The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-25
THE WILMINGTON RIOTS
W. Il. HENDERSON, AN EXILED Me-
GRO, VIVIDLY DESCRIBES THEM.
Tells a Bethel A. VI. II. Church Audi
ence of the Wrongs Done
His Race.

| leave that place after the reign OF terror
inaugurated against the negroes subsequent
| TO the recent election, related his experience
| TO large audience at the Bethel A. NJ. f..
Church yesterday afternoon. Mr.. Hender-
son IS a man of more than ordinary ability.
His description of the incidents of the
reign of terror and the causes that led to
it. was graphic in the extreme. He is a
| quiet, yet fOrcible speaker, but at intervals
his words were dramatic, more from the
simple truth they conveyed than any ora
torical attempts. The attorney was educat-
ed in North Carolina, afterward taking
collegiate course in the University of Call
ifornia. His home was originally at Sauls-
bury, n. c. but a year ago last August
he removed with his family to Wilmington,
where he saw a better field for his pro-
, fession, and in the year that he resided
there succeeded in building up good prac-
tice. He invested in a home, paying part
| cash-$4O0. When he was suddenly ordered
TO depart. the man from whom he had
bought offered to give him $50 for his
equity in the property. and demurred when
Mr.. Henderson begged for SIS, barely
enough to pay for railroad tickets north
for himself and large family. He came to
Indiana with his family who are now at
Brazil temporarily with relatives until Mr..
Henderson can secure a new location for
the practice of his profession.
At the outset of his talk yesterday, Mr..
Henderson said that he had been asked to
set right maliciously false reports
that had been sent ont concern
ing the deplorable affairs at Will
mington. He branded the assertion
that it was popular uprising of the whites
against negro domination as absolutely UNI
true. The whole trouble was due, he said
to the fact that the Democrats of the city,
county and State were determined to con-
troll everything. In Wilmington there was
u Republican mayor, a Republican Sheriff
and two Republican commissioners Early
in the campaign there was organized a
white government league, a secret political
organization, the real purpose of which was
to subserve Democratic supremacy. Ac-
cording to published statements the slogan
of the campaign was to be a white gov
eminent, white rule That meant in real
ity Democratic government, Democratic
rule To accomplish this end the cry was
set up that Wilmington and the county
were dominated by negroes. This was UNI
true, the speaker said, and then he read
copy of a letter the postmaster, a white
man worth $500 900, had written, in which
! he denied that the negroes dominated, re-
citing that the mayor was white, q ma
jority of the aldermen were white, the
board of audit without whose author
ity no money could be spent, was white.
and so on through the list, the letter show
ing that everything was in the hands or
the control of the whites. But what was
grinding to the Democrats was that those
in office were Republicans. and it was TO
Gust them that the race question was
sprung. In his letter the postmaster said
ton than it had been ever before. and that
its condition would continue to improve,
unless these false statements about negro
domination drove away business. This let
ter was taken up and made q campaign
document by the Republicans.
MADE POSTMASTER RECANT.
When the letter appeared at Wilmington
Postmaster Chapman was visited by COM
mittee which told him that if he did not
recant the committee would take his life
Then Mr. Chapman wrote another letter,
taking back what he had said. But this
deceived nobody. In his second letter, Mr.
Chapman did not mention the duress under
.lich it was written. Under threats, Coun-
ty Chairman Foster and Mr. Chapman let
It be known that they intended to vote the
Democratic county ticket but the mayor
of Wilmington, Mr.. Wright and the sheriff
declared that they intended TO vote accord
ing to their principles. When 1t came TO
talk Of a Republican county ticket men
who were being considered as candidates
were called on and told that IL they went
on the ticket their lives would be taken. AT
this juncture Mr.. Henderson was asked for
his advice about a county ticket, ana SAID
that he opposed to one being formed
unless assurance of federal protection was
given so that the colored people would not
be shot down. That the Democrats We're
determined to capture the county, district
and State by any means was proved by the
fact that rifles and shotguns-even Calling
guns-were brought into the city and placed
in the hands of reliable" men. Colored
men who wanted to vote We're warned not
to register or they would lose their jobs. A
man said to one old cololed man: You've
worked for me for twenty years, and don't
want to lose your services, but il you reg
lister I will have to discharge you. The re-
ply was: II will register and vote, even II
I am shot down for it.. That was the Senti-
ment Mr.. Henderson encountered every
where. The colored people were saying:
I'VE have a Republican sheriff. a Repub-
lican mayor, the Governor is with us. and
we have a Republican President. If we
can't get protection now we can never get
il. For that reason / am opposed TO voting
unless the federal troops are here. But the
Republicans of the west part Of the State
opposed having the troops sent to the dis
trict contendng that their presence would
be used by ignorant whites as going to show
that the government was aiding TO help the
| negroes secure domination.
BROKE OPEN POLLING PLACES.
In this crisis it was decided by the Re-
publicans not to nominate county ticket,
and an agreement was had by which the
colored voters were to be permitted to so to
the polls and vote for the judges and state
| legislators This agreement having been
reached, it was thought that the election
would move along quietly. There was no
disturbance on election day, although the
whites were evidently anxious, and after
| the polls were closed a thousand armed
white men appeared in the streets Word
came that three hundred of the mob were
marching down upon the third precinct in
! the Fifth ward, one Of the largest IN the
| city Mr. Henderson heard this report at
| the police station, where he happened TO be
awaiting election returns. =,
"They are going to capture the polls,
| came the word.
Let them go ahead was the reply that
| discretion dictated
| AT one precinct the mob burst open the
doors. Knocked down the inspector of eiec-
| ton destroyed the ballots and substituted
| Democratic ballots At another precinct
| the officials We're forced to sign false cleo
| ton returns.
"During all this time" said Mr.. Hender-
\ SON there was not the slightest Semblance
| of disturbance on the part of the colored
| people The next day there was a ratihca-
| tion meeting at which incendiary speeches
were made. The whites had been permitted
/ to take the county, but they We're not sat
| isfied I was on the street when two men
drove by in a buggy and called me TO them.
There is going to be meeting
prominent citizens are to be pres
emit We want to invite you TO
| come said one. He showed me paper on
which were a number of names. ana sald
| that some of the other colored men would
| not promise to go without knowing ] would
/ be present. l promised to be there. Ihey
| checked off my name and drove on. APP
| peared at the hall in the evening. | was
| told to wait few minutes outside, untll 4
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