New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-16
ACCOUNTS OF THE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.

THE MIN WHO BEGAN THE FIGHT EXAMINED.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-The investigation
OF the Dsuvile election riot resumed this morning
The first witness was Edward NJ. Hatcher whe), who,
according the testimony OF Jack Redo yesterday
assaulted the wished to shoot him. In reply to
series OF questions by Senator Sherman he told the
story Of the riot and asserted that he had no firearms
that day. Had not carried any other weapon than
rocket knife for twenty years. lie did not re-
member seeing Jack Redo Did not think that he struck
any one on that day. Might know Reid II he saw him.
but did not recall him. In reply TO Senator Vance, the
witness said not IN the vicinity OF the market
where the alleged assault Redd occurred On that day
witness marks of bullets on several buildings ID the
rear Of the white people, which bullet. must have como
from the crowd Of colOred people.
J. c. Reagan (whtel, was called. He
arrived at the Of the riot after the first fight had
fernipaed crowd OF angry negroes and went TO
hardware and asked for a box OF chop axes he
Se6t The clerk refused TO give them him. Witness
hunted for them but could not ind any de returned 10
the scene of the riot, and was armed with PISTOL
A WITNESS WHO DECLINES TO ANSWER
Senator sbermanDid you fire on that occasions Al
don't care to answer that question.
Senator vance-You are not required to answer that
question unless you choose.
Senator sheTman-I put the question TO you, did you
fire occasoni Al decline to answer that ques-
me witness declined to whether he struck
Redd, but asserted that he did not shoot At kedd he
refused 70 how many Tunes he shot INTO the crown
Ina reply to Senator Vance the witness said that there
were not half dozen white men In the crowd
ored men all angry. Witness thought 1t was necessary
Tor the crowd OF white people TO hIe. 80, :, -,
NOT name any coored any white man who Tired on
occasion and again 0eclned 10 say whether 1e nc
iOI set his wife and children out of town
safety The fight all over before the whites CAME OUT
In repy 10 senator Vance the witness said that the
WINE. and colOred men standing very near each
other The displayed their pistols Dotwltnstano'
ing which the cOlOred people continued 10 crowd the
r. Terry whitet IL reply 10 inquiries by Sena-
tor LaphIu described The riot Being asked u ne saw
any IL le hands OF c0lofs4 men ne saG nc sw
cOlored man with KNIFE. lie sd" QUE mhite ma
with dOubleDarreed shotgun lie saw several pistols
tine hands OF white me1 but could not tcH WHO h~u
them. lie was LOT ARMED ~ -.
In reply TO Vance, he said he was IN MS lase
Of sne.s Opposite ne OF the riot aud white
man tn ,ed IN the air, mis- hand grasplns
ron hiu' In Inc melee the weapon discharged 1t
seemed 10 HIM that the discharge was accidental.
COLORED MANS ACCOUNT OF THE RIOT.
Rw Glass (colored said he did feel safe in telling
what be knew about the riot.
Senator Lapham-why mott Al live in D1nyiLe and
Lave got to so back there.
The witness said he had heard it said that any negro
who testified o,
Senator Laphau-i have right TO kno" the grounds "i
Lis fear. ,,,t-..- ~ -,
pistol and rushed to the rescue ne cOlored men are
accustomed DO IL found about seyenty-nye co.Jred
men and twenty-five white mea The white men ana
IolSeIeV SsI rs nor Dom s6vi6ing Whv should we
eave Heard Mr. hatcher say: This is wnite u ans
town and Ia damned We don't rule You are all gong
~ get ki led If on don't leave" Then the white
crew pistols the witness named Hatcher, Lee Coyipg
tou. and OIver as men be had seen Win pistols Leo
AVE Tie order to and they aid fire. Then The coOred
men began 10 leave The whites out Of the opera
S.Guow manyl Alt looked like 800 or 400 of
Tas whites he said, went into the hardware store and
lot uiso,s saw twenty-five thirty pistols and bag
ocartIo yes real estate oce where he took refuge
and whJe people came IN and supplied themselves
when ali the negroes lad let the ~iI4ess neSta he
white going about the streets shouting loI We
these four first men shot him. lie heard some OF the
whites sly Kin every Niger we can see: some re-
have run" Thought the riot was preInf dltated.
The whites used to hold meetings the aOry. Witness
heard speakers say 1--WE intend to carry TINS election
ny fair iOu." Heard Henry Barksdae speak TO
tnis ereco
COLORED PEOPLE NOT IN THE HABIT OF CARRYING
ARMS.
Colored people do not generally go armed, while white
people generally do The witness could any
who had threatened who should testify Had heard
threats made several tmes He did not VOTE although
he felt safe in doing alone but didn't think
wOGd amount 10 anything alone, and Il they went
in crowd he feared the whites shoot amolS the1
reply Vance the witness sd he did not 70
ito the crowd OF eolored people, but got the white
Q-Dda you feel scared ting those desperate
WIIte Eieu A-Mel, | saw they were aiming ,thrir
pistols among the nggers and thought that was tle
safest place.
left the crowd OF whites and among
people going toward the opposite side OF the
street three four minutes after the firing began
there were three many whites as blacks
The whites kept coming the blacks going The wit
ness remained among The whites for safety until he
reached jewelry Some one said To him, Run
Oh de back do; dey mOut kill yer" Witness
tie back door saw baTsda1o when he said he would
carry the election By fair means or foul Heard him
IL u be carried "by dc point oO de gun" The wit
thought There were seventy Ye whites present when
tue general hiring began, and $50 cOored people. A
grear many COOreG people in that vicinity have guns
About ~ many III pr portion to their numbers Of
whites.
In 10 Senator Lapham the witness said ne saw
MI SLldDat coming with gun. white men riding
up with saw white running home after their
guus col0red men with any kind The
cOOred sli work the day Of riot Ii was
expected thai 4 attack would he made on Colonel
Sims
TIE FIRST Glow STRUCK By WHITE MAN.
George A. Lea (whej, of the doOrkeepers at the
opera Louise meeting testified that the orders were TO
keep the "nlggers" out II private meeting. He
Of the companions OF Noel whose light with the
eoored man Lawson brought the riot. lie armed
When Lawson met. there a crowd of fifteen or
twenty negroes with him. Noel when he saw the crowd
ssla ne didn't intend 10 srms OF any kind
de would gye him IA good hst-cufnng, and
Sitness ana taylor must keep the crowd on witness
WHIT was the results" A.--"Ths niger got . gen.
We hisshihg, air." The negroes rushsd W. WhereuPon