Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-12-27
TUnsDAY,s pANDHmoNIn,t.
christmas Days Disgracofui Record
OF Him mud frri.,.a

OF Riot and Crime.
between and 8 O'Clock Tuesday, AZ.
ternoon Sixth street from King to Walnut,
Win the intersecting streets, was sseth,
iaR mass OF humanity numbering prob.
ably over 5000 people. They were al.
tsaeted by the quickly spreading rumors
OF riot between the white aud oolored
residents at Fifth and Walnut streets
dsnerai alarm was increased upon the
discovery that the fire alarm struck M
Fifth and French streets at the time "a.
isrreo TO was intended as call for add
tlonal police help. Meanwhile the oentfo
OF the rioting, which had commenced be.
tween 9 drunken white man and two or
three colored men In q similar condition,
moved up Walnut to Sixth street. where
the nehting eliminated. Brickbeta wore
hying IN the air, two or three pistol shots
we're heard, jangling masses OF men
iouRnt, squlrrned and yelled like demons,
windows were smashed, and numbers of
men originally only lookers.on were
drawn into the stfrsy by the excitement
OF the moment.
The police whose efforts were mainly
In the direction Of quoting the excited
people were hustled around until it bs.
came necessary TO make two or three ar.
rests. But the riot was quickly develop.
'ng into the phase Of q battle between the
white and colored races. The officers had
al they could do to disentanRle several
ooloied men from the hands Of the in.
fuslated whites. From the sidewalk even
mutterings of vengeance were heard; the
police redoubled their efforts and were
fortunate enough to resoue two colored
insn who at one moment appeared in
danger Of their lives. Sergeant Tucker
and other ofiicats who had the eolored
men 10 charge were threatened with per-
sonal vengeance by the mob that followed
them II they did not give their prisoners
np. The police, however, safely escorted
their charges to the station.
Various reasons were attributed as the
cause OF the riot, but no doubt too much
whisky was Its initiation, and race
jealousy the cause which quickly de.
Veloped it into what was suddenly q com.
prehensive riot existing simultaneously
IN three different points Of Sixth and
walnut streets. Mayor Harrington was
telephoned for and on arriving at the pc.
lioe station found that Chief Swipueti
who had Just returned from the scene OF
the riot, hEd made full arrange.
ments for Its being quelled. some
dozen men had been arrested. The
cAsualtien Of the emeuts did not comprise
more than one man, Charles Collins, q
morocco dresser, being shot in the foot
Ond seven or eight men with broken
beads and cut hands. Collins was taken
to DR.. Tomlinson's drugstore, Fifth and
Walnut streets, where he was attended
by Drs. Stout and Lippinoott. The bulle,
was not extracted Of che time. After re
ceiying what temporary attention wal
necessary the patient was driven to hi
home.
About noon another fight occurred q
Fourth and shipley streets. II wal
another drunken trouble between white
aud blacks. The windows Of SOUR,
Monaghan's Office were broken. ~
About O'Clock in the afternoon 10
Of drunken negroes became engaged in
fight at Fourth and SCOTT streets and TO
several minutes bricks and stones flew
around like hailstones to the great detri
ment OF the adjacent houses. Some O.
the combatants were severely cut an,
bruised, but none were seriously injured
II is said that a negro named Yves Massey
for whom warrant was issued some tim
AGO for asRnulting Councilman Jane
Mcbride at the polls on election day, wa
one OF the chief instigators Of the row.