Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-22
The DansiIIe RfOt.


THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE REPORT THE RESULT Oh
THEIR INVEsTIGATIoNs-THEY BLAME The NEGROES
AND THEIR LEADERS FOR BRINGING on A CONFLICT
NO INTIMIDATION AT THE POLLS.
Inc committee or forty, appointed at meeting
OF the citizens OF Danvllle on the 10th instant ia
inquire into all the facts and publish full and true
statement of the causes leading to the riot on the
I'D instant. report that they examined 81 witnesses
VINO are Well-knoWn citizens. The committee state
that in consequence OF the election OF negroes IN
the town Offices In May, 1882. the colored race be
callle convinced mat they would receive the Slp-
port ana protection OF the municipal authorities
ana In consequence they grew rude, lnSoient and
intoleTani 10 the white citizens Bad feeling be
tween the TWO races. being thus generated contin.
ued 70 increase, and was aggravated by the politi
cal eNcltement preceding the recent election. In
Tue midst or the excitement OF the campaign VIM
t. Sims, the coalition candidate for the senate
mace violent and incendiary speech In Danytlle'
On the day following this speech. continues the re-
poll, the excitement among the whites ana blacks
was violent and acrimonious, and among the ne
grOtS there Was an evident
EXPECTATION OF A CONFLICT
During that morning, the report states two ne
groes insulted white man on the public streets
and engaged in a fight, which terminated by the
white mans going away. In the afternoon while
public meeting was being held In the opera
house, the same white man, while In buggy and
oh his way out or town, was loudly and repeatedly
lnSulted by one OF the negroes with whom he had
previously been fighting. This man. therefore In
spl1e OF determination not to engage la further
Called two friends To insure fair play and assuring
them that he would use no weapon, engaged I'm A
nstlcun upon the street with the negro During
the fight large number OF negroes gathered
around, but the white mans friends kept them
rom interfering until policeman arrived when
me conioatantS were separated and each was taken
away from the street Then the negroes, collect
Ing around the white mans two friends and some
ten or fifteen other whites violently asserted their
determination to have their rights
In spite OF the EFFORTS or the police and the whites
.heSe coiotea men continued TO press upon the
whites ana TO exhibit firearms and proclaim them
selves ready for a conflict The policeman relired
from in front Of the whites ''whereupon
FIRING COMMENCED ON BOTH SIDES.
and after forty fifty shots the negroes dis
perSed; that about seven negroes were wounded.
four OF whom died, and two white men seriously.
but not MORALLY; thatmO negroes We're seen with
pistols In their hands during the firing than there
were white men present at the commencement and
that the meeting or white citizens assembled at The
opera house was not adjourned, and for the most
part did not reach the street until after all The
geant, assisted by the white citizens and not
broken again except by the wounding while on
duty that night OF special policeman by a shot
nred from behind the house Of a negro man
The report then goes On to say that no threats or
intimidation was shown towards the negro or co.
aliticn voters on the day preceding the election.
and that on election day there was no disturbance
and the election was honestly conducted and was
free and fair 1.-THE negroes" the report saws s.re
Trained from voting under the advice and command
OF their party leaders while Others voted the coa
ion ticket without hindrance from any quarter"
{ TIE ARMY OF OCCUPATION.
The Officers OF the "army OF occupation sent by
Gov. Cameron from Richmond to Danvi,le the day
previous to the election have published card In
which they say s'there was not the slightest neces
there was never more quiet ana peaceabiy dis
posed community."