Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-04-26
EXCITEMENT IN ALEXANDRIA.

Alarming Reports Saturday Night OF
Invasion OF Hostile Negroes---The
Light Infantry Ordered out by
Mayor Thompson---The Populacc
Armed---Intcnsc Excitemcnt---Night
OfSuspense, &c, &c.
The excitement in Alexandria Satur-
dey night was unparalleled in the his
tory of the city, and the fact that no
conflicts followed nor that any one was
hurt is miraculous. Nearly every
white person in the city was in the
streets, and ninety per cent. of them
were armed with one weapon or an
other, and Notwithstanding the tension
which existed all eventually went
quietly to their homes some time be-
tween midnight and daybreak.
The excitement which followed the
lynching of the negro Mccoy Thursday
night bred all the turmoil, and the in
dignant community which had taken
the law in their own hands were ready
to defend the act with their own blood.
Early in the night Mayor Thompson,
Capt. Bryan, of the Light Infantry,
Commonwealth's Attorney Marbury,
and some others held consultation,
and it was unanimously agreed that the
company had better abandon their trip
to New York. Certain information
had been obtained which made it pat
ent that the services of the company
might be needed at home. The trip
was therefore abandoned. Certain
words, it was said, had been dropped
by negroes in the employ of Washing
ton families which indicated that an in.
vasion of Alexandria was contemplated
by certain vicious blacks. Every pre-.
caution was taken to prevent such
result, though the more sanguine were
rather disposed to regard the reports as
canards or the outcome of extravagant
talk; however there was still an ap-
parent unrest. There was no telling
what might happen. 1t was known
that swarms of negroes who are EN-
ployed in the brickyards in the county
had been paid of, and that they were
drinking at bar rooms at Jackson City
and Waterloo, and that they were using
incendiary language. 1t was better to
be on the alert; besides, who could tell
what trouble some of the native negroes
would precipitate? Most of the talking
was done by negro women, who were
profuse in their denunciation of Thurs.
day nights work.
Some time after eleven o'clock
telephone message was sent to the
Mayors residence stating that large
body of negroes were massing at Ar
ington for the purpose of moving on
Alexandria. The Light Infantry was
Immediately ordered out, and when the
Mayor reached the armory dispatch
, had been received alleging that the
horde had started towards this city and
were then supposed to be at Four.mile
run. The company was directed to fall
in and repair to north Washington
street as. speedily as possible. At this
time the streets in the neignborhood of
the armory were packed with an ex.
cited multitude. The Mayor appealed
to them to keep cool and allow the au.
thorities to deal with the issue in due
and proper form, but when the com
pany started up Prince street an i'm.
mense mass of humanity followed
cheering and yelling. Nearly every
one in the crowd had pistol, the stores
having sold their stock in few min
utes. Many were armed with shot
guns, antique navy pistols, old swords
and numbers with fence palings. The
soldiers and the crowd which
followed made rapid march to the
old canal basin at the head Of
Washington street and proceeded
short distance up the road, where they
took stand and intercepted all per-
sons coming this way. They remained
there ABOUT an hour, but the expected
visitors failed to put in their appearance.
While the soldiers were resting upon
their arms police whistle was blown
by one of three negroes who were on
Hunting creek bridge. This caused
several others in the southern end OF
the city who had whistles to sound
them. In few minutes alarming ru-
mors reached King street to the effect
that the negroes had entered the city in
that direction and were surrounding
Mr.. Tobias Lacy's house; also that the
policemen who were in that quarter
were surrounded and in jeopardy.
1t was deemed prudent to recall the
Light Infantry Immediately, and the
military alarm was sounded. The
soldiers with the immense crowd which
accompanied them double-quicked to
south Washington street, and when
they reached Franklin street found no
disorder. They and their allies subse
quently took up position on Wash
ten street, between King and Cameron,
where they remained until about three
o'clock in the morning. People in the
meantime who had come over the road
from Washington to this city reported
that they saw nothing outside of the or
binary among the negroes, and it was
deemed unnecessary to keep the soldiers
in the street all night, so they were or
dered back to the armory. In the
meantime the Mayor procured horses
for Lieutenant Smith and several of the
officers, and they were ordered to
watch certain points and should any
movement on the city be detected to
repair Immediately to the armory, when
the soldiers would at once move to
the point indicated. When the compa-
ny returned to the armory the crowd
soon thinned out and an hour later the
streets were in their normal condition.
Nothing occurred worthy of mention
from that time until daybreak when