Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1898-11-05
K charitable Demonstration of the Red
Shirt Men.

Hamlet, N u, Nov. To-Day al
Laurinburg the most unique and
picturesque meeting ever witnessed
in the county was held. Early in the
morning farmers from the country for
miles around began to arrive on horse
back or in vehicles All wore blood
red shirts, made especially for the cam
paign. The little cannon.Zeb Vance,
used in the celebrated campaign Of
1876, was brought out and its boom>
ing could be heard for five miles. A
brass band marched through the
streets discoursing popular airs, BY
10 o'clock there were fully a thousand
red shirted men in Laurinburg. They
galloped about or stood in small
groups, discussing the situation. 1t
was the most determined looking set
of men, nearly all fine looking speci-
mems of Southern manhood. the
Suns correspondent ever saw: 1t was
evident that they had not come for Il
frolic, but for business. But for the
music of the band and the clatter OF
horses hoofs the quiet would have
reminded one more of funeral than
a political meeting. Men talked in
lower tones than usual. All this
made deep impression on the
minds of the negroes, who silently
viewed what was taking place. at
1890 o'clock the procession formed in
front of the Presbyterian church.
The business aud professional men
closed up their places of business and
came out to join with the farmers.
There were several hundred horsemen
and about fifty vehicles. The boys OF
town were there to witness the start.
They wore red badges Red flannel
was attached to the brides and the
tails of the horses were tied with
red cotton The ladies wore red
ribbon and waved their greetings to
the men and smiled upon them. The
horselnen led the way, followed by
those in vehicles a procession more
than a mile in length galloped
through the town and left it to the
protection Of few picked men With
yells and shouts that could be heard
IL mile away, this most unique pro-
cession left Laurinburg and went out
into the country miles away. Through
fields of cotton, where the pickers
were gathering the product, the
whites rode at q lively trot. Negroes
stopped their work, and, with a feel
ing of awe, watched the red shirts
until the last one had disappeared.
This parade was intended for tie
moral effect that it would have upon
the negroes. Hundreds, if not thous-
ands, of them saw 1t. Every few miles
horsemen and vehicles were drawn
up by the roadside and joined the
procession. Five miles from the town
several hundred red shirts from Max
ton fell into line. The yells resounded
through the turpentlne forests,
where sawmiil hands were at work,
who came out to view, with evident
alarm, this remarkable demonstration.
A white banner carried by the lead
ing horsemen told them the story.
1t had inscribed upon it but two
woi DIS: white Supremacy There
was no installing what these words
meant. 1t was not necessary to tell
the negroes that the whites had de-
cided to run the government. Over
sandy roads, across creeks and brooks,
through lovely farms, by old-fashion-
ed Southern mansions and dirty ne
gro cabins the whites rode. They
made a circuit of ten miles and were
received on their return by the cheers
of the women and children.
In the afternoon great meeting
was held in the open air. A sea of
red shirts were in front Of the speak
ers' stand. A score or more negroes
were on the outskirts of the crowd.
Three or four of them wore red, ine
dicating their sympathy with the
whites. Claude Kitchin was the ora
tor. He is called tile young Zeb
Vance by some. Kitchin's speech was
just such hot stuff as his audience
wanted.-Special to Baltimore Sun.