Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-24
TROUBLE AT PHOEBUS
The Conflict Between the Civil
Authorities and Soldiers,
GRAVE ApPREHENSI0KS ARE FELT,
The Local Military Called Out 10
PreYent DiSOrdsr.
CoMMUxIcATED WITH.
He Advises the sheriff TO Maintain
Order-Fear That the saloon-Keep-
er Who Shot sailor VIII 10
Iynched.
vises the Sheriff TO MaintaIn
Iynched.

NEWPORT NEWS, VA, August o.
(Special) The trouble at Phoebus be-
tween the soldiers OF the First Maryland
Volunteer Infantry and the sailors from
the large feet OF warships In Hampton
Roads threatens a possible serious turn
before morning. and the military an1
civil authorities are taking every precau.
ton within their power to prevent an-
other clash II the soldiers and citizens
come together tonight there will be
bloodshed
Colonel Lane. eommandant at Fort
Monroe telegraphed to Secretary AlgeI
this morning. giving the status of affairs
at the fort and Phoebus which is directly
in the rear across a small stream. and
asked for Instructions lie received an
answer from General Alger this afternoon.
but its contents are not known.
GOVERNOR TYLER'S INSTRUCTIONS.
Sheriff Curtis, of Elizabeth city county.
wired Governor Tyler this morning. ac-
quaintng him with the details OF last
nights shooting scrape, and requesting
instructions as to the extent of his au-
thority and right 60 resort ia arms. The
Governor replied, Dying the Sheriff power
to organize an armed force. The officer
telegraphed for arms, and was instructed
to come to the city and secure the guns
Of the Newport News Military Academy.
THE HOME GUARD ON HAND.
The Home Guard. of Hampton. arrived
here this afternoon. and finding tho
gu n
The guns-sixty i'm number-were secured
and taken back TO Hampton. Any at
tempt on the part Of the soldiers or sail
ors to aVenge the arrest and shooting OF
their comrades last night will be resisted
to the utmost. The negroes have been
siding with the saloon-keeper and cid-
zens of Phoebus. and the soldiers and
sailors have sworn vengeance upon every
black man I'm the town.
BROUGHT BACK TO JAIL.
A. o. Tucker, the saloon-keeper who
| shot the sailor Sunday afternoon, and who
was transferred to Norfolk Tor safe
keeping. was taken back TO the Hampton
iaH this evening When the soldiers ana
sailors became cognizant OF his presence
omnious threats were heard. and the civil
authorities and citizens tonight expected
an attempt 10 lynch the prisoner
Sheriff Curtis telegraphed TO the Secre'
tary of War this afternoon informing
him OF the disturbance at Phoebus and
suggesting that orders be issued TO tho
commandant at Old Point requiring him
to keep the volunteers within camp
bounds Nevertheless some OF the sol
ders appeared on the streets, together
with many sailors.
CONsTABLES WITH WINCHEsTERS
In order 10 protect Tucker and "a
provide against hostile demonstrations.
twenty-five special constables were pro-
vded with Winchester rifles. This precau-
tion was partly due 70 the fact thai
n shortage Of l2j Springfield rifles had
been discovered at Fort Monroe. ina
situation at dark appeared To DO serious.
but the indications at 1879 were that or
der would be maintained. There is no
telling. however. when there Will be
fresh outbreak.
The Maryland volunteers say that
among the deputies that fired on them I'm
the skirmish at the Jail were a number
Of negroes, and claim that but for the
fact that colored deputies were sworn In
there would have been no trouble. Com
monwealth' s-AttOrney Collier, Of Hamp-
ton. replying TO this charge, said to-
right: There was not a negro at the
Phoebus Jail when the difficulty took
place i'm repelling the attack upon tho
Jail, and the Sheriff knew nothing con-
cerning the firing at the negro place. No
negro was sworn I'm and no negro was
engaged in the fight between the Sherin"s
posse and the soldiers. which took place
at the Jail. Colonel Lane saw the Sherifs
posse. and am sure will say there were
no negroes In IT,"