The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-01
INCENDIARISM
MORE:
A BLOODY RIOT NARROWLY AVERTED AT
QUEWHIFFlE.
Radical Candidate for Register Of Deeds tried
to Provoke Row for Political
Fayetteville Observer

Yesterday the Democratic and Fusion
candidates met for the first time since
canvass began at Cabin Branch. Que
whitfie, twenty-six miles from Fayette-
vile and eight miles from the Robinson
County line.
BY noon there were 200 people present.
divided as follows: One hundred and
forty Democrats. fifty negroes and ten
Populsts. A great number of the ne
groeshad shot guns and some that did not
have them i'm their hands. had them in the
bushes. A number of the Democrats
were armed but this was not known until
later. There were about fifty red shirts
present, twenty-five hailing from Blue
Springs. Robson County, all mounted,
and in picturesque costume.
Now the great Trojan of the Fusion
combine arose and without any preim-
mary and in tones of thunder and men
ace. defied the crowd to mortal com
bat" 1t was plucky speech, but UNI
wise. and in a moment the whole scene
was in an uproar and in some unaccount-
able manner a score of whites with PTS
tolls in hand, were facing as many ne
negroes were running to the bush for
weapons. The negroes showed fight for
only second, however, and then left
precipita tely.
If shot had been fred on either side.
the effect must have been appalling. a
number of cool heads, under the drec
ton of Messrs. Burns, Mcclellan, By
mum and others, managed after hard
struggle to keep the peace, and the rest
of the speaking passed off quietly enough
Messrs Mcclellan and Bynum bringing
the meeting to an end with two telling
speeches.
The good people of Quewhiffle, and
they are the salt of the earth. do not
want negro domination and they will not
stand it.
M'CASKILL CAUSED THE TROU-
BILE.
The following affidavits speak for
themselves:
l. George A. Burns. swear that A. l..
McCaskill. Republican Fusion candidate
for Register of Deeds, stated in my pres
ence, this day, that he was fully armed.
and intended to speak. and if interfered
with. that he was good for six, and
would try to get twelve" and / at once
went to G.. G.. Mcclellan. a candidate on
the same ticket and asked him to use
his influence with McCaskill not to make
an incendiary speech. Mcclellan refused
l also made the same request of McCas-
kill himself, but he said he would speak
to suit himself. l then went to William
Henry Downing, NJ. A. ellis and d. j.
ellis, all sober and cool headed men, and
told them that McCaskill was going to
make a mean speech, and was armed,
and if any trouble arose to be near him,
and try to get his pistols and see that he
did not hurt any one and should not be
hurt by any one. | believe the intention
of said McCaskill was to create q row
for political effect.
G. A. BURNS.
Sworn to and subscribed before me.
this Sth day of October. 1893.
d. J. RAY. J.P.
We, M. A. ellis and ID. ]. ellis, do
solemnly swear. each for himself. that
we have heard read the affidavit of G..
A. Burns, and each of u.s. for himself,
says that that portion of said affidavit
which relates to the request of said
Burns to us and his conversation with
us separately, is true.
M. A. GILLIS,
d. J. GILLIS,
Sworn to before me, October 18th,
1898. ID. J. RAY, J. z.
u. j. RAY, ]. =.
/, A A. McKethan, candidate for
Clerk of the Court being sworn, say:
That, seeing the excited condition of the
crowd at the speaking at Cabin Branch,
! called Sheriff Med. Geddie to one side
and informed him that | had used my
influence to quiet the crowd, but could
not restrain them if McCaskill made an
incendiary speech, and advised him to Sc
lect deputies to aid him, and he refused
to act McCaskil began his speech with
a threat of personal violence to the white
men assembled. His speech was highly
infiammatory. A. A. M'KETHAN.
Sworn to before me, October 2Sth,