The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-12-20
The Maiden Riot.


The Charleston Journal processes to give
some of the particulars of the late riot
between negroes and white men at
Maiden, Kanawha. According to their
version, which we give below, the
negroes were entirely in the right and
the whites entirely in the wrong, state
of affairs which according to "loyal"
testimony invariably prevails wherever
the two races come into conflict. This
Journal story is SO palpably exaggerated
that it had better.be received cum grano
sails. The representation of General
RUFFNER, for example,. standing pistol
in hand, encouraging a gang of negro
rioters and probably taking a shot him
self at times,is too thoroughly ridiculous
for patient contemplation. The Journal
says:
On Saturday, the 4th inst, John
Fewell (wLite) andTom Preston (biack)
fell out and fought Preston in the
mill" come out first best. Whereupon
Fewell made some hard threats against
Preston, which caused Preston to swear
ont 'peace warrant" 1t waspublicly
proclaimed throughout Maiden and vi
ciuity that no negro should be allowed
to testify in the case, and in fact Pres
ton should not be allowed to appear in
Maiden in the day of trial. This, of
course, caused the negroes to prepare
themselves for their defence, and on
Saturday, the l1th instant, the trial be-
tween Fewell and Preston was to take
place before Justice Shrewsbury. That
day, ten negroes, armed with revolvers,
under command of the said Tom Preston,
marched to Maiden from Rutfner's Fur
mace and Tinkersville. After their ar
rival IN Maiden, the white men (six IN
number), friends of Fewen, ordered
them to leave town, which they refused
to do and Immediately the fight was
opened by John Sneed (white) upset
ting" one (black) with brick bat.
Thereupon the negroes fell back to
Georges Creek, and were met by General
Ruffner, who informed them that they
fshould not leave the place in that man
ner, but to return with him and be
would see that they should have a fair
trial. They went with the General as
far as the Foundry, and were met by
the white men, and the fght was opened
in earnest.
Inthe first round, John Sneed (white)
was wounded in the arm, and Pal. Plow-
ers (white) was wounded in the thigh.
Very soon, however, all the loads in the
reyolvers of both parties were ex-
hausted, and all fell into an open fire
with "brick-bats," rocks and clubs
About the third round in the battle with
tho use of stones, &c, as their weapons.
General Ruffner, who was standing close
by, revolver in hand, was struck on the
back part of the head with "brick-
bat," which fclled him upon the spot,
and was taken off the ground by his son
and L. A. Coleman, for dead. Life,
however, was restored to him, but he is
now lying in very critical condition
| from the effects of the wound.
No negroes were materially injured,
but several of them were knocked
down" by "brick bats" and clubs. At
ter General Ruffner was wounded, the
negroes retreated to their homes. On
Saturday evening last about two hun
dred armed white men *. X. K.'s) went
TO Tinkersville in search of the negroes
who were engaged in the fight against
them. None of them were found. On
Monday night a number of armed men
sent orders to the said negroes, direct
ing them to leave the country immedl-
ately, or their lives would be taken at
first sight. To which order, we under
stand, they quietly obeycd, and have
not been heard of since.
Over one hundred revolver shots were
fred in the fight.
We give the above as detailed to us
by gentleman who has potitive infor-
nation of the occurrence.