Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1871-08-10
THE CAUSE OF THE RIOT.

AT a0OGL Twelve @ CLOCK the pollce
attempted the arrest ola very turbulent
colored man, who resistel most violently.
A mob soon surrounded the police, clam
oring for the rescue of the prisoner. The
officers proceeded with their captive, and
the mob began to swell rapidly in num-
bers. Wien almost to TIE lock up the
conduct of the mob Lecame most savage
and violent. The prisoner was rescued
and Gus Bryant, one of the colored po-
lice who gave chase, was shot at by
some one belonging to the mob. The
cry of Shoot him. Shoot him.. rang
from the mob, aud, perhaps, from few
th7ughtless citizens who witnessed the
chase. Amidst the excitement two or
three shots were dispatched by the color
ed policemen after the fugitive. Clubs,
razers, knives and pistols were foarished
in unaccountable number, while the
threats for revenge were most terrific. At
the Exchange Hotel the police succeeded
in capturing the fugitive. The prisoner
was taken inside the hotel by Deputy
Sheriff Mike Woods. aided by the police,
while the mob-fully l 900 stropg-con-
/ gregated in front of the entrance, still
clamorng for the prisoner. and threatens
ing the life of Gus Bryant, the coored
policeman. 4 melee ensupd, in which
several innocent white men, who merely
looked On, were badly dubbed by the
mob.
The fury Of the mob, which, by this
time had become overwhelming IN num-
bers in front of the hotel, had uosT reach
ed its highest pitch. Clubs, pistols,
| brickbats and razors were dourlshed in all
direcs ions. The universal cry among
them was that the colored policeman,
Augustus Bryan, who was said to have
shot at the rescued prisoner as be ran,
must be brought out and killed or hung
on the spot. Policemen guarding the
door were cluboed, and colored men. who
tried to pacify the mob and keep them
from breaking into the hotel, had their
clothes torn to rags. a missile hurled
at the wiadow broke it, and cut a severe
cash on the head of Mr.. Council Best,
al aged citizen, who had sought shelter
10 the hotel. A pistol shot fred from the
mob took effect in the decreasing the
door was forced open, and two blows
with clubs were rapidly dealt to enc OF
the men, citizen. inside. Forbearance
now had ceased to be iriue it was do
or die with the police, who were inside,
and a rapid fire was opened upon the
assailants, who fred rapidly in return
| Oae man, q principal rioter, was killed
on the SPOT, three or four wounded, and
a general stampede of the immense mob
took lace. La all, about thirty shots
were fired,
Mr.. w. F. Loftin, of Kingston, a re-
publican, appeared on the hotel piazza,
and appealed to the mob to disporse. -
Several colored men, among them John
Randolph, of Newbern, also did all in
their power to subdue the rio tcrs. The
i police. aud especially the white citizens,
showed commendablo forbearance and
we are glad that but very few of the
Goldsboro9 colored men showded dis
position TO side with the mob We have
been unable to learn the exact damage
dohe 10 pCrsofiS.- MT. ". Desl haa d 'ei J
ngly cash inf icted over his left eye by a
huge brickbat hurled by one of the mob
A colered man who was assisting the po-
lice to quell the riot received pistol ball
through the arm. Of the rioters we have
heard of but three ROUNDED, and another
CASTOR Atkinson. of this place, who it
seems occupied front position among the
mob, was killed almost instan taneously
1t is generally believed that he was killed
by shot from the mob.