Daily Republican., 1884-02-15
THIRD EDITION
THE DARylLLE RIOT.


what Eye.WilHSsses Of the M0ssa.
ere have tO say -CO,0red Men Whs
We're Forced to Flee 20 save their
Lives.
Tie Investigation of the Danville
election riots was commenced at Wash
ington yesterday morning.
Congressman Cahill and John g. Use,
of Virginia, were present. Walter 5.
Wirhers, colOred, who at the time OF the
riot, was q Policeman in Danville, was
the first witness. He described his ex'
perience Oh the Sd of November. A
white man ana a colored man were
fighting, and a crowd assembled. The
whites were ranged on a line along the
curb, and the colored men were in the
street. The white men had pistols in
their hands. Heard white men say
that the colored men could get enough
if they wanted it, and if they didn't
leave, some of them would get hurt.
Some of the colored men objected to
leaving. Witness stepped to one side
and upon the sidewalk just before the
firing began. The first firing was in
the air. The colored men began to run,
after which the whites aimed At them
whenever they could see them. None
of the colored men, 80 far as the witness
knew, had pistols. One man was shot
dead and several were wounded. In
consequence of the riot the colored peo.
pie agreed among themselves not to
vote at the election three days after
wards fearing violence
Jack Reed, colored, was called to the
witness chair.
About 2 O'Clock he was told there
was fighting, and went toward the
spot. He left hastily, as did the other
colored people, when the firing began
Returning to see the result, he was met
by Colonel Cahill, who asked him
where he was going. Colonel Cahill
said +: " This is just what have been
telling you would happen =" Ned Hat
cher came along with another man and
asked Cahill who witness WAS.
Being informed, Hatcher said :" Let
mo blow his d--d brains out. Colo.
mel Cahill said No, let the d--d
scoundrel leave here" Hatcher struck
witness, and then, as witness left, they
began firing ut him. Witness saw his
white neighbo.s going into Danville
that night and returning with guns
which they had procured in Danville.
Saw them going to the polls on election
day with the same guns. Colored peo-
pie were thereby intimidated and con-
cluded not to 80 to the polls.
L. l.. 1vey, colored, a huckster in the
Danville market, was called. He saw
the people running and thought there
was . fire. Went TO the corner to ascer.
tain, and saw the white men along the
curb with their pistols aimed. Feared
somebody might shoot him and went
back to his place Of business. Then
firing began, and colored men ran. One
was shot dead across the street. Jack
Redd (the preceding witness) came
along and asked the colored men
"What you all runpin' for ? The white
people is only burniu' powder" They
replied: What's de neanin' of da,
dead man ober dar # dey don't mean
harm ?" Witness described the MAJ.
treatment of ack Reed by Hatcher and
others, and threats which Were made &c
himself on the same day by white
people. Witness did not vote because
Of the fear inspired by the riot.
THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.
A. B. Taylor (whre), a ,obacconis1
OF DanylIle, took the witness chair and
described the thrashiug of the negro
Samson BY Nail, which began the
riot.
DR.. D. B. Temple of Danvills, said
1t WAS notorious fac that the negroes
were armed, ana they (rhe whltee
had taken measures for their own pre-
seryauon. VII L witness tired his pi.-
tol, he fired right into the crowd. He
did not know whom be hit Did not
nre after the crowd began TO run and
tried to prevent others from firing.
Witness had taken part in the discus
sion which preceded this not.
Like every other citizen, he said, be
wanted to get rid OF the terrible. mis-.
erable Government they had. Witness
had often said he would leave the coun-
try If that Government were not over.
turned. Witness said he had not
known Of a collision bet Heeu whites
and negroes III his country since the war
that some mean white man was not re.
sponsible for, and that. they invari.
ally left their negro dupes TO bear the
brunt of any trouble that followed.
a. H. Blunt, Of DauvilIe, was next
Called. He was in the Opera House
meeting and heard there was fighting
on the street. He went out, bought a
pistol and went toward the scene Of the
disturbance. The crowd OF escaping z
negroes met him, ran against him and
knocked him toyyu Witness uep-
with the purpose Of shooting if his
frIiowmen were being shot down" but
be did not fire himself.