The daily gazette., 1878-07-26
FOURTH EDITION |
Row at the Middle Depot.
DRUNKEN NEGROES VENT THEIR SPITE
ON AN INoFFENsIvE oBJEcT-DAs-
TARDLY ATTACK UPON SUPER
INTENDENT CHAMBERS.

TARDLY ATTACK UPON SUPER
INTENDENT CHAMBERS.
Yesterday afternoon the Independent
Cornet Band, negro musical organiza-
tion of this city, held picnic at Rosen-
dale Park, near the middle depot of the
Wilmington City Passenger Railway
The affair was quite largely attended, and
towards evening number of the men got
full of beer and whiskey, and became
quite turbulent in their conduct.
Nothing serious, however, happened
until about 1890 o'clock, when large
crowd of drunken negroes gave chase to
party of boys who had been annoying
them with offensive epithets. The boys
ran around past the depot, but when the
pursuing negroes arrived in front of the
building they stopped with one accord
and began throwing stones at the doors
and windows; which costly and dangerous
amusement they kept up briskly for sew
.eral minutes.
Mr.. Sam1 Chambers, Superintendent
of the railway, had retired to his home,
just across the Avenue from the depot a
few minutes before This unexpected as
sault, but hearing the noise and hubbu5
he Immediately returned. BY this time
the crowd of drunken rioters numbered
about three hundred, and they filled the
air with vile oaths and eXecration as well
aS with flying stones ami brickbats. Mr.
Chambers drew his pistol and handed it
to VIM. Biddle, thu Waterman, but i'll
IN. mute ate wards he took back the WEI
pom and fired three shots into the air, in
the hope of intimidating the rioters.
The shots, however, only added fuel
to their fury, and they renewed their at
tack with redOubled vigor.
Two stones We're thrown into the car
house. one of which mashed Il blind on
ear No. >, and another broke large hole
in the roof of car No. 3, which was iust
coming into the depot The watchman
then took Superintendent Chambers
pistol and fired two shots directly into
the crowd of black rioters, but without
/ any apparent fleet
Declining the condition of affairs rather
desperate Superintendent Chambers
mounted horse and started up
| the Avenue for the purpose OF rid
ing into town for = lice assistance.
| He WAS instantly Iur ued b. an infurated
| crowd, who iiercely pelted hlm with large
stones, He vainly endeavored to avo d
the shower of missiles, and when rear
the top Of the hN he was struck three
times-two of the stones breaking the
cap of his left knee, while the third broke
his left forearm, .int above wrist. Feel
Ing that lac was Sc iously injured Mr.
Chambers slipped off the horse and es
capped from his cowa dly assailants by
seeking refuge in the house of Mr.. VIM
Candy, No. PIP Delaware avenue.
Still the row at the depot continued
and the negroes assaulted the building
until they broke several winiow blind
and broke the side door. Finally TIL
watchman, VIM. Biddle, went out ANON
the crowd and demanded The reason q
= such an outrageous assault. He told thel
, the Railroad Company had done nothin
i to merit such vicious conduct, and Ia
: was at loss to know why the aSsau
Y wa, made. This Il MANI brought som
6 OF the negroes to their senses, and in
= few minutes the riot subsided and I'll
j rioters skunk a%ay before arriva! of I'll
:. police.
j.: After getting into Mr.. Canby's hous
e Mr.. Chambers injuries We're attended
r promptly, surgical assistance being spec
r lily summoned, Afterwards he was CO
y veyed TO his own residence, and tn
V morning was reported in fair way
Is recovery, though it will be many da
-j before he will te able to enjoy his usu
yr good health.
A. 1he most unfortunate part of the atfa
10 Is that none OF the negroes were recO
a niZed by Mr.. Chambers or the waic
n man, which Will make it hard matt
as to secure the arrest and identification
at any Of the aSsailants. 1t is hoped, ho
il ever, that the ring-leaders will ultimai
o. ly be arrested and punished The dal
rs age to the property of the Railway Co
~ | nany Will reach about 80.