Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-19
A NEGRO OUTRAGE.
DRUNKEN CoLoReD exCURSIONlSTS
FIRE ON WHITE PEOPLE.
They Create Pandcmonium on % steahier
and Wherever They Go-sun-
day Desecratiou.
Especial telegram to the Dispatch. J

OSAEcocK, Va, August 1S.-About four
hundred colored excursionists from Balti-
more arrived here yesterday morning on
the steamer Helen, Captain Smith, OF the
Eastern Shore Line, to attend the colored
Methodist camp-meeting now going on AZ
Savageville, two miles south of Onancock.
The steamer was chartered for the occa-
sion by committee Of colored men, at the
head Of which YVES Philip Finney, formerly
Of Accomac.
FIRY-wArFB FLOWED FREELY.
On their way down the bay Saturday
night many OF the excursionlsts were I'M
der the influence of liquor and made things
lively on board the steamer. a oar-room
was in operation on the boat and nquor
flowed freely among the excurslonlsts'
THE LEADER ATTACKED.
Just before they reached Crisfield some
OF the machinery about the steamer broke
and several of the drunken and Infatuated
negroes laid the blame Of the accident on
Philip Finney and swore they would throw
him into the bay. but Flnney escaped from
them and took refuge in the pilot-house.
On arriving at the camp-grounds some
OF them became involved IN several rows,
freely used. and three or four were cut
and painfully bruised.
WRITE PEOPLE on THE WHARF.
Most Of the excursiOnists returned TO
Onancock in the afternoon to take the
steamer back TO Baltimore. There were
about fifteen or twenty white persons at
the wharf. About the time the steamer
was TO leave drunken negro attempted
10 pull a white boy off one of the piles on
the wharf Several white men went TO the
assistance Of the boy, and the negro was
taken in hand by his friends and carried
on board the steamer.
THE WHITES ATTACKED.
At this some of the negroes on the upper
deck began 10 curse and abuse the white
men in an outrageous manner. A young
white man struck at one OF the negroes on
the boat with n cane, whereupon the ne,
groes began 10 throw canes, chairs, ana
other missiles mt the white men on the
wharf, and several of the negroes drew pls-
tolls and began TO fire at the white people,
among whom were many small children.
TIE WHITES USARMED.
The white men were unarmed and I'M
prepared for difficulty, but many OF them
seized brick-bats and let them fly at the
negroes. knocking some down and smash
ing several windows on the upper deck.
The Town Sergeant, who was on the wharf,
did what he could to stop the difficulty,
but the negroes grew more and more NO
lent and kept up a steady fire on the
white men, who were forced 10 find shelter
behind piles of plank and bricks on the
wharf.
THE LISEs THROWN OFF.
Captain Smith ordered the lines thrown
off and had the steamer put ont from the
wharf as soon As possible The negroes
kept up their cursng and shooting till the
steamer was more than hundred yards
from the wharf.
INTENSE EXCITEMENT.
When the affair became known in the
town the most intense excitement pre-
vailed and 1t was very fortunate for the
negroes that the steamer left the wharf be.
fore the people Of the town were informed
Of II.
Mayor Taylor. of Onancock. telegraphed
10 the Chief Of Police Of Baltimore TO ar
| rest the rngleaders If the difficulty on the
arrival OF the steamer III Baltimore this
| morning.
A SHARPLY SIT.
Most of the excursionists were shabby
and ill-mannered. and cursed Captain
Smith aud insulted other officers on tn,
boat. The boat left here in such hurry
that more than one hundred Of the excur
sionlsts were left behind.