The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-12-31

THREE HUNDRED NEGROES DISTURB THE PEACE
or THAT TOws-THE MAYOR, .PowERLEss
TO COPE WITH THEM, CALLS on GOVERNOR
JARVIS FOR THE AID or THE MILITARY.
Yesterday morning about 10 O'Clock the
following dispatch was received at the Ex-
ecutive office:
"PLYNOUTH, n. G., $40 A. M,l
December 10Th.
"TO Governor Jarvis:
"Tbere Is an unprecedented riot in this
town, and am unable to suppress II by
the civil authority OF the county, and
earnestly request you TO order several mill
tary companies to be here at the earliest
time possible to suppress it. There are 800
negroes here defying the law all around
with guns. Please do This at once.
A. ID. GAYLORD, Mayor"
This request was forwarded to Edenton
by boat, and thence came by wire Uid Nor
folk. Governor Jarvis il absent at Green
vile, and the private secretary, Captain
Guilford dudley, repeated the message TO
the Governor.
a special telegram to the Ners and Oh
serUer from w. ID. Pruden, Esq, OF Eden
ton, gives the following information in re-
gard to the affair:
"On Saturday some negroes were fight
ing among themselves at Plymouth. This
the constable tried to stop. He was re-
sisted, beaten, and shot. One Of his posse
was mortally wounded andanOther stabbed.
The negroes were armed, assembled in
large crowds, and prevented any arrests at
that time. There was great excitement pre-
yaiIing. On Tuesday, when the excitement
had somewhat subsidized, some OF the par
ties were arrested, and after examination,
i'm default Of bond, were ordered to be
committed 10 Jail, bound over to the SUI
peTiOr Court. On the way to the jail the
sheriff was attacked by mob, and the
prisoners were rescued. They are still at
large. DR.. WoodsOn, who was attending
the dying man, who had been wounded on
Saturday, was attacked, but not seriously
hurt. Matt. Wilson, the leader in the
affair, was tried for similar offence at the
last term OF the Superior Court. Many
negroes are now armed, and are resisting
the civil authorities. Great excitement
prevails at Plymouth and in the surround
ing country. This information is from
Captain Askew. OF the steamer Juniata,
and the messenger sent by the Mayor, and
is reliable"
i
patch was received from Governor Jarvis
at Greenville: 81 have ordered Lieutenant
Colonel John w. Gotten, OF the First regi-
ment, and two companies to Plymouth. |
have no later information in regard TO the
affair."
The following telegram from Elizabeth
City was received here and transmitted TO
Governor Jarvis ~ The PasquOtank Rifles
tender their aid to the Governor TO quiet
the Plymouth riot. Julian T.. Wood, cap
tain; w. j. Griffin, +. f. Lamb, and Alex.
Wadsworth, lieutenants."
The State ordnance officer last night re-
ceiyed a telegram from Captain II. Il. Nash,
OF TarbOrO', asking for 1000 rounds OF
ball cartridge, TO be shipped to Plymouth.
From this il would appear that the Edge
comDe Guards is one OF the companies or
dered to Plymouth. Other companies near
at hand are at Edenton, where there are
two-one white, one colOred; at Washing
ton, at Hamilton. Martin county, and ut
Elizabeth City. ii would not take a great
while TO put half dozen or more other
companies at Plymouth.
From gentleman Of this city we learn
that OF the 1,200 people in Plymouth a
large majority are negroes, and that they
are frequently turbulent. In the woods
and swamps great numbers OF them are en-
gagged in getting out lumber, slaves, etc.
These laborers are generally rough lot,
given to fighting, especially at this time Of
year and on holidays. Plymouth is some
what difficult TO reach. Edenton is twenty
miles away, across the sound, while the
railway, poor affair. comes no nearer than
GAINESVILLE, its other end being at Wash
ingt0n. II was thought last night here
that possibly some troops had arrived at
Plymouth last evening. There were ru-
mOrS, which were not well authenticated,
that the sheriff, Dempsey Spruill, had been
badly hurt in an attack by the rioters. and
that negro had been Hlled.-Rdieigh
NelcS and Observer.
fBy tclegaph.l
TROOPS AT PLYM0UTH-ROTERS ARRLTED,
QUIET RESTORED, AND NO FURTHER TROUBLE
EXPECTED.
RALEIGH, December 30.-The PasQuo-
tank Rifles, OF Elizabeth City, who were
ordered to Plymouth by special steamer,
have doubtless reached there. The Edge
comb Guards have gone from TarborO'.
The military will be under the command
Of Lieutenant Colonel Gotten, OF the First
regiment, State troops, an officer Of cool
ness and capacity. The rioters are thought
TO be men from the immense shingle
swamps OF that section. Governor Jarvis
is at Greensville, but there is no telegraph
line TO Plymouth.
4 dispatch TO the NejcS and Observer
says that the troops have arrived at Ply
mouth. Sheriff Spruill, with two hundred
armed men, restored quiet. Five arrests
were made and the parties sent to the Jail
ut EdentOn, across the Sound. Other M
rests will follow. The murderer Of Mr..
Butler is still at large. No further trouble
is anticipated. Governor Jarvis has gone
TO Plymouth, and SOlicitor-Gencral CRANKY
has been asked to meet him there.