Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-08
MAD RIOT.
A Fierce Fight Between Neg
roes on the Reindeer and
Soldiers.
ALMOST A MURDER.
les who Used Billies-Soldicrs Seek
Revenge aud Threaten to Burn
the Boat-Pclted tho Negroes
with Bottles Onicer Hurt.

Lynch the niggers!" Burn the boatr
These were the cries of an infuriated
crowd OF soldiers from the First Vermont
regiment as the steamer Reindeer reach
her dock in this ctyat 1850 o'clock Friday
morning. Tho demand was the culmna-
;tion of the 1erccst fight that ever took
place on the boat-n light that had been In
progress from the time tho steamer left
Plattsbursh about II o'clock. Had 1t not
been for the determined stand taken by
the four Burlington policemen and the
iirmnpss of Lieut.. Fuller of Company 4
u lynchins or a burning or both might
have been the climax Of the row.
The trouble began just as the boat left
PlattsburFh. \ party of soldiers had gath
cred around Il lad who was dancing
on the rear deck when, as the soldiers
claim, one of the Wallace brothers, the two
negroes who are kept on the steamer to
qucll disturbances, seized the boy who
was dancing and started down stairs with
him. The soldiers followed and demand
ed the boys freedom. WallaCc'S brother
came to his assistance and ona OF the ne
grocs struck either Blake or stevens Of
Company f with n billy" The first blow
stretched the soldier Cut on the deck. Two
more blows were dealt in rapid succession
md the last blow sounded as though
1t had broken the skull of the
injured man. An inturiated mob went nj
the negro and got him into corner. lie
was bounded, thumped and beaten with
out mercy. Lieut., Fuller of Company a
forced his way through the crowd. took
hold of the negro and ordered the crowd
TO keep back. He was assisted by Lieut..
Landon and three or four non-commis-
stoned officers The men obeyed the l!eu-
tenant. but every once in a while they
would try and get their hands on the
man whom Lieut.. Fuller probably saved
from being thrown overheard.
The two negroes managed to free them
selves and mid until the boat arrived at
Burlington. They were afraid of their
lives and they would probably have either
been pounded to death or thrown over
board had they been caught. Those who
had uouor kent on drinking until some
of the men were pretty drunk There
were no LIQUORS sold on board the boa,
but bottles galore were taken aboard by
the cycursonists.
AS the steamer noarcd the breakwate-
the row broke out again and the soldiers
fairly thirstcd to get at the negroes The
boat landed and the soldiers seized every
conceivable missile they could find 10
throw at the negroes ms thcv were taken
off the boat. Lieut.. Landon was the first
TO land and he tclephoncJ to the poiiro
station for the whole force" with ms
much additional help as they could gct.
The ambulance was called for and II fol-
lowed the policemen. Ofncor Cnffey was
on the scene when the boat reached the
dock and no took charge of Charles Wal
lace Ui!cers Grafton. Kelley and Mci2lll-
gott arrived in time to soc tho row lrcal,
ont as Wallace was taken ashore. Bot
o,, Of ,bon, struniy nerrar ,:r,,on ,,,,,
the left enr. innicting an ugly cash.
Blood tri,kled down his neck and dyed
his shirt collar Il deep rcd. lie stayed
right with the crowd and 1t was with DIFF