Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-03-24

station what he had been arrested for
the officer in charge replied that reason
had been given or stated on the slate for
the arrest.
At the moment the riot broke out in
the store the excitement Immediately
spread to the crowd gathered on Market
street. Men ran wildly in every direc-
ton. A crowd of Republicans were on
the opposite side of the street watching
with apparent interest all the g0ings on.
AS the excited negroes poured out one
of the watchers called cut: "Run
around the alley and head off Finck."
This directed stream of dusky human
ity in that direction.
WHAT OTHER EYE-wITNEssEs SAY.
Collector Finck-"Oflice Harry Tay-
lor was upstairs and Kept the blows oil
me, or | don't know what would have
happened"
Collector Dickey-"I don't blame the
darl1ies-not bit. 1t was the white
men urging them on. Solomon Hersey,
Samuel Allen, and others did it. They
were going up and down among them
exciting and urging them on"
John +. F.Callahan-"I got there at 1880
o'clock. There were very few there
then. They came on strong both white
and colored about 1.30. That colored
man Anderson was drunk. Solomon
Hersey was near the door talking noisily
to John Mitchell ! consider that Hersey
was one OF the starters of the riot.
Hersey said loudly thai Mr.. Finck
should not leave the Office at o'clock.
This loud talk was just the beginning
and the cause of the riot. 1t was that
that set the negroes wild. saw them
attack Mitchell. When the latter opened
the door some one at the upper end of
the room called out CLOSE that door, it
is cold here Then q negro showed
against Mr.. Mitchell, others aided him
and in u moment the fight had begun.
He couldn't make his way back to the
desk but had to run the gauntlet over
the tables, blows following and raining
OH his head all the way
George Finck pulled out his watch
at 4.05 and said he would stop giving
out receipts. Then Letter-carrier Syl-
vanus, who was right in front of the
collector, pulled his hat off exclaiming
loudly: Il am here to pay my tax and |
don't leave this office until ! get a re-
ceipt.' That started the racket in that part
OF the room. The hollaing and yelling
began. XIII Dickey,' kill Callahan,
kill Finck,' &C., was heard from dozens
of mouths.
cat this time Anderson, who was
drunk, was being quietly expostulated
with by Mr.. Dickey and there was every
likelihood of quiet, but Samuel Allen
| jumped up, yelling out angrily and
doing his level best to infuriate the
people. 1t was then that Finck flew
upstairs, followed by tho mob, who
cleared the desks in full chase. Messrs.
Dickey, Callahan, Keogh and others ran
out at the back way. Allen urged the
negroes to attack Dickey. He cried out
we've come prepared to get the tax re-
ceipts, and we are going to get them, nc
matter what the consequences are He
followed this with personal threats OIL
Mr.. Dickey."
Subsequently Solomon Hersey, who
with pallid face and active gesticulation
was in the midst of the uproar, possibly
seeing what dangerous result might de
velop from the rioting of his friends
jumped on table and harangued the
mob
"Now boys form in line," he sale
coaxingly; form in line and Mr.. Finch
will give you your tax receipts" vii:
words were smothered in husky yells
from the hoodlums shouting, "hooray
for Sol-hooray for Sol Ilersey. He's {
dandy"
Following this there was comparative
| quiet aud Mr.. Finck commenced receiv
ing the tax money. Of course the re
! nt,1t- friN 1.I NJ
the office seal had been stolen. Altor
G. Pyle, with one or two other young
Republicans turned in and did theil
best to quiet matters. Mr.. Pyle stood a
the head of the line making out tn,
names and handing them clearly writer
out to Mr.. Finck.
From to p. IN. Mr.. Finck was TAX
ing in tax money and giving out un
sealed receipts under the orders of Kin!
Mob.
As the time for the second attempt q
closing drew nigh II message was taker
down to the police station asking fo
the presence Of the police in order to b.
ready for any other outbreak. One o
the officers whom Captain Kersel
ordered down to the tax office demurret
saying that he would not go insid
unless he had warrant. The inferenc,
was that the police held the idea that tn
tax office is private not public place
Mr.. Finck's messenger explained tina
200 people were there all day on publ
business. Also that the danger to lif
was not on the street, but right insid
the office.
Subsequently Captain Kersey himsel
appeared at the tax office. just befor
his entrance matters looked a little prob
lcmatical. There was dead silence il
the room. Mr.. Finck had closed hi
books. The crowd still stood there as
awaiting some order. At the captain
appearance they all gradually skunk ou
and in five minutes Mr.. Finck, wit
some half-a-dozen friends was alone.
The books and money were CAREFUL,
put away, the windows barred and a
$50 everyone left the tax office.
| T,.,-