The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-11-30
sUdTER.S c.. "WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 80, 1898
Negro Soldiers Riot.
ADMISSION. ALA, THE
SCENE OF TROUBLE.

Montgomery, Ala, Nov "a "A
special from Admission to The Advertiser
says Members of the Third Alabama
(oegro) regiment with murder in their
hearts caused great excitement here
tonight. Shortly after dark, Private
Gildhart of Go. B. Second Arkansas,
while going towards his regimental
camp from town. was shot in the head
by negro soldier. who also stabbed
him 10 the back. Gildhart was taken
to the regimental hospital. A little
later member Of the Fourth Kentucky
was shot on Walnut street by negro
soldier, who lay in gully, shooting at
the white men who passed. Firing
was beard in Liberia, the negro quarter
of the city. which is not far from
Walnut street, and squad of provost
guards went to investigate. As it
turned the corner of Sixteenth and
Pine streets a large crowd of negro
soldiers. without warning opened fire
upon the guard with Spripg6elds, the
gun in use in the regiment. The
guard returned the FIRE, but had but
few cartridges, and soon had to retreat.
Reinforcements and more ammunition
we're sent for, but when they arrived
the negroes had disappeared.
The number of negroes in the mob
was variously estimated at from so to
200 In the engagement, Sergeant
Dobson, Third Tennessee, vas shot in
arm and Private Graham, Third
Tennessee, received a painful but not
necessarily dangerous wound io the
stomach. If any Of the negroes were
shot, it is not known, as no dead or
wounded have as yet been found. Two
other members of the provost guard are
missing and cannot be found.
When news of the trouble became
known the white soldiers who we're in
the city gathered around the provost
guards headquarters and begged for
guns aud ammunition, crying like
children because their requests could
not be granted Citizens armed them
selves and repaired to the scene of the
battle. Mayor High at once ordered
all saloons closed.
Several negro soldiers, one with a
Springfield which had just been fred,
were arrested in various parts of the
city aud locked up. though it was With
difficulty that the infuriated white SOL
diers and citizens were prevented from
wreaking summary vengeance upon
them.
Armories of the two local military
companies we're broken into aud every
gun and cartridge appropriated BY un.
known parties.
Gen. Frank, who is 10 command of
the troops here, came out and was On
the streets until a late hour. Gen.
Colby, commanding the Second bri.
gade, ordered out TIVE companies each
OF the Third Tennessee and Second Ar
kansas and brought them to the city
for whatever services might be requir-
ed. They scoared the city and carried
all soldiers not ou duty back to the
camp.
A member of the Fourth Wisconsin
lie said to have been shot, but the re.
port cannot be verified.
One negro soldier while uoder ar
rest was shot 10 the a.m by citizen.
After the engagement at Sixteenth
and Pine very few negroes, either SOL
diers or civilians, we're to be found on
the streets and it was we'll. Firing
has been heard at various parts of the
city and rumors are aAcat of several
crowdsof negroes 10 ambush. but all
investigation was fruitless.
A negro soldier was dangerously
beaten by some white soldiers on Teeth
street this afternoon and this incident
is supposed to have caused the riotous
action on the part of the negroes, who
are said to have slipped out of the
camp through the guard lines.
Later-One negro soldier has just
been brought in dead and another
fatally wounded