The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-15
DANvILLEs MASSACRE.

| The Congressional Investigation Begun.
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.-The investigation
Of the Danville election riots was begun here
this morning. Walter s. Withers, colored,
who, at the time of the riot of the Sd of No
vember, was policeman in Danville, was the
| first witness. A white and colored man were
lighting, and crowd assembled. Witness ar
rived after the combatants were separated, but
the crowd remained. The whites were ranged
on line along the curb, and the coored men
were in the street, The white men had pis-
tolls in their hands. Witness advised the col
ored men to leave; heard the white men say
that they (the colored men) 'could get enough
II they wanted it, and if they didn't leave
some OF them would get hurt. Some of the
colored men objected to leaving, saying that
the whites were trying to override them Wit
ness stepped to one side, aud upon the side
walk Just before the firing began. The first
hriog was in the air. The colored people be-
gan to run, after which the whites aimed at
them whenever they could see them. Witness
did not make any arrests, being afraid to do so.
The loca officials we're readjusters militia
ry company was called out about an hour after
| the riot. Some of the white rioters were on
guard that evening. None of the colored men,
| so far as Witness knew, had pistols Oae man
| was shot dead and several we're wounded. In
consequences of the riot, the coored people
! agreed among themselves not TO vote at the
election three days afterward, fearing violence
In reply to Senator Vance, witness said that
his affidavit made before the committee of for
ty a. DaBvlhe, was incorrect, in 50 far as it
aveired that the coiored men had used fire.
arms. Witness had signed the sffdsvit, but
did not write it. 1t had been read over to
him, but it seemed that something had been
added thereafter. The colored men had been
assured by leading white of Danviile, af-
ter the riot, that they would not be disturbed
at the polls but still they feared to vote.
Jack Redd, coored, testified that he was
chairman of the Republican committee, and
lived three miles north of Danviiie. NV. 81,
about o'clock, he WAS told that there was
fighting, and went towarfs the spot. Lett
hastily, as did the other colnred people, when
the firing began. Afterwards, returning to see
the result, he was met by Col. Ceb IA, who
asked where he was goiug. Col Cabell said:
This is Just what | have been telling you
would happen" Nsd Hatcher came along
with another man, aud asked Cabell tho he
(sitDess) was, and, on being informed, Halch-
er said, 'sLet me blow his id biains out"
Cabeli said mo, let the id scoundrel leave
here.o Hatcher struck witness, and then, as
witness LETT, they began firing at him. Wiz
ness saw his white neighbors going int Dam
vile that night, and returning with guns,
which they procured in DAnviile: saw them
going to the polls on electif n day with the
same guns. The coloreds people we're intim-
dated and concluded not to go to the polls.
l. l.. Ivey, colored, hucksler in the Dsn-
vile market, was called. He saw the people
returning aud thought there was fire. Went
to the corner TO ascertain, and saw white men
along the curb, with pistols aimed. Feared
that somebody might shoot him, and he went
back to his place OF business. Then the firing
began, and the eolored mon ran. Que was
shot dead across the street. Jack Redd, the
preceding witness, came along, aud he asked
the colored men, "What are you all running
fxr0t ~.
der" They replied, whats de meabin' 90
dat dead ober dar if dey don't mean harm"
Witness described the ma-treatment of Jack
Rejd by Hatcher aud Others, aud the threats
which were made to himself on the same day
by white people. Witness did not vote be-
cause of fear inspired by the riot.