Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-08-08
THE oENTREyILLE RIOT.


On Aarsday last, kug. meeting
of the oQloret citizensof QVe6 Anne's Co.
was hSl& at Gentreville.s R41srals Gregory
and ptnison, Jt1ras ~ Mi. Janney su-
perintehdeit of Schools in Maryland, and
John H. Butler colored gentleman from
Baltimore were on hand for the purpose of
delivezing addresses. ~
u Before the meeting took place it was muA
talked Of for several days, and serious fears
Of disturbance were entertained. On
Thursday morning several blatant young re-
bells Dragged publicly that they had twenty
men sworn TO support them, and that mig
ger blood" should be drawn before night.
The place fixed upon for holding the meet
ing was the Court House yard, and at two
O'Clock crowd of about 1000 people assem-
bled before the gates, but were refused ad-
mission by George Smith lumber merchant,
and well known rebel.
The meeting was then organized in front
of the Court House, and dry-goods box
used as the speakers stani.
The meeting was opened with singing and
with prayer by a colored minister.
Previous to any addresses being made the
party were most persistently and shamefully
insulted by an armed copperhead rabble,
who seemed determined to create disturb
ance. Despite the annoyance, Gen. Gregory
made an able speech. Judge Bond was the
next speaker, and was received with great
applause by the colored people, but was SO
grossly insulted by the rebel element, and
such confusion was for a time created, that
he could not proceed; order was finally re-
stored, however, and the Judge made pow
erful address which seemed to create SEN
sation, even amongst the rebels.
Mr.. Butler (colored) next arose to address
the meeting, but was Immediately interrupt
ed by cries of emo niger speaks here to-
day." etc., from the rebel element generally,
and several loaded pistols were aimed at the
speaker, to shoot him down. Through the
influence Of some Of the more prudent mem
bers of their own party, the rebels were in
duced to put up their weapons, and Mr.. But
Ter delivered an excellent address, which by
Its sound arguments and moderate tone, won
the commentator of even the decent Dem
ocrats.
Rain commenced falling while Mr.. Butler
was speaking, and in consequence of this at
the conclusion of his remarks the meeting
adjourned, the majority of those present
congratuating themselves that the threat
ened riot had been avoided. The Sheriff
and county officers, it said, rather encour-
aged than restrained the scoundrels who
were disturbing the peace in attempting to
raise riot.
As the colored people were leaving the
town one of their number was cursed and
roughly ordered to leave the pavement by a
white man, named James II. Jump; the col
ored man refused, and said there was room
enough for both. Jump again ordered him
of, threatening to knock him in the head If
he refused; the colored man again refused,
with an oath, but Immediately did go out in
to the middle of the street foyyo,ye13 ~,
yun,D. who now. determined IN raise n t,oh,
it seems, ordered him to leave the town g i
ing if he did not he would shoot him and
at the same time brandishinq a n;stol Rv
this time the swayinp of the crowd which
had gathered round the d;snutan,s forooa
them hack 10 tho navemon, WIZ, ~ - oo,oraa
man also drew n;s,o,. ~, . e. Wy eo' 49,.
rowdy named yickers not vet mon aud
crazy with whiskev and rebe1 ho,o o.,,o ~
and asked "wbat tho b--ps tho ,,.,,or ~
and then aiming b;s own n;sto, az ,,,o a,,a,
ed man ordered the latter n srrrondor IL,
weapon. yickers a,temnted 10 wres, ,he
pistol from the eolored man when a scuftie
| ensued and both fell IN tho orornd ono,,a~
colored man threw n stick and strucL Vii,
ers over the head white mon ron,od
Stinson made several attemnto ro,nu,,',,o. -
shoot the colored man engaged in the scnfr,o
with yickers. he on,v failed boco,,so ,;s 80
yolver would not fire he used the weanon
as club however. ON the bead ~ h;s az
tagonist and SEVERELY wounded hin,
AT the conoIusion of shis s.rh. .bo oo,or
ed people ran, followed by crowd of white
men, firing at them with reyolyers and guns
and assailing them with bricks, stones. clubs
and every other possible kind of missile
Colored men on the other hand, returned the
fire as they retreated. Several OF them were
severely wounded and few of the whites
slightly.
| Later in the day another white man named
G. M. Smith crossed the street to a colored
man, accused him of having been impudeut
and struck him over the head with a heavy
stick; the colored man drew pistol fired
at Smith, missed him and ran. followed h,
a crowd of yelling devils firing at him wifi
| y -
caught him hadlv wounded n : ,,,aada. .e'
| All the co,ored non ;no,,,a;,,- 49,
Inst named who have hoon aa,ssan 49, -. :.
anv font were orros,.d al ~, = ~, -
| ''-s go" "sAS "tisotSu ohu pun III jail nC
attempt was made to arrest the white me1
who commenced the riot. During the trial
OF one OF these colored men, white man
staggered around the room, of the Justice
of the Peace, aiming his revolver at n,
co,orad MAN ona ,,,ra.,..,;., ~ .H'