Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-11-12
RACE WAR IN WILMINGTON.
Many Negroes Killed and Wounded by the
Whites.

Many Negroes Killed and Wounded by the
Whites.
About 1000 citizens of Wilmington
held q mass meeting in that city last
Wednesday for the purpose of "assert'
ing the supremacy of the white man" ="
After enthusiastic speeches, a set of
resolutions were adopted setting forth
thut hereafter the whites did not pro.
pose to submit to government by men
of African origin. The recent editori-
al in which the Negro, Manly, editor OF
The Record, spoke so insultiDgly OF
white ladies was taken under consid-
Grafton, and it was resolved that Man
ly must get out of town within "a
bours and take his press with him or
suffer the consequences. 1t was also
set forth that Mayor Wright and Chief
of Police Mullen had shown their in
capacity for government and they
must resign forthwith. A committee
of 25 with Colonel A. M. Waddell.
as chairman, was appointed to carry
out the resolutions adopted.
The committee called upon Is or 20
leading Negroes and instructed them
to say, within IL hours, whether The
Record press would be removed. The
Negroes failed to make reply within
the time specified, and at 9 o'clock
Thursday morning, the committee, &C.
companied by several hundred armed
men, marched four abreast into the
Negro quarter of the city in which
The Record Office was located. Ne
groes-men, women and children
fed in wild panic on the approach oi
the committee. Without delay, the
white men knocked in the door of The
Record Office and entered. Within q
few minutes the entire plant was a
complete wreck. Then fire devel'
oped, and the fire company came with
hose and prevented the flames from
spreading to adjoining buildings.
Somebody carried report to about
500 Negroes working at Alexander
Sprunt & Co.'S cotton compress, to the
effect that the white men were burn
ing their homes. The Negroes started
in body in the direction stated but
Messrs. James and w. H. Sprunt as
sured them that the report was false
and the Negroes went back to their
work.
All the while the city was being
patrolled by squads of whites, armed
with Winchesters. At about II o'clock
a squad of whites ordered a squad
of Negroes to disperse. All the Ne.
groes dispersed but one, and he fired
at the whites, seriously wounding Mr..
William Mayo. The whites returned
the fire with a volley, and as the re-
suit of the firing on both sides, five
Negroes were killed and some twenty
or more wounded several whites
were wounded also ; but none of them
seriously.
At another place, q large number Of
Negroes assembled. The whites or,
dered them TO disperse, and on Their
refusal TO do so, firing was commenced
Four Negroes were killed and quite a
number were wounded. Late Thurs
day night, a shot was fired at a party
of whites from a house in which there
were a number of Negroes. The
whites returned the fire and killed one
Negro; making up list of ten killed
during the day.
During Thursday afternoon, the Re
publican mayor and aldermen resigned
their positions one by one. Theft
positions were assumed by white Dem.
ocrats, who elected Colonel WaddelI
mayor and E. G. Parmlee as chief oi
police. AS the next step, the new
government swore in $50 policemen
from among the most reputable white
citizens of the town.
A number of Negroes, who had been
engaged in the rioting during the day
had been arrested and committed to
Jail. At night a mob assembled with
the purpose of lynching then. Mayor
Waddell said that nothing of the kind
should be done, and placing himself at
the head of 25 citizens armed with
Winchesters, went himself to protect
the Jail.
At last accounts there was still much
excitement; but the situation was more
quiet.