The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-11-17
Revolution in Wilmington.
DETERMINED ACTION OF CITIZENS
AND TAX PAYERS.

DETERMINED ACTION OF CITIZENS
AND TAX PAYERS.
Serious Race Riot in Which Eleven
Negroes and One White Tlan Were
kiIIed-i1any Wounded and as 7any
More White and Black Negroes r1ade
to Leave the State.
The election in Wilmington passed
off quietly, but the day following while
citizens of the city held a meeting and
passed resolutions demanding that the
negro editor Manly, who wrote In his
paper, the Ref0rd, the slanderouS and
defamatory article against the "poor
white women" of the Slate, should
leave and that the publication Of his
paper be suppressed.
These resolutions were submitted to
a committee of colored citizens and
an answer was demanded by 8 O'Clock
the next morning. No reply having
been received at the time agreed upon
Thursday morning a body 0: men,
400 or 900 in number, marched to
the Record office and demolished the
outfit, the building being fired in the
mean time. 1t is said it was not the
intention Of the committee, headed by
Col A. NJ Waddell, to burn the
property and that this was the work OF
irresponsible persons. Be that as it
may tire building and contents were
burned and the editor fed the city TO
save his life.
But this was not to be the ending.
A terrible race war was preclpltated
and as a result II negroes were killed
outright and as many more badly hurt.
One white man was killed and three
or four others were wounded.
Six or eight or more Of the ring
leaders among the negroes were
arrested and put in Jail and 1t looked
as if they would be lynched. Bat
Mayor Wadde!l put a strong guard to
protect them and later they were re-
leased and ordered to leave the State
for their own and the States good.
This they were only too glad to do, it
need not be stated.
Several other objectional characters
both white and black, we're made to
leave and never show their face in Will
mlngton again upon pain OF being
hung or shot. Among these were
, Geo. L. French, a notorious carpet.
Dagger, who was acting sheriff; tria]
justice r. H. Bunting; and J. R.
Melton, chief Of police. Two negro
lawyers, Scott and Henderson, one
| negro preacher, the negro editor
Manly and about half dozen Others
are among the "dispersed abroad, .
and it is reasonable to suppose they
will give Wilmington a wide berth
hereafter.
The firing upon the white men anC
wounding of one of their number by
a negro as the crowd was returning
from its mission of demolishing the
Record office, brought on the trouble
| which resulted in SO much bloodshed
This was the signal for the real CON
fllct and it swiftly followed. Two
negroes were instantly killed and in
the riot which followed nine others
shared a similar fate while as many
| more received wounds of more or less
| serious nature.
This outburst, when it partially sub
sided, was followed by a complete
change of city government in day
The Republican Mayor resigned and
Col. A. M. Waddell was elected in his
stead. Then the city officers resigned
one at a time and each place was filled
| by Democrat. This was continued
until there was change in the entire
city government. Those in office
saw that the forbearance of the white
| people was at an end; and so they
| gave up their places to more compe.
| tent men.
Meanwhile troops from Maxton
kinston, Clinton and other places had
been ordered by the Governor to re-
pair to Wilmington to help preserve
the peace. Special policemen were
appointed in large numbers and vigo
rous efforts were made to restore order
and quiet.
Mayor Waddell Immediately after his
election set about bringing order out OF
chaos and 60 we'll has he cuccee6ed tina
the place where terror reigned a week
ago is now orderly and men are
going to and fro at their business as
though nothing had happened.