Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-14
LOGIC OF THE FIGHT'
his Aspcce Of the chahoorElIysOn
Contest Discussed.
DEArI or OFFICER BUSCH.
~Emially Murdered While in the Discharge
CT Ills Dniy,'
SPICY LETTERS RECALL e D.
what Walker wrotc-Canby Shot for
Trsachory-Thriiiing rncidcnts Of
Those Exciting Times
SPICY LETTERS RECALLED.
IL N, Editor Of The Dispatch.

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
1t may be well at the outset OF THU
second chapter 10 mako a brief state
mont Of what might be termed
THE LOGIC or TIfE STRUGGLE.
The proverb. Possession is nine
points OF tho law. " is often used 10 point
sheer against the legal system but II
is in the main n pointless sheer. In such
n contest, G. D., as this for "the Rich
mond mayoralty." control OF the city
and the city's property and the city
revenues involved both the moral and
financial elements Of fighting title. IL
not only supplied "the sinews OF war,
but was ut once plea for and evidence
of popular acquiescence and support
Men do and TO q great extent men should
bow to and support "the powers that
be"-i. e., that be IN possession. Una
hoon knew this, and therefore endeavored
10 hold on Candy knew it. and was at
the time reported to have said, as 1t was
o,fdent ho felt that it was all important
10 Chahoon to hold on T; Mayor Ellyson
knew il. and therefore, in spite OF Gene
raj Canbys interference, he continued to
push and crowd Chahoonout.
BRooK-AvESUE STATION.
II was not, however, deemed prudent
20 attack the Ihird.police station on
Brook avenue. Immediately after, if
not before, the capture OF the Second
the Third was put in a very different and
really formidable state of defence. 1t
was heavily barricaded, sentinels armed
with muskets were always on the watch,
and the building itself was, it is said,
loop-holed for musketry. Besides Cha
boon's support was, Of course, prlnci-
pally among the negroes, and this sta
lion was hard upon what was even then
becoming their special quarter OF the
city.
The Sabbath had been quiet. but
about dark it was reported that crowd
OF these people had gathered about the
corner of Broad and Jefferson streets
and we're becoming noisy and excited.
On the day before, Mayor Ellyson had
laid before the Council and that body
had Immediately passed an ordinance
touching 1.-the public peace" which
made the congregating of twenty or
more persons upon the streets an unlaw-
full assembly, and Major Poe, Captain
Tyler, and Captain Epps, with q strong
force Of special police, were sent to dis
perse the negroes. Police Detective
William +. Knox and Captain Dabney,
of the Purcell Battery, were also with
the force, which separated into two
parties as they approached their destina-
ton. The party with which Knox hap
pened TO be ran Unexpectedly upon a
squad of negroes, one OF whom levelled
his musket and fired, but as he did 30
Knox, who was nearest to him, quick as
thought struck the muzzle up, so that
the shot did not do the damage that was
intended, but brave Bill Knox had the
end OF ono finger shot off and another
wounded.
DEATH or spECIAL-rOIICEMAN BUSCH.
Whether or not this shot killed Spe-
eial-Polceman Richard +. Busch is a
matter OF dispute. There were other
shots fired in the D1eiee, and the poor
fellow was found dead at some distance
from the spot where this one was fired
indeed, over on the south side of Broad
street. The negroes retreated aud dis
persed and the police returned to the
City Hall. Mayor ElIyson had cent for
me, and gathering hurriedly what men
could of my battalion / reached his of
fee before the forces returned. j dis
tinctly remember that Knox sat down
and placing his elbow on table held
his hand up firmly while DIR. Brock
clipped away splintered bone and torn
tendon. The brave fellow turned very
pale and the perspiration stood on his
brow, but he moved not a muscle and
uttered not a sound.
We remained at the City Hall, ac-
cording to my present recollection, the
night through, detained there by wild
rumors of further trouble. 1t was
sample "war Sunday" familiar enough
at the time, but from the long success
zion Of quiet Christian Sahbaths since,
looking back upon the exciting scenes Of
that evening and night, it surprised me
beyond measure to discover from con.
temporanoous records that they I'M
doubtedly occurred on Sunday. Brutal
" murdered while in the discharge OF
his duty"
The death of Busch yet further in
tensified tho excitement and cast a
gloom over the entire city. The Conn
Gil adopted special resolutions introduced
by Councilman John NJ. Higgins, of
Jefferson Ward, which spoke of him as
"brutally murdered while in the dis
charge Of his duty" and the popular
.,,a,r - Gana,a1 fsaubvio rosnOnoih,l,tv
for the prolongstion of these disturb
ances was expressed in these words;
'Resolued, That the Council of Richmond
In common with its law-abiding citizens
deeply deplore the untimely death Of Rich
ard o. Busch. whose life was sacrifice to
the fragrant lawlessness which, under pro-
lection Of military force, has so seriously
menaced the peace of tho city aud defied
the Laws of the Commonwealth for several
days past.n
.fhe Council also appropriated money
for the expenses of his funeral, which
they attended in body, and 10 his
widow something beyond the mere pay
due her husband. On the day he was
buried, which was Tuesday tho 22d, it
being anticipated that almost the entire
body OF police would be in the process
biOu IL WaN IuuboitN thht RAhAoou NOUiU
make an effort to capture the City Hall.
and perhaps the Second police-station
also, aud my battalion was on duty in
full force, 10 protect the property OF
the city.
THE CITY CoCNcnS-oID AND NEW.
The old Council did not struggle to
retain their position as Chahoon did 10
retain his. Their efforts in this direc.
ton were confined to sending 10 the
members and perhaps publishing in the
STATE Journal OF April 18th the follow
ing notice: "Tho regular monthly
meeting Of the City Council will be held
OF the Council chamber at tho hour OF 4
o'clock +. NJ, signed Horace l.. Kent,
president The few members who re-
sponded TO the notice, not being able to
get into the chamber, met in the Ser
geants Office. and finding no quorum
present adjourned. There might have
been more trouble in this connection had
1t not been that several members of the
old body and very vigorous men fhev