The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-07-30

Slightly In Error.

Line w llIuluStOu messenger VI i"'e
Friday gives an account ola difficulty
between Lieut.. J. T. Moss, of the
Vance Guards, and a negro named
Abram Larkins, a gate keeper for the
Sea Coast railroad at Ocean View. 1t
seems that when the train rolled up
a big crowd got Off and made rush
for the gate. The negro states that
he was shutting the gate when about
| a dozen soldiers rushed past him. He
slammed the gate shut and struck Lieut..
Moss in the face with it or came very near
it, whereat the soldier struck him after
few words were passed. Larkins
struck back and then a rough and
tumble fight ensued. He got away
and the soldier followed him up with
a board and he also picked up one
| and in warding off Of blow broke his
adversary's board in two. This is the
account as published by the Messenger.
The news Of the fight, greatly exag-
gurated, was soon learned at camp
and there was great excitement and
Indignation among few of the men,
bembers of the State Guard. It was
stated that the negro had knocked
Lieut.. Moss in the head with piece of
wood and had seriously injured him.
AT this a spirit Of resentment was
aroused and many Of the soldiers went
to the depot and boarded the first train
to Ocean View. The Messenger says
Meanwhile Gen. Gotten ordered a
detail to go over and arrest the negro
and bring him into camp. Maj E. F.
Young was placed in command of the
detail and he went Immediately to
Ocean View with about twenty men.
| When the detail arrived all excited
crowd had gathered at the Atlas House,
and it was said the assailant of Lieu
tenant Moss had climbed up a ladder
into the attic and was hiding there.
Some soldiers and civilians mounted
the ladder, and before Major Young
reached the scene about dozen shots
had been fired. Some say the negro
fired the first two shots and that one
Of the balls passed through mans
| coat.
! r. B. Branch, clerk a. the Atlas
house, was req Tested by Major Young
to show him the way to the attic and
they climbed up the ladder together.
Larkins was found in the attic in very
excited condition and had a pistol in
his hand when Major Young pushed
| open the door, and having drawn his
sword, commanded him to surrender.
He had raised his pistol, but quietly
handed it over when Major Young
told him that he would protect him.
Lieut.. Moss was seen by the reporter
and his statement corresponds with the
above. He and Capt. Henry Perry,
of Company c., requested the crowd
not to do anything with Larkins about
the fight, and it was done without his
knowledge OF desire. It turns out that
he was not struck with a board and
only had q badly scratched ear. He
was in the guard house when giving
his statement, having been ordered
under arrest by Gen. Gotten. Larkins
was turned over to civil authorities
i The Messenger has somewhat mis-
stated the facts. Lieut.. Moss says the
! statement made by him (Which was
not published does not corroborate the
negroes. Neither Capt Perry nor
Lieut.. Moss were at Ocean View when
the shooting took place, and if any
member Of Co. G.. was there they do
not know it. Both of them were at the
Hammocks, mile and half away, at
the time. The shooting at Ocean
View occurred an hour and half after
the difficulty between Lieut. Moss and
Larkins at the gate
Lieut.. Moss was never in the guard
house. He was, at the instance of Gen.
Gotten, ordered under arrest and put
in care of Capt. Perry, who was in
structed torelease him when ever he saw
fit to do so. 1t is we'll enough to state
here that commissioned officer can
not be put in the guard house.
Capt. Perry says Co. C. is ready to
show rolls Of per centage Of attendance
with any company in the State Guards
at Wrightsville.