Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-06-20
RACE RIOT.

a htEeet ulbtufD6noa arose on THURS
day evening on Monroe street be-
tween Third and Fourth resulting within
I've minutes in the shooting Of three
white boys named Walter Wright, Joseph
Lawler and Thomas Maloney by certain
members of the Harmony Fife and Drum
Corps, oolored, who were paradinQ the
street at that time with their musical in
struments and transparency. Wright
died few minutes after midnight from
che effect Of the shot.
A GAzKrrE reporter investigated the
circumstances of the ARRAY within few
minutes of its occurrence.
The general story of what happened, as
stated by numerous eye.wltnesses, is rs
follows Some $50 or 200 people, mostly
whites, were gathered at the open lot at
the southwest corner Of Fourth and Mon
roe streets, attracted by q "merry-go-
round" established in a large tent at
that place. The noise of band was
heard coming from the direction of Front
street. At point between Third aud
Fourth the music suddenly stopped.
Some Of the crowd moved in that
direction. It was only half @
block from the tent. Several of
the spectators returned. They saw
the musicians pushing rudely among the
bystanders on the pavement. The col
bred men were talking roughly and act
ng in o very provoking manner. Several
children were pushed and thrown rudely
side on to the street. At that time there
was no thought of anything serious hap
,ening. 1t was believed that the oolored
men were drunk and simply acting as
such men do. There is no doubt,
however, that the rude pluneinQ
through the crowd of white people,
as done by the colored musicians, was
the first definite cause Of the disturbance.
As the negroes rushed along in their de-
faint manner mutterings OF vengeance
were heard from the citizens but nothing
whatever came Of it. As the negroes
reached point opposite the merry GO
round there was some noisy alteration
between some colored women. Imme
diately following the whole band num-
bering l5 or 20 men marched across the
street. They were not followed by the
crowd. A half a-dozen or 80 boys,
most Of them children ranging
from 8 to 10 years followed in
the wake Of the fife and drum CORPS,
Most Of the negroes had disappeared up
Monroe street when two pistol shots were
heard. One of the bsndsmen was seen
standing, his arm extended, and the
smoke floating from a pistol which he
held directed towards the crowd dag
onally across Fouth street from his posi-.
tion- All this was easily discernible as
the man was only few feet from the
ma laun ua innuoadiataIx, wa., n.xa., -
Peregoy's saloon on the opposite corner
and, rushing up to the counter, stretched
across it shouting;
81 want your pistol to shoot those
d.
II haven't got pistol Mr.. Peregoy,
who was behind the bar, replied.
Meanwhile there was O great commo-
ton out Of doors. A child named Thomas
M"loney, aged - years, was being borne
bleeding in his fathers arms to his home
st No. 226 Cherry street. The child had
q bit of white lath in one hand, and was
heard TO cry: "Pm shot. Take it out, +"
probably meaning the bullet, which had
entered his left shoulder, passing entirely
inc rfim ut le8st4 lrrHg .Es
tuO Ohdb hulJuk kuC CHOMu anu
some OF them Immediately set of in pur-
suit of the colored fugitives. Officer
Meredith had heard the shooting, aud
also joined in the pursuit of the man
who had escaped from Peregoy'a saloon
and was now running for his life up
Monroe street. Reaching Carpenter
street, short side street half way up the
block, he lodged mp it to Adams climb.
ing tho hill towards the brewery with the
officer close at his heels. II was hard race
and both fugitive and officer were pretty
well blown, when Just past the brewery
MIR. Meredith drew his pistol. II missed
fire, however, when the oolored man sud
denly wheeled around, and, facing the
officer, who was still some 20 feet from
him, pat his hand to his hip pocket. HI
did nothing, however, but turning agar
resumed his flight up the Jackson street
hill. There he was suddenly lost sigh
Of and the officer might have missed Iii
prisoner in the darkness, when he sud
denly heard noise in nelghborinG
vestibule. Stepping up, the officer dis
covered his prisoner standing with az
assumed nonchalance in the hallway jus
rs II he were there on business. But hi
dress and hard breathing betrayed him
Besides, the inmates of the house, Wbicl
is the residence OF Isaac T. Pyle, No. 50.
Jackson street, state that the man mad,
vigorous efforts to burst the inner nal
door open. He was Immediately ARRESTED
and taken to police station.
Meanwhile the pursuit was continue
up Monroe street, and other oficers hat
joined in the chase. Near Fifth aut
Monroe streets another boy, name;
Joseph Lawler, was found lying on til,
pavement unconscious. He was picket
up and discovered to be bleeding from
bullet wound In his left shoulder. III
was carried to his home, at No. 507 Madi
son street.
AS the men were picking up younl
Lawler other shots were tirsd. A witness
OF the incident who lives near the corne
of Sixth aud Monroe. where the mex
victim, Walter Wright, was shot, CAV
the reporter the following statement 2
minutes after ite occurrence: He hear
the firing, and walking to the front var
law by the light of tue gas lang Ecros
Nxthstreet a number Of colored tnsn rur
ming by. They were followed by sma
crowd. just IS they passed updernBat
Aho lhihp tuuu Will u hbttlE-Qfuf
stopped, faced around and fired twice 6
one Of his purgueEs, "who was clos
enough to his sssailant to be knceke
down with his feet" Tho boy droppa
and was unconscious until his dent
Friday morning. Some OF the ban
ran up Sixth street, others continued
some three or four OF them aior
Monroe. In fact they dispersed at tn
point In every direction. AS the three
four who ran ahead OF the mutdsrt
passed the house Of the gentleman d
scribing the incident he heard them ca
ing back to their companion who ha
stopped to fire, ON them, shoot theu
d--n them, shoot them" The men the
all continued their flight along Nome
street and disappeared In the darkness.
Wright was picked up and carried
DIR. Ohrtmelps drug store, ct Sixth III