Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-18
PRETTY PICNIC PASTIME.

hoW me hehrtco negro Anluscs nHnsell on
Society Cccasions-severaI Men Seriously
Hurt.
This is the season for pic-nics, and
the country colored man who lives near
the city catches the inspiration from
town society, and occasionally under
takes to seek that sOlace in the water
melon festival and loud-sounding horn
that his more pretentious neighbors of
the city seem to enjoy.
Out in llenrico county, near Gaines's
Mill, there is a society of colored peo-
pie known as the "Sons and Daughters
Of Moab" This society found few
days ago that there was sum of mo-
ney in the treasury sufficient to hire an
amateur band Of music, buy several
gallons of kill-me-quick whiskey, and
pay rent for picnic ground. Accord
ingly it was agreed to celebrate the an
niyersary Of the organization by in
yiting the neighbors to come out to Mr..
Niller's farm on the Ninc-Mile road.
about four miles from the city, and
have an old-time "swing-round pic
nic."
"Noration," said one of the society,
"was gin out dat we was to bring
our vittIes and sich like, an | never
thought dey was gwine be any sturb.
ment." Accordingly yesterday morn
ing three or four hundred negroes met
at the point named, and things went on
smoothly until 3 o'clock in the after
noon. At this time a saddle-colored
fellow, big-limbed and bad-tempered,
came up and wanted the band to stop
playing "Wait Till the Clouds Roll
By, Jennie" and put on in its place
the more lively air Of
Charley is a handsome boy,
Charley is n dandy,
Charley he can wheel and turn
And kiss his love so handy"
Perfectly Indifferent to the modest
demands Of the big negro, the band
continued the subdued notes Of the
song first mentioned but the continu-
ance did not last long. The big negro
drew his razor, advanced upon the
band, and threatened to "cut them
up.n Then the row commenced. The
Daughters as we'll as the Sons Of Moab
took hand either in the fight, in An
effort to prevent it, or in loud screams.
The scene was one Of the widest con-
fusion, and the crowd became mob.
The air was thick with oaths, sticks,
and stones, and rszors flashed right and
left.
One negro, named Albert Robertson,
received an ugly cash from razor, and
fell. The clothes were torn frsm the per-
son, and the claret flowed profusely, but
most of the wounds were in the tough
est part Of negro's person, his head,
and did no serious injury. One dis
Greet darky, seeing no chance to quell
the Sons Of Moab, ran for a justice Of
the peace, and returned with Squire
Singleton. The magistrate commanded
the peace and summoned posse to
aid him in his efforts.
A colored man, whose name could
not be obtained, was instrumental in
aiding Mr. Singleton, and pretty soon
Dennis Harris, one Of the rioters, Jenny
Robinson and William johnson, aids
to Dennis, were in cart in charge Of
the colorsd constable, who started to
drive to the courthouse here
in Richmond. Frank Anthony,
big negro, tried to rescue Har.
ris, and was repeatedly warned
to desist by the colored constable.
Anthony mounted the cart and was pro-
ceeding to cut the thongs that bound
Harris. "Git down dar, niger if you
doan Ill blow ball in you," said the
constable. Anthony refused to "git
down." and the next inmate the con-
stable kept his word and "blowed the
ball" in him sure enough. The ball
entered the side and made painful
wound, and perhaps fatal one.
The constable brought his prisoners
safely to Jail, driving up Main street
with his big pistol in his hand.
when | promise de white folks |
gwine do sumpen, gwine do it, you
hear me." said he, as he reported to
Sheriff Southward.
Harris was in an almost insensible
condition, and had several bad cuts
about the head.
Sheriff Southwark and Deputy-Sheriff
Narrows went down at once 10 the scene
Of the riot, and reached it just in time
to prevent a second outbreak. The Off
GERS dispersed the mob and arrested
two Of the ringleaders, whom they
brought to town and lodged in Jail.
The sheriff said frsm the quantity Of
torn clothes and blood scattered about
that it WAS apparent that the picnic
people had had regular monkey-snd-
narrot time of it.