The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-11-11
THE WILMINGTON RIOT.


Gay. one Of them. william Mayo seriously.
Tonight the city Is in the hands OF nes
municipal government and law and order
ia being established. This afternoon the
board Of aldermen resigned As each al
dermsn vacated the remainder elected u
successor named by the citizens commit
tee until the entire board was changed
legally They resigned in response TO
public sentiment. The new board ls com
posed OF conservative democratic citizens.
Tho mayor and chief OF police then re-
signed and the new board elected their
successors according TO law.
Ex-representatlve waddel was elected
mayor and e. 0. Pormnlee chief OF police.
The f.rst act Of the new government
was to swear in 25o special policemen.
chosen from tho ranks OF reputable white
citizens. They are vested with all tho
authority OF the land and win take charge
o fthe city. The citizens committee VIII
remain on guard. however, to prevent
possible attempts at incendiarlsrn. The
new government VIII devote its attention
to restraining reckiessness among tho
whites as wen as keep down lawlessness
among the negroes.
Further trouble OF a general or serious
nature is not expected. Soon after tho
meeting Mr.. George Rountree received a
telegram from Gov Russell saying that
he would use all his efforts TO influence
,he mayor and city council 10 resign IL
that would restore peace.
Mr.. Rountree sent this reply;
Mayor and aldermen resigned. Two
hundred and fifty special policemen sworn
in. Law Will be ma'ntained and peace re-
stored"
Mr. Rountree IS prominent attorney
here and q member OF the democratic con-
gressional committee.
The trouble today commenced at s.s0
this morning. when nm r7med body OF oiti-
zens. numbering about 40. and led by Mr..
wadder. proceeded TO a negro newspaper.
to wreck It. The editor had published an
article defamatory TO white women and a
mass meeting OF citizens ordered his OK
pulsion from the city In "a hours. Fifteen
leading negroes were called in by tho oom-
mittee last night and directed to notify
ele chairman by 1880 this evening wheth-
er they would agree TO the removal OF the
prose. They were informed that n no an
returned. the press would be
demolished.
No answer was received. and after
waiting an hour the citizens proceeded
In a body and demolished the fixtures of
the printing office. The banding was also
fred and quilted. The leaders say that
this action was the work OF irresponsible
n ersons, and as soon as tho fire was dis
co vered, the fire department was called
to ,Vxtlnguleh It.
The burning OF the printing office Great
ed a great commotion among tho negroes
OF the town. The rumor spread that the
whites were going to burn and murder
in the negro quarter. This rumor reached
the negro employees OF a cotton compress,
numbering 300 or 4Oo who quit work and
hung about ahe streets In manifest terror.
other parties congregated IN the negro
section, and It was in one OF these that
the first tragedy was enacted. The men
were sanding on a corner and wero order
ed to disperse. They declined. and, # Is
claimed, fired INTO the whites. a fusiladc
was Immediately opened up nnd threC
negroes were killed. one negro ran down
the street and. passing a residence, fired
a rife at William Mayo, white, standing
on the veranda, shooting him through tho
left lung. This negro was recognized
pursued aud captured while hiding undel
bed. 1t is said he confessed TO the
shooting. He was riddled with sfspt bJ
his captors and killed.
In the meantime, the town was in q
state OF great exeitment. The whites
rushed TO the street from every direction
the local military company was ordered
out and a battalion OF United States ma
val reserves Iroct eded 10 tho vioinity O.
the tro ibls with rapid fire gun
About o'clock some negroes In a house
dred upon q passing party Of white men
The house was surrounded ana fou
negroes captured ana taken 70 the jan
ono negro broke away and ran, but wa
shot down and killed before he had pro
ceedesi half block.
During the afternoon there were othe
affairs Of this kind and Sight negroe
we're kiIed during various timo in the diI
trubed sections.
AZ the news Of the riot sE-cad throug
the neiplboring state cities, they offel
ed to sersa help. but all such offers wer
declined. except IA the case OF Fayett'
Vile, from which twon came about i
men. As sight fen the town was con
pletely patSoned and guarded. Very fe
negroes were on the streets and they wei
not allowed 70 eongregate.
The action Of the citizens in organizir
new municipal government, Is expects
70 bring peace and order, and no roth
is expected tonie
A crowd was formed tonight 10 tai
n ON the jail two negroes who were a
re sted today. charged with MAXI