Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-26
CAN THIS BE TRUE I?
FREE WHITE MEN TREATED LIKE
CONNECTS IN VIRGINIA.
svtndlcd and Forced to Work Under Arm
cd Gusrds--Reports of Men Who
Made Good Their Escape.
roorrc.popdonc. o, the Richmond pi,ps,cn.l

rcorrespondcnce Of the Richmond Dispstcnl
PsrrRsBuRe. Va, August %, 1890.
Three hungry, foot-sore. and weary
looking men entered the station-house last
night and asked for food and lodging.
They gave their names as August OFT. John
Schmid. and George Burkhardt; said they
had walked all the way from Southwest
virginia. and were endeayoring to get
back 20 New York. which city they left on
the 4th of August They told story Oh
hardship which bore the evidences OF
truth. and which elected much sympathy
from those who heard Il. OFT Is young
man OF good appearance very IL
tollicent and acted as spokesman Oh the
party. He said that ne ""u ns
Companions were engaged by man
named Davis. at labor agency corner OF
BATTERY place and Greenwich street. IN
New York. TO work on railroad IRON
Eagle Rock 10 New Castle, and that they
signed az agreement TO work at Sl:i5 per
dav. free transportation TO be furnished 10
the place az destination. They left New
NOM ON the 4th Of August and arrived at
their destination on the eth, where they
were shown e contract alleged 20 have
been signed by them to work for 81, % per
day. ~ cents per day TO be deducted until
the amount OF transportation was paiu
They were given tickets on the comihls-
sarv, which were punched as they pur-
chased their food.
WORKING USDER GUARDS.
Thcv loft work afer their first days eX-
perience. but were pursued bv armed men
md taken back TO camp under guard,
Iboy worked four DAYS longer under Guard,
sleeping at night IN a small mouse WIN
dried grass for a bed. On SUNDAY the lIth,
under pretence Of going 10 SUNDAY schooi'
they tnade their escape. and have ever
since been on the tramp. avoiding cities
and foSnsu until they reached Petersburg tor
fear of capture. They said that on Thurs
day the 13th fifty negroes deserted IN
bodv. and ON the following Saturday
another body Of thirty-hve men lett. not
bsinC allie 10 stand the work and the dis
cinline to which they were subjected. ne
n6ove is simply n substance of the state
lnsnt made by ont. They We're gwen iocd
aud lodging and this morning alter break
fast they left town on their tramp for New
York.
TOBACCO COMPANY ORGANIZED.
The Merchants Tobacco Company of Pc
tersburc was organized eTeto-ulght. Inc
meeting was held IN the Tobacco Exchange.
WAS largely attended, and great interest
was manifested Bylaws We're adopted
which vest the management OF the COM
pany in n board Of seven directors. rms
board elects a president and vice-presideht'
apeneral manager. secretary and treasurer,
Eld has chargeof the handling ana selling
OF the cOmpany's tobacco.
Spulication will at once he made 10
INDIE Bernard, OF the Hastings Court. for
q charter of incorporation Tor the COM
ppny with capital stock OF not less IMAM
3 1000 nor more than SlOQOO0 70 De Oh
videl into shares of ~2j each. The amount
NJ real estate 10 be held by the company -
moi 10 exceed $4,000. and the principal
office shall be in Petersburg. The chief
object or purpose OF the company
j. the purchase. handling, and sale Of
leaf tobacco The result Of the oIeanlZa-
ton Will toe TO revive ana enlarge ine To-
iacco trade Of Petersburg by mixing
market for the staple. encouraging the
raising of the weed, and increasing the
profits of our lands. The finest tobacco
lands IN the world are in this section, ana
they embrace the counties lying east ana
south OF Petersburg, where but little TO-
bacco has ever been raised
OFFICERS ELECTED.
The solicitors 10 the capital stock or the
company are meeting with the most graft
Alta meeting tonight of the Merchants
Tobacco Company the following gentle
men were elected directors: August
Wright. j. +. -. Allen, A. Rosenstock, +.
II. Beckwlth. and Robert Harrison. mo-
ton was adopted increasing the capital
stock TO 500. 900. The bylaws were read
and adopted.
The Petersburg Artillery tonight unani-
mOuslv elected Captain John ITush"im
captain and James Robinson first heuten-
ant to Gil vacancies which have existed IN
that company.
DID or CONSUMPTION.
Mr.. Thomas W. Belchor. a popular and
weil-known young citizen, died on Satu--
day nigh: at the residence OF Mr.. Frank 4.
Owen. lie was the victim Of COnsump-
tion. as were an the members OF his family
before him. He was the last one LETT, ana
the last two winters he had spent IN lori
ma with the hope of benefit. hc was down
town SATURDAY.. but at night was attacked
with n helnOrrhage and died almost lmine-
diately. His funeral was attended THIS
afternoon by the Petersburg Grays and
Knights Of Pythias.
Mr.. John Seymour. an elderly citizen OF
Fifth Ward. who was Frustrated by an at
tack Of paralysis while at work few days
ago. died yesterday.
The Methodist protracted-meeting az
Malono's ArbOr, in blnwlddle county,
closed Yesterday with about seventy-hye
conversions.
Rev. George G. Vanderslice, who has been
assisting in prOtracted meetings IN Mathews
county for two weeks and subsequently
for several DAYS in Dinwiddie, has returned
home and occupied his pulpit yesterday.
plsORDERLY MANCHESTER yLGRoEs.
-Four negroes from Manchester. who
camo here on the excursion tram from
Richmond this morning, were arrested nj
the depot on complaint of the conductor OF
the train on the charge of dlsorderiy con-
duet and fighting during the trip. One OF
the parties. "a boy, said that he hat no
father or mother and asked that he might
be whipped and turned loose. HIS re-
Quest was granted. Anotaer of the party
was released upon proper representation,
but the Others are held for the action OF
the Mayor.
DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE MEEIING.
The meeting OF the Democratic Commit
tee for the Fourth congressional district viii
be held in this city tomorrow az noon 10
decide as 20 the time and place for holding
the convention 10 nominate a candidate
Tor Congress. Ii ~ expected that every
member Of the committee will be present,
and that arrangements will be made for an
active and aggressive campaign.
OPPOSED TO LASGsroN.
The impression grows stronger each day
that the Republican District Committee
will take no action tor some time 10 come
looking To the calling OF "a convention.
IangstOn has already been virtually nonl-
mated by the negroes, and no convention
that does not formally endorse his nOmina-
ton will be acceptable TO him or his
friends. The white Republicans and u
great many Of the colored ones do not an
prove of Langston's independent candi-
dacy and will not support him.
DIsCHABGED.
The seven-year-old negro boy. William
Williams, charged with the larceny of SO
from the store of Jacob Bailey, was this
morning discharged from custody 10y the
acting Mayor on account of has youth. The
boy had confessed the crime and impll-
Gated bis aged grandmother. but the latter
denied all knowledge Of the matter and she
was also discharged upon the advi of the
Commonwealth Attorney. The boys re-
lease was granted upon condition of his re-
ceiying good whipping by his lawful
guardian.
TRIVIAL oFFTSCTs.