Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-20

grayely replied that he was getting
| them for hIs mess. Az the sack'ug OF
these stores / do not rscollect hearing the
riot act read. nor seeing any soldiers. When
the mob had anished It's work Mt this point
It started in wild rush for Main street, but
on reaching the corner OF Main aud Four
tenth streets IL divided, one portion going
10 Franklin aud the other part proceeding To
p'under stores on Main street. The leader
OF the mob, Mrs. J,,.s.,, remained with
the section on the latter street. She was
determined woman. 10 say the least Of her.
Il was she who led the attack on Pages
shoe store. I saw her approach one OF the
large shOw-windOws. aud with one or two
blows OF her Ratchet shyer the immense
panes Of glass. and followed by other wo-
men rush pellmell through the opening
into the store.
whist this scene was taking place on
Main street the Public Guard came "double
quickingv down the street. With arms at a
right.shoulder shift. with Lieutenant Cav At
their head. ran along with them until they
reached The cOraer OF Seventeenth, when
they wheeled 10 the left in TIE direction o.
franklin. Here | was placed hOrs On combat
by some one in the crowd. Why ! was
struck I have never been able 20 learn.
However, soon recovering | followed on IN
Frasklin to within a short distance east OF
the Exchange Hotel. Here the Guard formed
in front ~ President Davis. who delivered
an eloquent appeal TO the mob tn di,porse.
whica had that effect. | was within three
feet OF Lieutenant Gay and heard him say 10
the mob, You have seven minutes 10 dis
pefse," and 10 his command. Remember.
men, YOUR guns are loaded with bail car
tridges," but his words seemed 10 have no
effect on that wild, defiant m0b. There we're
a number Of soldiers from camp here aud
thew told the Guard il they fred on those
women they would return TO camp and get
men enough to " clean them OUT Who
gave the order 10 fire. DO not know, hut .
could not have been President Davis, for his
words we're Of most cOnclIiatory character.
j. J. GuLESWATER.
Washington, d. G.
"HoNOR TO WHOM HONOR"
We have had numerous statements In re-
gard TO the bread riot $50 called) in this CITY
during the late civil war. | doubt not all
the pe-sOns testiiying are sincere in their
Impressions, but the question " Who struck
Billy PatIerson?v stin remains undecided
I'm the minds OF some. To my mind it isn't
difficult Of solution. take the simple state
ment OF Georgc /. Herring, Esq, an old re-
,ident, one who for years was in business
here. and who consequently was wei ac-
ouainted with the citizens and whose
place Of business was in the neigh
borhood OF the difficulty and whose
opportunity OF knowing that about which
he tcstties was equal, il not superior, 10
most OF those whose statements have APP
peared. lie says: I saw the whole trans
action; saw tie Governor heard him order
the mob to disperse IN five mnute-, and saw
the crowd di,pcrse. Read, also, Dloto- Bas>
kerville's statement. ne saw Governor
Letcher, but failed 10 see the President. Ills
certain he wasn't pre-eDt when the riot act
was read. nor afterwards, s. there was no
occasion for his presence. But leaving out
al other evidence, It seems 70 nc
Governor Leicher's letter to COlo-
mel French should be conclusive to
every unprtjuGiccd mind. These who
knew the Governor need not be told that he
wasn't the man to make an erroneous state
ment or 10 appropriate 10 himself the credit
due 10 another; that when no says, as he
does IN his letter 10 Colonel French, / gave
them 3. e., the rlOtcrsl ly, MINUTES in which
to di-nerse, ho means that and nothing else.
| have always understood that it was Gov
oruor Letcher who suppressed the riot and
dispersed The mob. In corrOboriii0n allow
me TO say that my wife, not kooWlne any
thing unusual was occurring, called at the
Executive Mansion aud was there
upou the return OF the Governor
after the riot had bceu suppressed
Tpon Mrs.. Letchcr asking him about the A.
far he Il ted IN their presence that he took
out his watch and cave the crowd five min
utcs in which TO leave. otherwise he would
order the troops TO fire, whCreupon Mrs.
Letcher exclaimed: "Ob, Mr. Letchcr, YOU
wouldn't have iireg upon them, wonid yOu?'
And he replied, "Indeed would Aud
the noble old Roman would have been true
10 his word. u. I. LICK.
'rhere never was any order 70 Ere given
DispGtch.