Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-08-10
Riot at Mobile
Three Blacks Killed-Four Policemen and Nine
Others Wonndad


MOBILE, Ala, August 6.-Tast NIGHT cor;
GUS riot occurred in this CITY, beginning at "a an
outdoor Radical meeting tn celebrate tho ri.
umph OF the tactical candidate for this Congress
slonal dls1rlct. Ihe meeting was large one,
ana all negroes except few white leaders,
during the whole of yesterday rumors were in
circulation that the negroes were very much
excited. defiant and threatening, and meant to
burn IN etlgy the Democratic candidate for
Congress ,Golonel Mann. Several citizens call
60 on the mayor and some of the Radical lead
efs ana ausiseo them that iG would be better to
postpone the meeting, for if the effgy threat
restrained from an attempt 70 resent ts,e ;nd;o-
nifty by force. 1t was thought that those re-
presentation5, had had the desired effect, and
there would be no meeting. -
. AZ 2 ciock, however, the tar barrels were
li!ghted, when the negroes began to flock in un-
til they swelled into crowd of 1000 TO I 900
Many came with guns, most all with concealed
arms|pistois, KNIVES and razors. Nothing oc-
CURED TO disturb the harmony of the meeting.
except the lnl1ammatory talk of the carpet-bae
speakers until about 10 o'cIuck, when a iocose
dispute between TWO citizens upon a subject en-
treiy foreign 20 politics or the meeting attract
eu soine attehtlon, and In pressing up to see
what 1t was about white accidentalIv rod IN
the foot of negro. Just as the alteration a.
bout this was settled pistol shot was heard
and this was the signal for general firing. The
whole crowd dispersed immediately. The firing
was continued few minutes as the crowd scat
tered, and In ten minutes dead uuiet reened.
broken only by the tread of white natrol. :
A detachment of United States troops were
stationed at the guard-house in authorization Of
trouble They took no part iD the affray. ex-
cept to march up town to LOOK after and put a
stop to some firing. 1t is not known who fred
the first shot,: 1t was the natural result of the
excltment. There We're not over one hundred
white men as lookers-on at the meeting.
The casualties are small considering the num-
Der OF shots and the close quarters. Many shots
must have been fired in the air.
Three negroes were killed outright. Four
policemen were wounded and five negroes and
three white men were wounded
The Mobile Register OF this morning com
ment, on the riot as follows
Last nights work, done after our editorial
OF this morning was IN print, is u sharp and
quick commentary on the dangers we forecasted
from the present aspect Of affairs 1t is burn
Ing shame that this community should be ex-
posed to outrages like this, and the community
owes 1t to itself to take measures to protect it.
self against repetition of them. AS to where
the blaU.e lies there is no room for question. -
These deeds are the direct outflow Of the mad
dened passions of negroes Influenced and lashed
into fury by the public harangues and private
lr.stgations ofthe foreign Radicals in our midst.
1T is question for the public to decide how
these incendiaries shall be allowed TO imperil
the peace Of society and the safety of women
and children. We hope that public meeting
will be held to answer this question