The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-11-11
This Was the Sequel TO the Destruction Of
Negro Newspaper Office.
CITY GOVERNMENT REOUGANlzEO.
Former City Officers Resigned and Their Places
Wsra Promptly fIIIsd---250 White Polics-
man Sworn In---GIven Full Power

day or bloodSned ana turbulence IL
mington has subsidized into comparative
peacefulness. Nine negroes were killed
and three white men wounded during the
day, one OF them, William Mayo. seri-
ously.
The city is now In the hands of new
municipal government and law and or
der are boing established. The board OF
aldermen resigned yesterday one by one.
As eaC h alderman vacated the remainder
elected a successor named by the citizens
committee, until the entire board was
changed legally. They resigned in re-
sponse to public sentiment. The new
board is composed OF conservative
Democratic citizens.
The mayor and chief OF police then re-
signed and the new board elected their
successors according to law. Ex-Rep-
resentative Waddell was elected mayor
and l.. c.. Parmalee chief of police. The
first act OF the new government was TO
swear in 250 special policemen. chosen
from the ranks OF reputable white citi-
zens. They are vested with all the au-
thority of the law and will take charge
of the city. The citizens will remain on
duty, however throughout the town to
prevent possible attempts at incen-
diarsm. The new government will de-
vote its attention to restraining reckless
ness among the whites as well as keep
ing down lawlessness among the negroes.
Further trouble of a general or serious
nature is not expected.
Soon after the meeting George Rountze
received a telegram from Governor
Russell saying he would use all his ef-
forts to influence the mayor and city
council TO resign IL that would restore
peace. Mr.. Rountze sent the following &
reply: Mayor and aldermen have re-
signed. Two hundred and fifty special
policemen sworn In. Law will be main
tained and peace restored"
Mr.. Rountze is prominent attorney
here and a member OF the Democratic
congressional committee.
The trouble in Wilmington commenced
at $3.50 o'clock yesterday morning. when
an armed body OF citizens, numbering
about 400, led by ex-Representative
Waddell, chairman OF a committee OF 20
appointed for the purpose, proceeded to
the publishing house OF a negro news
paper, The Record, to wreck IL. The
editor Of THIS paper had published an
article defamatory Of white women, and
mass meeting of citizens on Wednes-
day ordered his expulsion from the city
within "a hours and the removal OF his
press. Fifteen leading negroes were
called in by the committee Of 25 Wednes-
day night and directed to notify the
chairman by 7:30 o'clock yesterday
morning whether they would agree to
the removal of the press. They were in
formed that If no answer was returned
the press would be demolished
No answer was received by the chair
man and after waiting an hour the citi-
zens proceeded in a body and demolished
the fixtures of the printing office. The
building was also fired and gutted The
leaders say that this action was the work
of irresponsible pefsons and as soon as
the fire was discovered the fire depart
ment was called out to extlnguish IL.
The burning of the printing Office Gre
ated a great commotion among the
negroes of the town. The rumor spread
that the whites were going to burn and
murder i'm The negro quarter. This
rumor reached the negro employees of
cotton compress. numbering 800 or 400.
who quit work and hung about the
streets In manifest terror. Other parties
consregated in the negro section, and IL
was i'm one OF these that the first tragedy
was enacted. The men were standing
on a corner end were ordered to dlsperse.
They declined and, ii is claimed fired
into the whites.
A fumlade was Immediately opened
upon them by the whites and three
negroes were killed. Two whites were
wounded slightly. One negro ran down
the street and passing a residence fired
q rifle at William Mayo. white, standing
on the veranda. shooting him through
the left lung. This negro was recog-
nized. pursued and captured while hid
10 the shooting. He was riddled with
shot by his captors and killed.
In the meantime the town was I'm a
state OF excitement. The>whites rushed
10 the scene from every direction. the
local military company was ordered out
and a battalion OF United States naval
reserves proceeded to the vlcirity of the
trouble with a rapid-fre gun,
About o'clock some negroes in
house fred upon passing party OF white
men. The house was surrounded and
four negroes were captured and taken
70 the Jail. one negro broke away and
ran. but was shot down ard killed before
he had proceede 4 half block
During lbe afternoon there were other
affairs of~this kind ard eight nc groes
were killed at various times in the dis
turbed sections. Their names at present
are unknown.
As the news Of the riorspread through
The nelghboring cities they offered 20
send help. All such Offers were declined.
except In the case OF syetteville.sro
which town came about i5O mer. rs
night fell the town was complet etsly ps-
troiled and guarded. Very few negroes
were on theTstreets and they were not
allowed 90 conyregste anywhere.
The aCtiNn ~ the citizens I'm orga nfzfna