The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-08-12
THE FRANKFORT RIOT.
Rad Conduct or the Blaeks-TWe
whites XIII led and Several Wound

BAD Conduct OF the Blaeks-Tws
whites Ktlied and Several wound
From the Frankfort Yeoman, August 81 d,
1t becomes our duty to announce
another act of riot and bloodshed at the
hands Of the negro element IN this
city. Less than q year ago We gave
details of a similar outrage; upon the
laws OF the State, with its attendant
consequences of death and bloodshed,
and we hoped then, for the sake Of .
civilized people as well as for the good
future of the half civilized black, that
it would never be our province to write
the incidents OF like occurrence; but
much as we shrink from q rehearsal Of
the scenes of yesterday, it is our bound
ed duty to make them public, and we
do not hesitate at the compliance. No
longer ago than last week this commu-
nifty was shocked by the details Of q
most brutal ravishment of q white wo-
man by a negro, and though there was
an uppermost desire in the breasts Of oil
citizens OF the community to offer the
immediate punishment Of q rope to the
scoundrel, disposition tosuphold the
laws and let the courts take action was
greater than the desire for vengeance.
The negro is vet in Jail, unmolested,
waiting the slow action OF justice.
This is only one instance Of the for.
bearance shown by the good citizens OF
Frankfort towards the negro, and OF
their disposition to allay all cause Of
an open rupture between the races but
Yesterday, if possible, the whites were
far more tolerant than they have ever
been before-taking insult after insult,
and threat after threat from the blacks
at the polls, without showing the slight
est disposition to encourage a collision,
and doing all in their power to avoid it.
At the court house precinct there was
at no time during the day any disturb
ance, there being very few about the
polls and the voting going on smoothly
all day, Notwithstanding there were a
hundred or more votes polled than at
any previous election ever held in
Frankfort.
But at the market.house precinct, at
which the negroes constituted about
half OF the voters, it was different, the
negroes crowding the polls from the
hour OF their opening, and evincing a
defiant and threatening temper. Not.
withstanding this, the day progressed
without any serious difficulty, the most
noticeable being an assault by num-
Der of Radical negroes upon another
because he had voted the Democratic
ticket. Az the hour for closing the
polls approached the crowd near the
polls increased, and When the clock
struck seven the voting closed amid the
congratulations of all peaceably-dis'
posed citizens that there had been no
collision. Then there began cheering
by both sides for their candidates,
the negroes arranging themselves
on the north side OF the railroad track,
which runs on Market street, and the
whites, without regard 10 party, being
on the south side, and principally on
the corner nearest the market house.
About this time the train from Louis-
vile arrived, passing between the two
crowds, and almost Immediately after it
passed, without provocation from the
whites, firing was begun by the negroes
upon the more thickly crowded whites.
A scene Of great excitement ensued, the
whites being apparently taken by sur.
prise, and but few firing pistols in re-
turn, while a heavy fire was delivered
from the opposite side. Among the
first shots fired two took fatal effect
one upon Captain William D. Gilmore,
and the other upon Mr.. Silas n.
Bishop, middle.aged citizen, who
was q few feet from him, both be-
ing shot near the region of the
heart, and killed instantly. Neither
was armed, Mr.. Gilmore having gone 10
the scene but a short time before, aud
having been conspicuous in his efforts
to prevent any disturbance. Mr.. Bishop,
at the time, was passing towards the
depot. Policeman Jerry Lee received a
flesh wound in the leg, as did also Dick
Leonard. A number we're also injured
more or less by stones, which were also
freely piled by the negroes OF the latter
party, the only casualty we heard Of
was the wounding Of mulatto named
Henry Washington. one OF the leaders,
who received a severe if not mortal shot
in the left eye, and one just below the
groin. 4f.-
While the firing was in progress Cap
tain Thompson's company Of militia
was called out by the ringing Of the
court house bell, and the disturbance
ceased at once, the whole time Of its
duration not exceeding ten minutes.
The company was continued under
arms by order Of the Mayor, and NO
further trouble ensued.
The occurrence has caused intense
feeling in the community. Particularly
is this the case with regard to the death
OF Captain Gilmore, who was univer'
sally beloved. He was clerk in the
Auditors Office, having come from
Lexington, which was his home, about
a year ago, to fill that position. Hi'
remains will be taken TO Lexington 10
day in charge OF a Masonic Escort. be
having been q member OF that body.
Mr.. Bishop leaves q wife and family 10