The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-11

of at least 500 men, women and chill
| dren We're on the road and in the
woods beyond Smiths creek bridge.
Shortly after the riot a telephone
message from Navassa was received in
the city that a mob of 300 armed ne
groes were coming to the city from
that quarter, and it was suggested. by.
the person who sent the message that
the draw in Hilton bridge be opened in
order to prevent their entrance into
the city. The draw was consequently
left open, but no mob appeared, or
else was deferred by. the distressing
new from the city.
Who was responsible for this awful
affair? A. w. Scott, the negro lawyer,
primarily, but h fired the first shot?
While a Messenger reporter was on his
way to the scene Of the riot, he met
Mr.. William McAllister and his dis
tressed wife fleeing from the scene.
The street cars were not running and
they were walking. Mr.. McAllister is
night yardmaster for the Atlant
Coast Line n he had been on duty
in the railway yard the previous night.
When the fighting began he had only
a short while before reached his home
on Fourth street, near Harnett. His
! house is next door to st. Matthews
church, almost in line of the shots fired
by the negroes at the whites who were
between his house n the negroes.
Mr.. McAllister made the following
! statement to the reporter:
AT IL o'clock l started to go to bed
Che sleeps during the day.) when my
wife called me to the window. Billy"
she said, there's going to be trouble
out there | jumped up and hurried
t Othe window and saw a white man
evidently policeman LOckamy) on the
northeast corner Of Fourth and Har-
nett streets, demonstrating with both
| hands 1avinp them pff r9Dj6lV 70 a
negro. / heard the white man say,
GO on now, it will be better for you"
The negro went about ten PAGES and
pointed a pistol at the white men. l
saw the negro shoot. When the negro
shot, I noticed a delay of a few seconds
and heard another shot from the same
direction, but / did not see it fired.
My wife said: There is a white man
killed. / looked and say blood OOZing
from q white mans right arm. After
| the two shots had. been fired by the
negroes two white men fired and three
| negroes dropped. I suppose two white
men fired as I heard the report of only
two guns. Then the negroes dispersed
to some extent, but they commenced
firing at the houses. My wife screamed
and tainted, and the people in the
street followed. When the negroes
ran from Fourth and Harnett streets,
we heard four or five vOlleys on Third
street in the rear of the houses on
Fourth street. The volIeys were fired
by negroes"
When the Messenger representative
reached the scene, two negroes were
lying dead, one on the broad pavement
under the awning at Mr.. Walkers
store, and one in the gutter just in
front of the store. He was told that a
wounded nan was seen to run into the
house at All Harnett street. The news
800 ya~4 - {L~ IO,-@ -~I
knocked on the door. but there was no
answer. He then went to the rear of
the house and went in. There were
three women in the house. A man was
lying dead on the floor and one vas
in bed. He gave his name as George
Henry Davis. He was the man who
had the bullet near his heart and it
was felt by the reporter. He stated
that the white men fired the first shot.
Several other eye witnesses, however,
verified Mr.. McAllister's statement
without knowing he had made it.
RIOT NOTES.
The city for several nights has been
guarded by armed SentrieS and for past
three nights the number of guards was
largely increased. On some blocks
there were two or more men with Win
chesters or riot guns, n it was i'm
| possible for any one to pass without
challenge. Last night, in numerous
instances. cOlOred men going home
from their work being found unarmed
, were safely conducted to their homes.
AS a precautionary measure the
mayor last night had the tugs Marion
and Navassa in service as a water
patrol to guard against fire on the
water front. The regular fire depart
ment was strengthened by the addition
of several experienced firemen.
The workmen at the cotton oil mills
I were so frightened last night that they
would not start for their homes. When
it became known to the city authorities
a detachment of special police was sent
out and each workman was safely eS-
cOrted to his home. This is good evil
dence that the present administration
will guarantee protection to all-white
or black-who are worthy Of citizen
ship.
There are about $50 soldiers here to-
day, under orders of the governor, and
Colonel Walker Taylor requests that
the ladies' prepare breakfast and din
ner for them and send it in to the ar
mOry. The Wilmington Light Infantry
and Naval Reserves have done faithful
service in the effort to restore order
and a free compliance with this re-
| quest Will NC dCCcplCo dS Oil
of appreciation of services rendered.
Yesterday afternoon a special train
on the G. F. and Y. ", railway brought
Sc men from Fayetteville to render as
sistance to restore order. Most of them
are members of the Fayetteville indie
pendent Light Infantry.
Last night a special brought the Max
ton Guards, bou so strong and at
$3.50 o'clock this morning thirty of the
Kinston Naval Reserves came in. The
Clinton company, with about 40 men,
also came in.
Yesterday during the riot. the schools
were let put, the stores, saloons, COM
presses, and drug stores closed, and all
business was suspended in face of the
calamity.
A telephone message from the city
/ l~-~.,1 1a-N ~t~h% -+atA- +hat @I4 f1