Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-11-16
CLASH OF RACES IN WHINING
TON, N. G.
Ten Negros Killed aud Three White
Men Wounded.

thursday was turbulent day II
| Wilmington, N. c. Race war and re.
yolution held high carnival. As the
result ten negroes were killed, twenty.
five were wounded; also three white
men were wounded, one per on ia
tally.
The trouble commenced at $50 in
the morning when an armed body of
citizens, numbering about 1000 and
led b, ey-Represetative Wad ll,caai' =
man Of committee of twenty-five
arpoin cd for-the purpose proceeded
to he pu lisning house of the negro
new p per, the Record, to wreck it.
The Editor of this paper had pub
lished an article defamatory of white
women, and mass meeting of citi-
zens Wednesday ordered his expulsion
from the city within twenty-four hours
and the removal Of his press. Fifteen
leading negroes were called in by the
committee OF twenty-five Wednesday
night and directed 10 notify the chair
man by 7;3O the following morning
whether they would agree to the re-
moval 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 by the time appointed, and after
waiting an hour the citizens proceeded
in body and demolished the fixtures
of the printing office. The building
was also fired and Quilted.
The leaders say that this act was the
work of irresponsible persons, and as
soon as the fire was discovered, the fire
was called to extiuguish it.
The burning of the printing Office
created a great commotion among the
negroes of the town. The rumor spread
that the whites were going to burn and
murder the negro quarters ahis.
rumor reached the negro employees of
a compress numbering 300 or 400, who
quit work and hung about the streets
in manifest terror. Other parties con-
yregated in the negro section, and it
was in one Of these that the tragedy
was enacted.
The men were standing Oh a corner
md were ordered to dispense. They
declined and, it is claimed, fred into
he whites.
A fuslade was immediately opened
IN them by the whites, and three ne
,roes killed. Two whites we're wound
ID slightly. One negro ran down the |
treet, and passinga residence fred
life at William Mayo, white, standing |
n the verandah, shooting him through |
he left lung. This negro was recogni-
ed, pursued and captured while hid
ng under bed. 1t is said he con-
essed to the shooting. He was rid
Led with shot by his captJrs and
lied.
In the meantime the town was in a
tate of excitement The whites
ushed to the scene from every direc-
on, the local military company Was
rdered out and battalion of United
tate Naval Reserves proceeded to the
cinity of the trouble with rapid-fre
Jus.
1t developed later in the day that
lie regro committee summoned last
ight had agreed to use their good
fees to have the press removed, al
Tough the editor had departed and
ley had no authority in the premises.
heir letter, instead, of being deliv-
ed to the chairman of the committee |
twenty-five in person, was put in
10 mail aud did not reach him until
rec hours after the expiration of the
me limit which had been fixed for the
ceipt of an answer. ~
The citizens of Wilmington were
'eatly dissatisfied with their mu-
cipal government, and the officers ;
ere forced to resign. AS each alder b
IN vacated, the remainder elected a
ccessor named by the citizens COM I
ttee, until the entire board was y
anged legally. The new board is
imposed of conservative Democratic
,izens.
The mayor and chief of police then :,
signed and the now board elected II
cir SUCCESSORS according to law. Ex- W
preventative WaddIe was elected CT
'yor,
The first act of the new government D,
to swear in $50 special policemen. Ii