon as knocked
down, regained his feet, but had no sooner
done SO when he was seized by the left
arm by one man, while another attempted
to wrench his pistol from his right. In the
mean time other policemen had arrived,
and Sergeant Peasants, seeing the condi-
tion of affairs, rushed to policeman South
alrs assistance, and pointing his pistol at
the head of the man who was trying to
wrench the pistol from Southall's hand,
forced him to let 60. Captain Jen-
kins and Sergeant Pleasants then took
charge of the prisoner and proceed
ed up Seventh street towards the
second station house, followed by the
crowd, which had swollen to some two or
three thousand persons. The blacks were
defiant and boisterous, swearing that they
intended to release the prisoner or die.
When they reached the corner Of Seventh
and Broad streets, another rush was made
upon the police, in which Captain Jenkins
received a severe blow on the back Of his
head and another on his jaw. Sergeant
Pleasauts was struck twice on the back.
Policeman Reins, who had joined them,
was also knocked down, and an attempt
made to get his pistol from him.
THE RESCUE.
This attempt proving q failure, the police
proceeded to the station-house, after being
reinforced by three or four more policemen
When they reached the door Of the station
house, the cry Of Freedmen to the res
cue id II, don'tlet him be takenin \" wai
raised, and shower Of paving stones were
poured upon the policemen, three o.
whom were struck. Then, with yell, the
crowd Of freedmen, numbering severs
thousand, rushed towards the door, and, 6y
main force, carried the prisoner OF. The
policemen did not Are upon thsm, - they