The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1880-12-29
The Weekly Register
LOCAL MATTERS.

and drunkenness. Such day has
never before been witnessed in Point
Pleasant, and we hope its likes will
never be seen again.
Early in the morning a lot Of
worthless whites and worthless ne
groes begand drinking, and by nine
o'clock very considerable number
Of them were beastly drunk and dis.
orderly, and cursing and quarreling
between themselves. Soon they be.
gan to insult and assault decent peo.
pie as they passed along the streets.
Officers were resisted, cursed and
threatened, when attempting to en-.
force the law.
Allday hundreds Of people were
upon the streets, and the town kept
in a feverish state Of excitement, be-
cause every moment, it was expect
cd u bloody riot would occur.
Great crowds of excited whites
and blacks were gathered at differ
ent points on Main street; some Of
whom were wanting to fight, urging
and threatening a riot, and reyolv-
'ers and knives were whipped out to
deal death and destruction TO all who
opposed them should conflict occur.
Some were there to keep the peace
and pacify the drunken roughs and
rowdies, of both colors, knowing full
well that if Il knock down was per-
mitted, or q shot fired, it would
plunge the town into fearful riot,
resulting in war of races; and
would draw.into itall the better class
OF our citizens, both white and black,
as u matter Of self-preservation and
protection to their families.
Some of the colorcd people were
threatening to clean out the whites
and take the town, and some of the
whites were threatening to.clean out
the negroes and drive them from the
town. These threats came from the
lower order of whites and blacks,
and had no sanction or encourage
from the better disposed citizens of
either color.
As we said before, a riot was look
ed for momentarily, and men began
t'prepare forany emergency. Arms
and. ammunition were made ready,
and put within easy reachand would
have been used with deadly effect
upon the roughs had an outbreak oc.
CURED.
The most singular thing Of all was
that not single rioter was arrested,
ofeither color Why, we cannot say,
unless there was an indisposition to
enforce the law on Christmas day, or
the officers were. powerless Fully
twenty-five men, both whites andne-
groes, should have been arrested and
placed in Jail.
The whole proceedings was dis.
grace to the town, and the action of
its officers, burlesque upon law and
order. We do not believe in leniency
to rioter, roughs and rowdics, but in
stern and firm dealing with such
characters, aud melting out severe
punishments to them. v
We hope now that our Mayor will
cause the arrest Of all who were en-.
gagged in these riotous proceedings,
try them, fine them, Jail them, and
when they are turned out, place
them under bonds for their good be-
hayior. We.also hope that our next
Grand Jury will inquire into This
matter, and indict the ring-leaders,
who were urging on and instigating
a riot and threatening the town. A
few years in,the Penitentiary may
do some of them good.
This is the only way to break up
this lawlessness, which has been
growing worse and worse for the
past year or two.
If severe and rigorous measures are
not used to break up this ruflianism,
neither life nor property will be safe
in this place.
1t has now como to such a point
that respectable ladies unaccompan-
led by m escort, cannot come out on
the streets, after dark, without being
shocked and insulted by the black
guardism of these low roughs and
yagabonds.
The law is severe enough to teach