Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-09-23
THE ROANOKE TRAGEDY.

excitement or disturbance. The order
which had been issued for ten compa-
MES of State troops to hold themselves
in readiness was countermanded Thurs
day afternoon, and the presence OF
General Fitz Lee, who had been re-
uuested to come there and make a
speech to calm the excitement, was
considered unnecessary, and he was in
formed by telegraph Thursday night.
Mayor Trout, against whom there is
still a strong popular feeling for calling
out the military, went to Lynchburg,
but not till order began to shape itself
and authority to resume its sway.
| Others who figured in the earlier stages
of the trouble have stepped down and
out of prominence. Captain Bird, of
the local military, has fled to parts I'M
known, and none of the officers or pri-
Yates of the Light Infantry company
that fired on the people remain to give
offense to public sentiment by their
presence. Some few of them who are
in the employ of the Norfolk and
Western Railroad were given leave of
absence yesterday, and now it is be-
lieved that not single one of them re-
mains in town.
The civil government is in full sway.
Good influence is being brought to its
support and with the best results. Mr..
K. A. Buckner, President of the City
Council, on whom, in the absence OF
the mayor, the administration devolves,
held police court in the mayors Office
Yesterday as if nothing had happened.
He suspended the chief of police, who
is charged with firing on the mob, and
also sergeant Of police and special
officer who seem to have excited the
resentment Of the people and for whose
removal demands were made.
The successful efforts which were
made Thursday to restore peace and
bring order out of chaos by the special
committee of thirteen citizens, headed
by Mr.. J. H. Sands as chairman, who
were appointed to investigate the affair,
are deserving of all praise. A demand
was made not only for rigid investi-
CATION into all the circumstances of the
riot, but for the disbandment of the in
fantry company If the charges against
the military were sustained. The prin-
cipal Of these charges is the firing on
the people without orders or suffi-
cient provocation. The committee is
simply advisory in their function.
They assume to do nothing of their
own authority, but simply recommended
the steps to be taken TO insure the best
results.
While the excitement against the
militia exists it was considered best for
them to 60 away. Leave of absence
to some of them has been given.
Other Objectionable people were adj
vised to temporarily remove themselves
and the special deputies sworn in in
Guided many CT the discontinued ele-
ment.
The discharge of all the military men
in the shops and on the railroads who
were on guard at the Jail Wednesday
night has been demanded, and the de-
nland will be complied with. tits free
ly asserted that the members of the mi
litia who did the firing will never be
permitted to reside in Roanoke again.
The principal city officials having
been suspended, it is asserted that there
is now no regularly constituted govern
ment. The special grand jury has not
been summoned, the point being raised
that as the City Sergeant has been sus-
pended there is no autharity to sum-
mon such jury.
The concessions made by Acting
Mayor Buckner and the citizens COM
mittee to the enraged people has had
the desired effect. There is, however,
much criticism of their action, it being
characterized as surrender to the mob
at their own terms.
The suspension of all the principal
city officials has made the promised
grand jury improbable, if not impos-
sible, the question of the legality of a
summons by the acting city sergeant
having been raised. 1t is not believed
that Mayor Trout would be in danger
in Roanoke now, and his flight Wed
nesday night after having been success
fully hidden until all danger was past
is also being condemned.
There is still a strong undercurrent
of indignation among of people. Even
those who would have the law main
tanned at all hazards admit that the af-
fair was bunglingly managed. The flu
ture peace depends largely upon the
result of the investigation and the &C
ton of the courts. If all the officials
should be reinstated, or if the result
should be unsatisfactory to the indig-
nant element, there is great danger
of more trouble.
The coroner's jury found two mem
bers of the militia. DR.. John Gregory,
who was in the squad that fired upon
the mob that attacked the side door,
testified that the men were warned
time and again, and that Capt Bird,
who pleaded in vain with the men,
gave the order to fire. J. w. Han
cock was in the squad in front of the
jail. According to his statement the
squad first charged with fixed bayonets
and the order ready" was given, but,
there was no order to fire.
Mayor H. S. Trout, of Roanoke, who
had charge of the military and took
such conspicuous part in attempting
to defend the jail at Roanoke from the
mob Tuesday, spent part of Thursday
night at Lynchburg. He left on the
early train yesterday for the North.
Before his departure he gave a reporter
this version of the affair: II was called
early in the evening and went to the
jail. Soon after arriving there felt,
from the excited condition ofthe crowd,
that it was necessary for me to call out