The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-10-13
TCorrespondenceof the New York Herald.
- NORTH CAROLINA.
RiOTOuS and TunlultuOus Conduct
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
bya Carpet-Bagger--As-
saalt on a Hotel.
GoLDsBoRo, September 81, 1868

NoLDSDoNo, SSptSlAUcI IL, 1OOo'
A few days since scene unpreceden-
ted in the history of this village was
presented in the streets. This being the
junction of the North Carolina and the
Wilmington and Weldon roads, the trains
bearing the negro delegations to the
Radical convention at Releigh were com
PEELED to halt here some three hours on
their return home. There were two
trains, consisting of passenger and box
cars, filed with about two thousand ne
groes. A majority of these were under
the influence of bad liquor, as well as
incendiary appeals from unprincipled
white men, who headed, rather than ac
companied them. A man from Ohio,
named Heaton, seemed to be the gener-
alissimo of the black mob, for as soon
as the dense mass emerged from the
trains he mounted large wooden box,
and proceeded to harangue the negroes
in the most approved Radical fashion in
the South His sentiments regarding
the rights of the negroes, including not
only political, but social and even prop
erty equality, were met with the most
.deafening cheers from the excited Afri
cans. These became aroused and fren
zied to an excess that was fearful to wit
ness, particularly as most of them were
armed. Add to all this, the negro gar
rison, both soldiers and non-commiss-
ioned officers, here joined freely with
the mob, and drank vile whisky with
them from tin cups in the streets. AT
the conclusion of Heaton's harrangue,
such was its import that numbers OF the
negroes were heard to say they "were
ready to cut the throat of every id
rebel in the town." which proposal was
seconded by the soldiers, who, with their
pistols, ''were ready to shoot the id
rebels" Heaton then advanced in the
direction of hotel, where he met and
deliberately insulted white spectator,
who replied by a prompt blow, which
occasioned a fight Of short duration, the
parties being promptly separated by men
who had some regard for the peace and
security of the village. The man who
was insulted by Heaton was forcib!y re-
moved into the hotel, and this was the
signal for a general assault On that build
ING. On came crowd of yelling ne
groes, but the doors of the hotel being
stoutly barricaded, they could effect no
entrance; and in consequence an indis-
criminate assault was made upon it with
brickbats, and every conceivable missile
that could be brought into requisition.
This was continued for some time, when
another attempt was made to force open
the doors and probably butcher the in,
mates, which was fearlessly and resolute-
ly met by some half dozen men armed
with revolvers, which exhibition again
drove back the infuriated Africans. For
awhile the town was in terrible state
of tumult, and Providence only averted
a bloody massacre, for had the negroes
once tasted the blood they SO thirsted
for, the scene would have been fearful
Men and women ran hither and thither
arming themselves with whatever they
could procure, to defend themselves
against the maddened Africans. The ne
groes of the town joined their brethren,
who, with drunken colored soldiers
among them, roamed the streets, which
soon became destitute of any whites
An influential gentlemen here happily
approached Heaton and assured him
that if a riot was commenced the ne
groes would be the sufferers, and, as he
had chiefly aroused them to their present
excited state, he begged him to calm the
storm. This Heaton wisely set about
doing, and the train shortly afterwards
arriving, the black mob left the town
without any casualty of serious nature
having transpired.