The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-03-19
THE POLICE ATTACKED BY A
NEGRO MOB.
Chahoon Still RebelliOus.

/
Mayoralty of Richmond was the all-ab-
sorbing topic of thought and conversation
on the streets yesterday, and throughout
the day the widest rumors in regard to the
designs and operations of the contesting
parties were afoat.
Morning dawned upon the besieged occu-
pants Of the Old Market Half weary,
hungry, and anxious, but the only sign of
disposition to surrender was the desertion
of Captain Parker and Sergeant Spraggins
during the night. Ben Scott and his sable
police looked mournfully out of the windows
upon the loyal forces of Mayor Ellyson,
and sighed to see that they were still be-
sieged. Their empty stomachs were by no
means cheered at the sight Of the goodly
array of catables spread out in the bakeries
opposite, and on the stands of the hucksters
on the pavement below. But nothing cdi-
BILE was allowed to enter the door, and the
orders Of the Chief of Police were so strict
that it had been found necessary during
the night to take about a peck of crackers
from the person of a notorious Radical who
wished TO seetbe Mayor on Commissioners
business"
| 4 MAN KILLED.
| About S o'clock the crowd in the vicinity
of the market-house was reinforced by
large additions of idle persons, principally
| negroes, much to the annoyance OF the
police on duty, and increasing the danger
Of riot. Ma jor Poe, the Chief of Police,
therefore ordered the streets to be cleared
except Of persons who were passing on
business. The squad of "speciuls "
charged with the duty promptly obcyed,
and were quietly pushing back the crowd,
without any appearance of ill-humor, when
Il coloved man, standing on the north
east corner Of Seventeenth and Main, saw
fit to refuse to stand back in company with
his neighbors. 4 policeman attempted to
enforce obedience; whereupon the darky
struck him. OF course the result was Il
row, in which the negroes sustained their
color, and the police force rallied to the
support Of their comrade. Blows were
dealt. shots fired, and in the melee colored
man named Daniel Henderson was NOR
tall wounded.
Quiet restored, the wounded man was
placed in o cart. and by Mayor Ellyson' s
order carried to the infrmary attached to
the Medical College. When the cart reached
the college the officer i'll charge went in to
inform the physicians, and during his mo-
mentary absence the negroes who had fol-
lowed it uptown drove the cart away.
Whatever the object OF this strange pro-
cccding might have been, its effect was GER
,ninlv to hasten the death of the wounded
man, as after cartng the poor creature
about town for half an hour the negroes
brought him back 70 the intirmary, when
he was past the point where surgery is
useful. He died before noon, and his body
was given 10 his friends for burial.
MR. CHAIIooS AND GENERAL CANRY.
After this unfortunate sacrifice OF life
nothing further WORTH Of note occurred
for several hours. and the siege was getting
to be monotonous, when two mounted SOL
diers appeared on the scene with Il note
from General Candy requesting an inter-
view with MIR. Chahoon. Mayor Ellyson.
being informed that the interview was de-
Fired in order that some measure for The
prevention OF bloodshed might be agreed
upon by the contesting parties, ordered that
Mr.. Chahoon be allowed to come out and 90
to headquarters, with permission to return
to the police station.
Mr.. Chahoon thereupon went to military
headquarters, and in company with his
legal adviser, Governor Henry A. Wise,
had a pr0tracted conversation with the
commanding General. III the course Of
which the Generals proposition for the set
tlcmcnt Of the Mayoralty question was re-
iectcd. lie then returned to his headquar-
tcrs, refusing, it is said, in the mean time
to taste food, on the ground that he had de-
termined to stand or fall with his men.
The sequel proved that this patriotic de-
claration could be safely made, as the fol-
lowing correspondence, which took place an
hour or two afterwards, will testify:
| THE GENERAL TO THE MAYOR.
| "lIEAporARTERs DEPARTMENT OF Va,
| RICHMOND, VA. March Is, 1870.
"Mr. II. X. Elyon, Richmond, Fa.:
Sir,-I will send at 2 o'clock to-day a
commissioned officer and ten men to the
Old Market Hall as a guard for the build
ing and the public property that may be
there, and shall request MIR. Chahoon to
send away all the police force und other
persons that may be there except such
messengers, clerks, &C., az may be neccs-
sary for the transaction of business.
The officer of the guard will be instruct
ed that his duties are simply to gee that the
property of the city is guarded, that free
ingress and egress is secured to all person e
| having business in the building, and that the
occupants are not elected by force from
their present possession.
| q This action cannot of course affect in
any way any question involved in the
pending controversy, and is taken purely
as a precaution against any acts of disorder
or violence and until the questions at issue
can be brought to D judicial determination.
Very respectfully, your obedient SER
want, 4. K. 5. CASBT,
"Brevet Major-General commanding"
THE GENERAL TO Mr.. cH. ,HooS.
HEADQUARTERS, &C., !
4" RICHMOND, VA, March le, 1870.
"-Mr. George Chahoon, Richmond, Fd.:
"Sir,-I send commissioned officer and
ten men to the Old Market Hall for the
purpose indicated in the enclosed letter to
MIR. Ellyson. Will you please give direc-
tions for the withdrawal of your police, cx-
cept the messenger, clerk, &C., needed IN
the transaction Of your current business.
Will you please, also, give such instruc-
tions as may be best calculated to avoid any
danger of collision and disorder.
"The question involved appears now to
| he in train for proper settlement.
Very respectfully,
"lour obedient servant,
"E. Il. S. CANDY,
.'Brcvet Major-General, commanding
THE MILITARY TAKE POSSESSION.
The purpose indicated in these letters of
General Candy was fulfilled at about :
O'Clock, when squad Of ten soldiers, un-
der the command Of Cantain T n Rice of