The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-12
DEMOCRATIC REGIME
STRANGL[NG ANARCHY
Wmngtons New Government Bringing Law and Order Out
the Chaotic Conditions Brought About by Negro Domination

men in control of local affairs represent
inc the best elements of the city. The
firm hand of the law is being laid upon
the town and is holding i'll restraint ali
classes which might threaten disorder.
The first act of the new government
was to swear in go special policemen.
CoOl-headed men were selected for these
positions and were instructed to prevent
any attempts to terrOriZe the negroes aS
well as to frustrate acts of lawlessness
by the latter.
Good government was put to a test inn
mediately, and the new officials were
called upon almost before they had taken
their seats to make good their promises
to preserve order. a big lynching party
was planned for the night, and it re-
quired all that the Mayor and his asso-
ciates could do to prevent it. There
were six negroes in Jail who had been
arrested during the excitement of the
day and whom some of the people of
the town thought should be summarily
dispatched. One was a prominent lead
er. Thomas Miller, who was charged
with declaring that he would wash his
hands in white mans blood before
night Another was A. X. Brant, charg-
ed with being dangerous character
the other were less prominent but
had been under the ban of the whites
for conduct calculated to incite trouble.
LAWLESS NEGROES BANISHED.
Mayor Waddel and his associates put
n veto upon the proposed lynching. They
said that good government was to pre-
vail in Wilmington from this time, and
he would commence Immediately. The
would-be lynchers were SO insistent that
the Mayor called out a guard TO keep
the Jail surrounded all night. This
morning the six negroes were taken out
and escorted to the north bound train
by detachment of militia. to be ban
ished from the city. The citizens cheer
ed as they saw them going, for they
considered their departure conducive to
peace in the future. The men We're
started for Richmond, Va.
This is but the beoi~~',,r of n general
movement to rid the town of the turbul!
ent negroes leaders 1t is not pro-
posed to use violence but to send them
away with instructions not to return.
Squads of men are ont to-day searching
for the most notorious characters. and
they will be deported as they are found.
Last night the white Republican de-
puts W. ~. IL itiltH IeIL lHt CITY.
He was followed to the train and nar4
rowly escaped violence
A party of men went into the ear de-
termihed TO take him out. The arrival
of Fred Stedman, who is one of the
most conservative and cool-headed men
i'll town, while being at the same time
leader i'll the movement for white SUI
premacy, frustrated the attempt. He
VI hxyf fspn oth hnp Al,
three persuaded the crowd to let
French 90. French was prominent
Republican i'll politics. and has been
charged with organizing the negroes.
Several white men of the community
who have become obnoxious from their
leadership of and association with negro
politics, are also to be deported. Notice
was served upon three of them this
morning to leave within twelve hours.
They are eXChief of Police Melton.
Charles Gilbert and r. III. Bunting. The
three men have signalized their willing
ness to go.