Evening star., 1898-11-11
UNDER WHITE RULE
City Government of Wilmington.
n G., Completely Reorganized.
ALL TIE OLD OFFICIALS RESIGN
Several Obnoxious Persons Mott
fled to Leave the City,
BUSINESS RESUMED TODAY
special From Statf Correspondent,

WILMINGTON, N. c. November H.
Ihis disturbed and long perturbed COM
H'thltv seems al last to be entering upon an
era vi peace and order. A complete change
III 'he municipal government effected last
night with some suddenness but great
ufanmty has placed men in control of
iocaI anairs representing the best elements
of the city.
Inc nrm hand of the law is being laid
upon the town and is holding in restraint
all classes which might threaten disorder.
After the collision between the white
people and the negroes yesterday afternoon.
ana when 1t was seen that the situation
might get beyond control, the committee
OF twenty-five assembled to take action
AS the city was virtually under their direc-
uon, the mayor and the local police being
poWerless. 1t was decided that the incum-
oent mayor, chief of police and board of
aldermen should resign their offices and
give way TO democrats and white men who
would represent the substantial interest of
the town. Messrs. F. H. Stedman and c.
w. Worth were sent to wait upon the
mayor and convey the decision Mayor
Wright and Chief of Police Melton assented
to the proposition to resign, and that the
board of aldermen should also GO The
to fill their offices.
Board of Aldermen ReOrganIzed
About 4:30 O'Clock the board of aldermen
assembled In their room at the city hall.
AS one alderman would rise and resign,
his associates would elect his successor.
named by the citizens committee. This
method was followed down the line until
the board was reorganized and was in con-
fro If
committee, and including prominent citi-
Zcns.
Mayor Wright and Chief of Police Mel
ton then resigned, and the board of alder
men proceeded to elect their successors
Colonel a. M Waddell was elected mayor
and Mr.. E. G. ParmeIee chief of police
The first act of the new government was
to swear in 80 special policemen Cool
headed men were selected for these posts
and were instructed to prevent any at
temptS to terroriZe the negroes as well as
to Illustrate any lawlessness by the latter
Good government was put to a test i'm
mediately, and the new officials were called
upon almost before they had taken their
seats to make good their promises to pre-
serve order. A big lynchng party had
been planned for the night, and it required
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 dis
patched. One was a prominent leader
Thomas Miller, who was charged with de-
clarlng that he would wash his hands in a
white mans blood before night Another
A char
dangerous character. and the others were
less prominent but who had been under the
ban of the whites for conduct calculated
to incite trouble.
Lynching PrOpOsftiOn Vetoed.
Mayor WaddelI and his associates put a
veto upon the proposed lynchng. They said
that good government was to prevail II,
Wilmington from this time, and would COM
mence Immediately. The would Iynchers
were SO insistent that the mayor called out
a guard and kept the Jail surrounded all
night. This morning the six negroes were
taken out and escorted to the northbound
train by detachment of militia, to be ban
ished from the city. The citizens cheered
as they saw them going, for they consider
ed their departure as conducive TO peace in
the future The men were placed on the
train and started for Richmond.
This is but the beginning of general
movement to rid the town of the turbulent
negro leaders. 1t is not proposed to use
violence, but to send them away with in
structions not to return. Squads of men are
out today searching for the most notorious
characters, and they will be deported as
they are found. Last night the white re-
publican deputy sheriff, G. Il. French, left
the city. He was followed to the train and
VII A
went into the car and were determined to
take him out. The arrival of Fred Stedman
who is one of the most conservative and
cool-headed men in town, while being al
the same time a leader in the movement
for white supremacy, frustrated the at
tempt He was joined by two other citi-
zens, and the three persuaded the crowd to
let Mr. French go. French was prominent
in republican politics and has been charged
with organizing the negroes.
Obnoxious Leaders to Go.
Several white men of the community who
have become obnoxious from their leader
ship of and association with negro poll
tics are to be deported. Notice was served
upon three of them this morning to leave
within twelve hours. They are sx-Chief of
Police Melton, Charles Gilbert and r. H
Bunting. On Market street two pictures
are displayed from the branch of a tree
One is LABELED "R. H. Bunting, white" the
other, picture of d negro woman, is mark
ed Mrs. r. H. Bunting colored."
Six of the negroes killed in yesterdays
fight have been identified as follows: John
Townsend, Chas. Lindsay, William Mouzon,
Josh. Halsey, John L. Gregory and Dan
Wright.
Another negro was found dead this morn
ing under a house in the neighborhood
The inquest on the dead men was COM
menced today. and will probably continue
until tomorrow, to ascertain who fired the
first shot. This afternoon the city il quiet
business houses have reopened, except the
saloons. which will be closed indefinitely
Three Objectionable white men-Buntins.
Gilbert and Melton-were escorted to the
depot at o'clock by a squad of infantry
and put aboard the train, with orders to
leave the community. They were hooted
and ieered by the populace aS fbev nac.oa