The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-22

ACTION TAKEN IN RICHMOND.
The Military Would Have Been Sent If
Needed-Much Interest Mapffrsted.

Nefueu-m uch INTEREST hhbtfrhttu.
Rlchmond's citizens, after reading the
morning papers yesterday. became some
what excited and very curious to know the
later Intelligence from Roanoke, and as
early as 9 O'Clock inquiries were made al
The Times Office by phone and In per-
son as TO the fate of the negro Thomas
Smith.
Judging from the reports that had been
published in the morning papers, those
who gave any consideration TO the sub
ject declared that the firing into the mob
by the military had been entirely too
precipitous and that IT was matter or
very general regret that men VINO were
honest citizens should lose their lives
when the fate Of negro was involved.
A prominent state officer declared en-
phaticaliy that lynehings and mob rule
occurring now with such alarming ire
quency gave an incentive for the most
thoughtful consideration by those VINO
make higher civilization an accompanl-
ment Of good government and the main
tenance of the dignity of both the
statute books and the officers Of a soy ,r-
eign State.
BY noon bulletins were received ny
The Times, and were eagerly scanned by
the passers-by on Main street. Roanoke"
difficulty there was discussed pro ana con.
Military officers in their citizens dress
We're seen to hold interviews with those
higher in authority. and II was not long
before Colonel Henry G. Jones. COM
mandant OF the First Regiment OF lnfan-
try, upon instructions received, placed MS
line officers under orders and awaited I'M
til further kilograms could be received.
General Charles j. Anderson, Brigadier
Commandant, sent kilograms 10 the
officers at Roanoke as 10 what was need
ed. General Anderson acted for Cover
nor =. w. Mckinney, who is now at the
Worlds Fair The law Of Virginia pro-
vides that should the Governor be alb
sent, i'll, or otherwise. the Brigadier
General shall act, and General Anderson
was determined that peace and order
should be restored 10 Roanoke II the
military forces OF the State could do
anything in the matter. He had nothing
TO say on the situation hut a prominent
officer OF the staff stated that TO quell
mob, there should have been enough
military present TO awe It, and not a
handful which could only keen the
crowd back by resorting 10 gunpowder.
Rumors throughout the early hours
of the afternoon were very numerous I'm
this city as 10 the military. Many stat
Ell that the First Regiment had been
assembled at the Armory. but this was
found 10 be false. This evidently grew out
of the fact that General Anderson. on
wednesday night late. received a re-
quest that a regiment Of infantry and
an artillery company be sent TO Roanoke.
This telegram was sent by a staff officer
there. and was Immediately followed by
telegram from Captain Byrd, Of the
Roanoke company which stated that
assistance was not needed.
rumor last evening that Mayor
Trout was in Richmond caused a good
deal Of excitement. A prominent citizen
stated that he heard that he was regis
tered at the American hotel. The clerks
there were piled with interrogations
and all the other hotels were visited.
Further color was given the rumor by
the statement Of an employe of 81
Luke's Home that a man named Trout
was expected there, but that II was not
known where he was from Dnigent
search was being made for Mayor Trout
at late hour when the news Of his ar
rival at Lynchburg was received.