The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-08
EXCITEMENT UNABATED
The Political Campaign In Easter
North Carolina Grows Hotter and
Hotter Each Day

~. - SoFGuftSi So 0I /
has been added TO the already bril-
Iiantly burning flame of indignation
among the whites Of eastern North
Carolina, by the issuing of warrants
for the arrest of ex-Congressman W.
III. Kitchin, his son Claude Kitchin,
who spoke to the red shirts at Laurin-
burg yesterday, Dr. o. C Liverman.
Thomas Tanner, and John Gray all
prominent citizens Of Halifax, up near
the Virginia line.
They are the leading men in their
county. Warrants were sworn out
by 3. B. Steptoe, a negro at the in
stance of Republican State Chairman
Holton. Steptoe charges these gentle
men with breaking into his house at
| night on October 18th and forclbly and
by threatening to kill him, making aim
| write out his resignation as registrar.
Today I travelled n hundred and
| ten miles from Hamlet to this place
| All along the road, on the train and at
| the stations, people We're discussing
| this incident of the campaign and il
would have been an easy matter to
have organized an army to invade Hal
| flax and run the negroes out the peo-
| Die were especially ~lluiSHdiI
| Holton.
The Kitchins will need no help.
| They are fighters from away back. Il
| was Buck Kitchin who denounced
| Daniel L. Russell in congress and for
| babe the now governor ever to speak
to him again.
The situation here is unchanged.
| Tomorrow there will be q parade OF
Rough Riders and red shirts, and a
big meeting will be held a mile from
town. The negroes have not shown
| their hand.
AS far as any one knows, Governor
Russell is still here; he does not show
himself on the streets. The whites are
J uneasy, and restless as long as this
willy old politician is about, especially
whe Oliver Dockery, a chronic seeker
after office from the negroes, is in
town, too.
Dissatisfaction with the compromise
is on the increase. Many people fear
that Russell will lead the negroes to
believe that he yielded for their good
in politics, and tina the fruits of this
victory will be lost in some degree.
The whites are still on the watch
tower; each square has it's lieutenant,
and there is a captain for ZACH six
blocks. Everything is in readiness to
respond at a moments notice to an
alarm of danger.
If the trouble comes, as many are
convinced that it must come, the Colts
rapid-fire guns, bought at a cost OF
81, 800, will be brought out, and will be
fired to kill.
The republicans have not announced
that they will obey Russell, and put no
ticket in the field. They are expecting
a negro independent ticket to be sprung
at any time. 1t will be time enough
On election morning, n the darkies
may not show their hand until then.
A of whites from an adj
joining county came here today and
stated that the white registrar of a
precinct with 300 democratic majority,
had been paid $500 to destroy the regis
tration books. A number of people left
here tonight to visit this man. They
are fully determined unless he shall
produce the books or account in a sat
isfactory manner for them, to call in
the coroner.
AS election day approaches, excite
ment naturally increases. More arms
and ammunition are being sent 0 u
into the counties. Many little TRACE
dies are already happening, of which
the public knows nothing, for it is diff
cult to reach every town or hamlet il
the vast territory.
If election day shall come and pass
away without the shedding of the blood
Of many people in eastern North Caro-
lima, I shall be surprised.
There will be nc business done or
Tuesday, but that of redeeming this
! section of the state from negro rule.
Nearly every white man is going tc
give a day at the polls, and it is need
less to say the negro will be there.
I was invited tonight to inspect the
Wilmington armOry and to witness The
preparations made for war, if it must
come.
A cnrno nthor tip,a T will TOLL of who
I saw.
Today as the train passed Laurin-
burg I asked the condition of the ne.
gro, Phillip Dudley, who vas shot
Monday night. The reply was:
"The coroner a to be called in
few hours ago" P. R. \.
LAST DAYS WILL BE EXCITING
The Washington Post Representative
closes his Wednesday nights dispatch
as follows:
TIE last days of the campaign pro.
mise to be exciting. Everywhere
throughout the state demonstration!
are being arranged similar to the red.
shirt rally at Laurinburg yesterday
for the purpose of striking terror to tn
negro, and thus inducing him to keel
away from the polls. The white mel
of Wilmington have completed detail:
for a great parade of red shutters anC
rough riders here tomorrow, aftel
which the candidates on the legislativ,
and county tickets will make addresses
1t is reported that this demonstrate
will convince the negroes of the fulfil
ity of placing a ticket i nthe field. u
to the present time 10 republican tick
ct has made its appearance, but in tn,
fear that the negroes may attempt t
vote the arming of whites continues.
In the meantime, the excitement il
kept at fever heat by the newspapers
which print little or nothing that doe:
not relate to the ace war. Especia
prominence is given to items of which
the following headlines are fair sam,
pies: "Estimable Lady Grossly In
suited by a Black Negro An I'm.
pertinent Negro Puts in His Lip anC
Narrowly Escapes Being Roughly
Handled" BLACK S~coundrel Assaults {
White Man. Negro Youths Assault
and Rob a Venerable and Highly Es
teemed Citizen on a Principal Street.
"Insolent Negroes Parade. Arm Them