Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-22
CAUSED GREAT EXCITEMENT HERE
Military Held in Readiness to Go-Mr.

Trout Well-Known in Richmond.
Richmond was in a state of excitement
all day yesterday over the Roanoke affair.
Expectation was at the highest tension
and the query, What next?' was on
every tongue. Early I'm the morning ex-
aggernted and ugly rumors got af1oat,
and groups were discussing them every
where on the streets. One report was
that riotng had broken out afresh, and
that twelve mey had been Killed ana
forty wounded II was difficult 10 get
definite details regarding the situation.
but by noon the Dispatch had placed
itself in communication with Its news re-
sources In Roanoke, and began bulletlnlng
tull accounts Of the developments there
As a consequence. until long after dark
there was a crowd continuously around
its bulletin-b board.
PUBLIC OPINION DIVIDED.
or course. comment upon the action
of the civil authorities Of Roanoke ana
the military called TO their assistance was
very free. but public opinion was divided
ON the one hand, IL was urged that tne
military should have fired over the heauS
of the mob on the other, IL was argued
that II there was necessity for GAZING
out the military. there was necessity ior
shooting to kill. Military men, as RUE
were chary about expressing an OPINION
About the most they would say was that
they hoped the soldiers did not act 700
hastily. and that they fired only upon
full authority In legal circles the view
| generally taken was that the eHect Vi
the affair would be In the end goou' III
| that II would prove that Virginia was
determined to uphold the majesty OF the
ta,r and that IL would tend 10 discourage
| lvnching Not few persons declared
| ,bat n would have been better to nave
| piven up the negro at once 10 tne hiop
| than that 40 much blood shoulu nav
| been shed All, however. agreed t'nt t"c
| arfsir was a most deplorable one ana the
| nrofoundest sympathy was eXpressen loI
| the families and friends OF the killed anu
| wounded. ,.
TEIEGRAMS TO GEN. ANDERSON.
Tate risers had hardly gotten down
| town when II became known that Gene
! raj charles J. Anderson was In telegraphlc
| communication with Roanoke ana TINS
| LET loose n crop Of rumors as 10 what
| had been done, and what was going 10 De
done and nut every member OF military
| comnany on the alert. General Anderson
| WAS telegraphing to and receiving uIe
grams from Roanoke all day. Az o,iV
| A. NJ. ne wired TO the scene Vi @
! trouble 20 Lieutenant-C Colonel Pole, or the
| Sooand pegiment. asking what the situa-
|
! tion was To this query he received no
| replv but at 9 A. NJ. lie received mes
/ sage from Colonel 10. Lane stern. VINO
| IS on his inspecting tour, ana happeheu
| to be In Roanoke saying that the city
was ouiet: the excitement was subsiding'
! and Colonel Maker, of the Second fsesl-
ment. was on the ground inVesusatils'
| General Anderson Immediately WTeu W
| colonel Stern TO tell Colonel Baker 10
] ode
own men at all hazards; ordering other
companies should they be required
ASKED FOR SIX COMPANIES.
Al noon Colonel Baker wired General
Anderson that the Mayor had called on
him according to law for troops to sup
| nress a disturbance in the city, and that
| his regiment (the Second, with the ex-
| cention OF three companies, could not be
| gotten TO Roanoke. He, therefore, re-
| ouested the General TO send him SIX
companies and a battery of artillery
adding that the Citizens Committee
thought the troops should be sent I'M
mediately. and that the situation had
grown more serious since Colonel Stern
| telegraphed. .s..
| In answer to this Geherai AiiueiSo"
..Telegram received. Please wire IL the
| Mayor toins you In the request Tor the
troops named. VIII give order I'M
| medately on receipt.
| General Anderson then, in order TO
emphasize his recognition OF the suporui-
| nation of the military to the civil authori-
/ ties. also sent this telegram addressed 10
| Mayor Trout:
4 "Colonel Baker wants additional troops.
| DO you so request; please wire immediate
ly."
Colonel Baker answered the telegram
addressed to him by saying that the Mayor
| did Join in the request for the troops
named, but they might not be needed,
] and In a few minutes later telegraphed
/ that a compromise was pending, but 10
| hold troops in readiness. Still later ne
/ wired that things were quieting down anu
i iterated that aid might not be necessary
4 At 9:O5 last night General Anderson re-
J ceived a dispatch from the acting mayor
4 saving that he had asked Colonel Baker
/ for additional troops. but did not think
i they were needed then also q message
i from Colonel Baker stating that the Clti-
i zens' Committee and the rioters had agreed
4 upon a settlement, and II troops were
I held they might be dismissed, as the pros
pect was for quiet night.
HAD THE MEN READY.
Il AS soon as General Anderson was con-
WINGED that Colonel Baker might need re-
Inducements. he quietly notified coione'
Jones. and the latter In turn had con-
ference with the proper subordinate ON
! GERS of the regiment. General Anderson
also reported to Adjutant-General NC,
Donald, who is sick. what steps he nae
taken. and the Adjutant-General gave the
necessary orders for ammunition, shouio
Il be required.
As Governor Mckinney Is out OF 'ne
| s,.a,a &ha on,estion rose with many as tc
who had the authority 10 order additional
troops TO Roanoke. The authority under
which General Anderson would have acted
N he had been called upon for aid py tn'
civil authorities OF Roanoke Is FOUND u
II section 2ss OF the code.
The military authorities here did no'
| think Il necessary to aggravate the excite
,nent In the city by assembling the mer
At the armory. bat as precautionar,
measure they had everything ready e
send achievements without delay snou's
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