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

fered or attempted to stay the progress OF
the mob, although they passed the FIRST
polcc-stafion. The only attempt was by the
owners OF the stores, which In most ctses
proved unayaIing. JAMES sISroH'
HONEST JOHN LETCHER's DUES.
Having read with much interest your
papers on the bread riot. wish TO add my
testimony, unless you think Won have had
enough. NY recollection OF the occurrence
il very vivid. having been at the time almost
In II. ] resided In Richmond, being q
member OF the Grm o. Tardv Wililams,
W hose store, large warehouse. with open
windows on its frontage and side, was az
the corner OF Cary and Thirteenth streets.
We conducted an auction business, aud had
weekly sales OF such commodities as could
then he bad, and they [the sliesl were ire
qucntly 10 large amounts and we're largely NJ
tended. On the day OF the riot we were to have
bad large sale OF tobacco and salt also OF
other goods brought into the Confederscy by
vessels from foreign portsthai bad success'u-
" run the blockade. We were lustabout COM
meucing TO sell when the stteution OF our
force was called 10 something going on up
Cary street. / went to the door aud found
a crowd OF women aud bows coming
down Twelfth from Main. IL turned
down Cary, and commenced breaking into
the stores ~ Tyler and others, taxing out
everything they could lay their hsnds on. /
lust had time, with the helpoi Mr.. Tsrdy
TO close AMI bar the GOors and windows be-
fore the mob wa. right IN front OF Us. Our
auctioneer Gabriel Johnson, OF Fredericks-
burg), a venerable and tine.l0Oking old gen.
tlemnn with long white hair and beard,
mounted a draw right In front OF the
store and earnestly addressed the mon,
urging them % desist. After closing the
store va, an interested spectator, and OBJ
served from my stand inside OF ore OF the
front windows the progress OF the mon.
just then JOAN Letchcr came on the scene,
accompanied by several gentlemen (Df. John
MAYO. think, was one. lie halted and
addressed the crowd. remember distinctly
how grapdlv be looked. lie was elevated
above all other heads; his nerves as steady
and his department "a cOOi and deter
mined n n such trials were Of daily
Occu Trence. In his remarks he stated
thst any one suffering for breId or anything
else not only bad MS sympathy, but should
be relieved a. for AZ was practicable, but that
he bad no sympathy with mobs, and as long -
he was Governor 81 Virginia they shonld
not be allowed IN Richmond, and he would
use all the power under his control TO
suppress them. He then commanded the
crowd to disperse, stating that be had sent
for Captain Cav, and that lie wilh his COM
mand was almost there. Drawing ont :
watch he gave them exactly i've minutes in
which to leave. II in this time they had not
dispersed he would direct the officers TO fire
into the crowd. still holding the watch be
stood like statue solemn and earnest. For
q moment or so the crowd was still. and then
II commenced breaking up on the edges.
Three minutes passed. It bad thinned out
considerably, and in five minutes the last
orc bad disappeared In different d.
rectons, the grelter part going down
Cary to Fourteenth. These people knew
the man, aud they fully believed that
he would DO what he promised. and so do l.
There nav have been other meetings OF the
mob Il think that quite likely which were
addressed and controlled by Pfesldcnt Da-
Wis but be was not on this scene. This
mob was managed aud well managed by
honest John Lctcher.
JAMES T. WILLIAMS.
Lynchburg, December 81, 1888
PRESIDENT DAVIS AND THE MOB.
had the pleasure recently Of reading in
the columns Of Your widcly.circuiIted
p4per On interesting account 81 the bread
rot OF 1868 aud II was the first m nlion that
| have ever seen OF II in the public press.
saw the whole OF Il, from the sackiDg OF the
stores on Cary street until the mob dis.
pcrsed on Franklin street, ana II you viii
allow me space IN your paper TO briefly
mention what | saw | may be able TO
throw little light on that memorable event.
| desire frsttoslv TINT Mr.. u. ;. DOggetts
statement. published with the numerous
other conflicting statements, agrees with what
came under my observation more nearly than
any Other. I was at the corner OF Cary snd
Seventeenth streets when first heard OF the
riot, and in company With youag Trend
soon ran to the scene. and found myself IN
the midst OF n least 500 women who were
wild with excitement. The sacking OF the
stores was in full play. ! saw but few men
engaged in y undeflnc. | well remember
one old soldier who took an active part IN
sacking Iicks's shoe store. noticed six or
seven pair OF boots on his arm. and ID an
swer to nv inquiry as to what he was
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