The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-10
RICHMOND.


COIored People.
RICHMOND, Va, May 8. - A riot Of a
most formidable character has happily been
averted this evening in RHchmond-tempo-
rarily, perhaps, but fortunately for the present
deplorable results have been avoided.
Last evening a company of 6remen from Will
mington, Delaware, arrived in this city, and
were received by the fremen of Richmond with
the usual ceremonies, and the hospitaties of
the city rendered them. This afternoon was
devoted TO the trial of the respective engines,
at place called the Basin, adjacent to the
Petersburg Railroad depot. Everything went
on harmoniously during the trial of the Rich
mond engines. An immense crowd of colored
men and boys we're present, cheering occasion.
ally, and laughing good humorediy whenever
aWayward stream of water went flying over
their heads. The Wilmington engine, from
which great things were expected, folio we'd
but was evidently, to the delight OF the negroes,
unable to compete in capacity and effectiveness
with the ire engines in Richmond. The Will
mlngton men put on the utmost amount of
steam, until the safety of the boiler might be
considered ENDANGERED; but all their efforts fell
snort OF riValling the display made by their
Richmond rivals.
In front OF the jet of water the colored crowd
were assembled, sending up every few moments
derisiye cheers at the abortive attempt of the
Wilmington engine to eclipse the Richmond
one. 1t was evident to ap observer, that the
visitors from Delaware felt irritable, and more
OeptCldlly lDCeuSSu against L0e uaTRleS, VINO IeIG
and expressed pride in the triumph of their
local engine. Ropes were drawn around the
space where the testing operations we're carried
on. At five o'clock this evening, after the Will
mington engine had made some half dozen
trials, colored man standing near the ropes
exclaimed "Hurrah for Richmond! She can
beat Wilmington, dats sureW One of the Della
ware men standing by, mortified at the remark,
struck the negro and knocked him down. The
negro was on his ieet at once and returned the
blow.
And thus originated the disturbance which
has this evening unsettled the whole of Rich
mond, brought the military from their camp,
and assuredly threatened to lead TO disastrous
results.
When the negro struck back he was assailed
by another Delaware fireman, and a crowd of
colored men gathered around during the brief
scufHe which ensued, while considerable confu-
sion prevailed. Two policemen came up at this
juncture, one OF whom arrested the negro and
the other the white man. The colored crowd,
believing there was no just cause for the arrest
OF one of their number, surrounded the police
men with the object of efecting a rescue. The
policeman having the Delawarian in charge let
him go, and proceeded to the aid of the officer
having the colored man in custody. The pri-
soner was taken up Eighth street to Main a
colored crowd following at his heels Arriving
at Seventh street, rescue was attempted, the
negroes surging round the officers, and handling
them in rough manner.
The prisoner was finally liberated, after
which he ran up Seventh street, towards Main,
the officers in hot pursuit, and an excited mass
of darB-skinncd humanity in their wake.
policeman standing on the corner of street on
the route of the fleeing darkey rushed out, and
endeavored to stem the torrent. He was
quickly overpowered knocked down, and run
over.
Near Broad street the escaping negro was
again captured, and when fairly on his way to
the Station House a strange and exciting fea-
ture was witnessed in the approach from an op-
posite quarter OF an Immense crowd OF
negroes half of them bareheaded, yelling ike
devils, hourishing sticks and other missiles, and
making the most boisterous demonstrations.
Both crowds met, in the midst OF which the two
devoted policemen were crushed, struck with
bricks their revolvers wrenched from them,
and the prisoner once more set at liberty The
policemen were badly hurt, and left powerless
to attempt another capture. The negro was
carried away by his brethren amidst shouts Of
But the attention of the police, still unremit-
ting was directed to the prisoner for another
and last time. Two other members of the
force came on the scene, and by dexterous and
rapid move secured the slippery darkeY, and got
him as tar as the door of the station house.
scene of confusion then occurred which beggars
description. The police had orders not to tire
their reVolvers, and being only few in number
at this particular point, were quickly over
powered and forced to surrender their prisoner,
who, up to this hour-near mldnght-ls stlll az
large. -
The negroes seemed TO spriug up out of the
earth so rapidly, and in such Immense force d'd
they concentrate, that every one was astonished.
A eolored barber while the crowd was rushing
along Broad street, ran out of his shop, wrenched
his pole from its position and exclaimed In q
wild tone of voice, Freedmen, to the rescue
Save your nation "
In the meantime, while these proceedings
were going on, the white citizens were Hockins
from all quarters. Women, pale and agltated,
stood on their doorsteps, or looking out OF the
windows, with evident apprehension OF riot and
bloodshed. single pistol shot fired while the
excitement was at its height would have pre-
cipitated riot before which that of New Orleans
would pale into nsignidcance. The whites were
indignant at the defiant and demonstratiye de-
meanor of the blacks, while the latter were en-
ragged at what they considered the one-slded
conduct of the police
After the prisoner was finally rescued he was
taken by his black friends, amid the most ex
traordnaTy clamor of victory, along Broad
street. and spirited away to some place OF refuge
The Mayor thought it advisable to issue orders
for the concentration OF all the police In the
city at the station house on Marshall street
General Schofeld was notified, and shortly attel
made his appearance in company with Genera
Brown, OF the Freedmen's Bureau, driving u
wagon, and cheered Justify by motley croWO
of blacks. The General, the Chief OF Police
and Mayor Mayo held a consultation, thu
nature OF which tailed to transpire.
While they were consulting, company OF th(
1lth United States Infantry marched up Broac
street with fixed bayonets, and took up posi-
ton facing the new Richmond Theatre. Al
immense crowd of darkies in large and small
groups, talking and gesticulatng yehemently
extended along the roadway and sidewalks
The officer in charge of the soldiers bid them e
to their homes This advice was responded Il
by cheers, and by a sort OF undeclde.
to the other. The soldiers we're toll
off into squads, and orders given them to clea
fbe thoroughfare OF whites and blacks alike
Quite lively time ensued, some of the so
diers, in the excess of their zeal, chasing som