Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-13
WILL BE INDICATED
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE,

teers, was sworn, and testified that n
was detailed as one of the leutenants o
the Hospital Corps, First Division. OF
August sth. He was In the field neal
hospital headquarters on the evening o
that day. He was called to see a mar
reported to have been pounded in a fight
He saw him and his face showed evi
dence Of his being battered. He was
moreover, under the influence OF liquor
The man said he had been overcome by
numbers. He went down to the corral &c
send men Of the corps back to their
streets. They were much excited. Wit
ness went to Major Cook to say he
wished to go off. He was talking to the
Major. but neither one noticed any dis
turbance. Then they heard yelling and
saw the negro being chased by soldiers.
He rode into the crowd and threatened
to ride down any man who ran into hos
pital quarters. Major Cook came up, and
after parleying with the men they became
amenable to discipline. He described
minutely the position of the negro. the
place at which Major Cook and he were
| standing, and the direction from which
| the men came and that in which they
ran. He rode across Captain Hutchins
with guard trying to keep the men
| back. Witness had few words with the
| Witness thought the crowd was composed
of 200 or 400 men. Most of the men had
three and Virginia on their collars. He did
| not see any other men. The crowd threat
ened to lynch the man If they could
catch him, and were seeing II they had
| enough belts or rope to accomplish their
purpose. One corporal said, any man
who would take up for a niger ought to
be shot In his tracks. The expression he
heard about the lynching were, IF we get
that negro he will string at the end of a
rope" The crowd dispersed and went OF
with the guard Witness saw commission
ed and on-commissioned officers in the
crowd. One officer tried to hold the men
back, and the others went with the crowd
and cheered the sentiment of the crowd
He knew them by their insignia. Not
more than half n dozen officers were en-
gagged in that way. He knew none of
them except Captain Hutchlns, who was
with the guard. Major Cook and Major
Devine were near eye-witnesses.
On cross-examination, witness said he
was conversing with Major Cook be-
tween and 1880. 1t was getting dark
The events he related occupied about 10
minutes. The parleying lasted 2 or
minutes. Not more than six or eight in
the crowd seemed TO be animated with
the lynching-fever There was quite
number present who seemed to be pas
siye. and followers of the leaders OF the
six or eight ringleaders. One was a
corporal. There were no officers He
succeeded I'm keeping the men out of the
hospital grounds. He directed his con-
versation to a first sergeant. This man
was quiet. and seemed TO be good man |
to sway the crowd He rode back ahead |
a "a h,I
ing In allegiance between one and two |
hundred men. They went of towards |
the Virginia camp. They simply seemed |
curious 10 know what had happened. The
only disorder they heard afterwards was
an occasional boot about the field. The |
officers were not taking an
active part. They seemed to be onlook-
ers. There was one captain of infantry
besides Captain Hutchins. He did not
notice the rank OF the others. He
might recognize the captain again, fer
he was particularly large and we'll
nroportioned man. He had the cross
guns Of Virginia on his collar. He could
not identify the officer positively.
MAJOR WRIGHTS STORY.
Major w. r. Wright, chief commissary
II the division, was next examined. He
vas talking with the doctors at the di-
'ision hospital on Monday evening A
nan came in and said there was a fight
large number Of men rushed into the
hospital enclosure from the direction of
he Third Virginia Regiment camp. They |
we're very much excited. He described |
he course the men ran. He heard cries
f Where is hep Lynch himl" and a
God deal Of profanity. He came to the
oncluson they were after the colored |
nrto I.r 9 |
nen of the Third Virginia and two OFF, !
ers. He spoke to the officers and said
lie thought it too bad that such a thing l
hould occur They answered.: 1--WE are
cry sorry, Major; we have tried our best
0 stop them" Witness saw a division !
octor trying to stop them. lie heard
averal cries OF shoot that --- on
Orseback." Witness went to the hos
ital and requested that a large body OF I
zen be sent 10 quell the disturbance. The I
Ot subsidized and the men drifted back ! 4
,wards the Third Virginia camp. Wit b
ess afterwards assisted in the arrest OF c
,rtain men who acknowledged they were [
Z the party who tried to catch the n
egro. This witness estimated the crowd (
Nirginians 10 contain about five hun {
red men. He was convinced by the ac- n
ons OF the crowd that they intended vio- L
nee TO the negro. lie went over expect | n
& to take vigorous measures to save I
e mans life. He did his best to head s.
e crowd off, but the men paid no atten- a
On TO him. No insubordinate remarks b
ere made He sent the message for n
oops to General Butler OF his own Volt
IN. He did so because he looked upon Il
G acts OF the men as rank mutfny He | "
nsidered IL destructive Of discipline in a
cry way He was in uniform when he
ent to the crowd. He went to meet NJ
neral Butler and told him what had >,
Cured, and went with him 70 the hos :,
al enclosure, where they arrested seve h.
| men on their way TO their camp. -
ley went together to the hospital and -
d a conference with the doctors. Wit =,
IS reported the men to the assistant -
quarters. ~
HIS MESSAGE. a,
On being cross examined, witness said 10
was perfectly light at the time Of this W
currence. He did not see any one I'm m
1nt OF the crowds that they appeared 10 p,
following He did not know the two e.
icers who were endeavoring 10 quell W
e disturbance. His message to head GA
arters was in effect, There are a great y,
any men rushing through the hospital
ounds here in pursuit OF a colored man, ~
d they are beyond control" The adju- 81
1t-general asked If he should send a T
ttalion. and witness advised a regi- A.,
mt After his visit to the hospital he -
W the men going back TO their lines
ey had all dispersed before any troops
rived. lie heard individuals shout. and
e man say: 'If we'd caught him we'd
ve ivnched him" He was with Gene