Middletown transcript., 1870-09-24
SERIOUS RIOT.

On Monday afternoon last, about four
o'clock, thirty or forty negroes belonging
to Miles River Neck, on their way out of
town, became very noisy in an alteration
with two colorcd men of the town who had
announced their intention to vote the dem
ocratic ticket. Being reproved, they were
quiet for while, but whiskey, aud the
friendly advice of their white contreres
having gotten the better Of their prudence,
they raised another small row in front of
Mr.. D. B. Grifith's store. Officer Dillen
soon appeared, but the " bosses" of the
crowd informed him that no one of that
party was going to Jail. He then went
for the Sheriff, who, proceeding to the
place, summoned five or six gentlemen to
assist him, doubtless thinking that there
would be no serious resistance, and that
the quiet arrest of one or two would end
the matter. But the white men of Talbot
were yet to see the practical workings Of
the much vaunted XVIII Amendment.
The negroes, with the cry of " rally"
" come on, boys" threw themselves in
between the posse and those they were
trying to arrest. Thus the attempted en-
forcement of the law soon became a free
street fight between the two races. The
whites expecting nothing serious, were
few in number and poorly armed; but,
notable fact, ere,y negro had a peapon-
pistol, razor, knife, slung-shot, or club,
and did not hesitate to use it. The posse
after while succeeded in getting one ne
gro to Jail, but while the Sheriff was un-
locking the door, the negroes made sor-
tie aud rescued the prisoner. The most
of them then left town. Later in the af-
ternoon, Sheriff Bennett succeeded in i'm
prisoning one of the leaders, though not
without some symptoms of another out
break.
In the melee, Messrs. W. II. and The
odore Bostick received blows on the head;
Mr.. j 9. West a blow on the arm; Mr..
Wm. Hulse, Il blow on the shoulder; Mr..
Ridgaway Dean was struck in the side by
bat intended for the head of Mr. John
Porter, and Mr.. r. H. r. Council was
slightly cut in the hand, None of the
gentlemen above named are dangerously
hurt, though sume of their wounds are
quite painful, and Mr.. Deans severe.
Among the negroes, three certainly were
shot, and four more cut, besides several
who left with very sore heads. The clti-
zens generally, were not aware of the riot
until it was over, and this accounts for the
few white men in the posse, but there were
some gentlemen, who though not in thu
fight, rendered good h-lp by keeping bacl
a crowd of about twenty, through thei
persuasion and threats. The issue of til,
matter could not have been otherwise, a
there were only seven OF eight white mel
to forty or fifty negroes; and the member
of the Sheriff's posse deserve especiu
praise and thanks from us all for the gal
lant manner in which they performed thei
duty against such odds.
1t is reported that the negroes have bee
advised to " shoot down " any white ma
who interfcres wth them, and in conse
quencc of threats that were made to rescu
the prisoner, and attack our citizens dui
ing the night of Monday, patrol wa
summoned, and guard kept through til
night. No disturbance, however, occurl
ed, and is not likely to take place viii
our people arc properly prepared to rep
I an invasion, or defend themselves from a
+ tack, though the negroes are being col
E stantly drilled in military tactics
, We thus have practical working
| negro Observation-Disclosures and ru
3 fanly rioting, disorder and blood She
t We have also in this riot slight realiz
ton of what white men of the South ha,
q q been, and are still, suffering under Il
e Jenifcent reconstruction laws passed by
a Radical Congress, and which they a
!, still pressing upon the people. We a
: glad to learn that the negroes are sustai
ed by but few, very few, of the white r
st publicans of the county, and none but t
y most unscrupulous and corrupt count
II noDoa III cir n ction E,,oto,, I MI y Io,,r,