Evening star., 1898-11-07
AT A HIGH TENSION
Wilmington People Still Wrought Up
Over Eleotion Prospects.
PART OF CITY UNDER GUARD
Fear That irresponsible Persons
Fear That irresponsible Persons
May Precipitate Conflict.
WHITES ARE DESPERATE
Special From Staff Correspondent.

The northern end of the city was under
guard from dark until daylight, while sew
eral hundred men in the heart of town were
ready to respond to a call to arms on short
notice. Street cars which crossed the 4th
street bridge and passed into the suburbs
called Brooklyn carried each policeman
as escort, while the morormen and con-
ductoTs were armed The cars abandoned
a portion of the trip after dusk and stopped
a lew squares beyond Brunswick street. A
guard of twenty-five armed men were To-
Gated IN a building at the 4th street bridge
and pickets were established in the streets
Inc cause of these precautions originated
saturday night, when crowd of negroes
Wantonly stoned passing street car in
Brooklyn and nearly precipiated riot
Inc Offenders were arrested in the face of
a crowd OF 300 negroes, who held the neigh
Dorhood Tor some time, making threats of
incendiarism against the white residents
The news spread up town and caused
commotlon about midnight. but the crowds
dispersed before a clash occurred Guards
oi "hlte men were stationed in the district
aItef midnight to prevent possible attempts
at 1ncendlarlSm One of these a carpent er
named Lott was shot about 3 o'clock in the
morning by some unknown person. who
fired from dark alley. He was wounded
IN the leg, but not seriously, and his assail-
ant escaped.
Another Car Stoned
Last night, soon after dark, another car
was stoned and as several of the motormen
reported that they had been threa tened
during the day with being shot the police
escort was given and the guard established
as stated. The negroes have grudge
against the street car employees because It
Is claimed, the conductors do NOT eytend
cOuTtaSinS al
the whites In helping them en- and off the
cars, and because of negroes having been
elected from cars for non-nayment of fare.
The section of the city known as Rrook
lyn contains large negro population one
portion being given over to them com.
pletely. 1t Is dark and badly paved
quarter and is seldom 1isita1 Nv ~
whites.
The night passed, however. without
further disturbance. and the guards were
not called into service. About 4 O'Clock in
the morning fire broke out in the south
ern end of the city and burned two negro
dwellings. but it had no connection with
the troubles of the times
The incidents of the last two nights and
the establishment of the guard are note
worthy only as indicating the possibility ot
mere serious troubles The apprehension
of the conservative citizens is that small
ARRAY, started by irresponsible persons of
elther race may precfpitate general riot
A case in point occurred Friday night
tackled some fnoffensive negroes can
easily see how this fear is we'll grounded
The citizens are in such state of tension
over the political situation, and worked M
TO such a pitch of anticipation of trouble
and preparation for II, that if the bal! is
once started the consequences could not be
calculated.
City an Arsenal.
The city Is a veritable arsenal Every
other man on the street carries arms upon
his person, and in all the stores and hun
dreds of residences repeating rifles and am
muniticn are kept 1t has been estimated
that there are 5000 repeating rifles in the
chased within the last three weeks In this
state of affairs, and with the public mind
so wrought up. it would take but a spark
to set off the slumberng mine. The death
of one white man in an affray at the hands
of negro might be followed by reprisal of
a terrible character
The political situation is practically un-
changed from the last report. The negroes
Will be permitted to come to the polls on
election day and vote for representatives in
Congress, state senator and the judicial
ticket. The county ticket of the republi-
cans, as heretofore stated. has been with
drawn. and the objections of the citi-
zens were leveled mainly at this ticket, no
opposition will be interposed to the negroes
voting for the other officials mentioned.
When the county state ticket was taken
GOWN lne IepuDHCdIl-p Il-pOpullSl-1uSlOn candl-
date for state senator withdrew, but last
night a populist named Baker came out
as candidate. A circular issued,
signed by Governor Russell, Senator Pritch-
ard and others, urging republicans to vote
for Congress and state senator
The expectation of the democrats is that
the negroes will take little interest in the
election, owing to the absence of a county
ticket, and that a democratic state sena-
tor will be elected result of the falling
off of the negro vote. The same view is
held as to the representative in Congress.
The democrats, however, take but little i'm
terest in the congressional election the
whole fight being for the assemblymen and
county officers.
Serious Situation for Negroes
One feature of the situation which prom
ises to be serious for the negroes is already
becoming apparent. Negro labor is to be
supplanted by white labor wherever prac-
ticable and by degrees. Many employers
have determined upon this course, it is
said, in pursuance of a policy which is to
be urged upon all employers. The ground
upon which they justify this policy to them
selves is the assertion that employment
must not he given to those who vote against
the material interests and welfare of their
employers. 1t is urged that the interests
of employer and employees should be iden-
ucal in the preservation of order, good mu-
nicipal government and the city's welfare,
and that men who vote against what the
employer regards as best should give way
to men who will not oppose their employ
ers. This view was presented to negroes
in many cases it is said, before regstra-
tion day, and they were advised to heed it
and suggested that If they could not vote
for white mans government they would do
well not to register. Some are said to have
needed the advice and some who did not
have already been supplanted in their po-
stions by white laborers This was the
policy decided upon also by the democrats
of Newbern last Friday night at mass
meeting, as related in The Stars dis
patches. The carrying out of the line of
action proposed is yet in an experimental
stage in Wilmington.
When the city has passed under the COM
piete control of the whites normal labor
conditions will probably be restored
Desperate Feeling of the Whites.
The decision to use every means possible
to carry this election for white supremacy.
even by force of arms if necessary. and
moral -spasion as well. indicates the desper-
ate feeling of the white residents of VIII
and their determination. No CON-
eealment is made of the fact that they are
to obtain the object in view.
''peaceably If possible. but by revolution il