Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-23
Are Met by a Determined
Sheriff and Posse,
WHO FIRE UroN THE MOB.
Several soldiers Reported Wound
ed-A Negro shot in n Later Row
Relief sent from Fort Monroe
Exciting Night.

NEWPORT NEWS, August 22.-Cspe-
cial.) -Enough shots were fired I'm Phoe-
bus tonight 10 XIII fifty men. but. for
tunately, no one was fatally wounded
The disturbance was probably precipi-
tated by the shooting of a sailor yester-
day Afternoon by saloonkeeper. which
seemed 10 influence the sailors and sol
diers to commit even worse depreda-
tons than on Sunday night This after
noon Sundays riotous acts were renewed.
There were rows al over the town be-
tween sailors and soldiers, who, 1t is
said. although fighting among themselves,
had Jointly spotted several saloons for
demolition. declaring that the proprietors
had used Knockout drops" in order TO
rob them. At o'clock this afternoon
Sheriff Curtis and several other officers
Of Hampton went to Phoebus for tho
purpose Of restoring order. and several
members of the First Maryland Regiment
were arrested and locked up.
THE NEWS SPREAD
The news that their comrades had fallen
into the hands of the civil authorities
spread among the volunteer soldiers still
remaining in Phoebus. and soon reached
others at Fort Monroe, and by o'clock
large crowd of soldiers had gathered
in Phoebus for the purpose of liberating
the prisoners.
SPECIAL CONSTABLEs.
Sheriff Curtis swore in a dozen men
as special constabes, nearly all the mem
bers of the local fire company being
among the number. The specials were
well armed. and at Sheriff Curtis's COM
mand, proceeded 90 the jail. They had
been there but a short time when the
soldiers appeared. They were courteous
ly asked TO leave, but declined 10 do so
unless the prisoners were allowed to walk
out. A ono-sided parley ensued. the sol
aiers at times becoming wildly demon
sIative.
MADE A RUSH.
Then with Il suddenness that scattered
the citizens who had followed the Sheriff
and his posse. the volunteers made a
rush, firing several shots as they did so.
Sheriff Curtis and his men met the attack
without hinching, and when it was seen
that nothing else would do the order TO
FIRE was given. At this the soldiers fell
back, and the citizens, seeing their OPP
portunity, passed forward TO a position |
which rendered an attack upon the Jail |
impossible without greater risk than even |
The angry volunteers cared to take.
After this skirmish, which was evident |
1y a surprise TO them. the soldiers left,
but later they had battle with negroes. |
"A number Of shots were fired, and Charles !
Smith. young negro, was shot through !
the thigh. The soldiers assert that the |
negroes attacked thems and that they
were compelled to defend themselves.
None of the volunteers were injured.
HELP FROM FORT MONROE.
Meantime help had been asked for from
Fort Monroe and a detail Of 200 men
was marched as rapidly as possible to
arriving there at 10 o'clock.
They were scattered throughout the town
and at II o'clock comparative order had
been restored None of the Sherff's men
were injured, but it is reported that six
soldiers were wounded. Every saloon in
the place was closed, and but for the
crowds on the streets Phoebus was a
most desolate-looking place.
The fire-bell began changing shortly
ar.er the row at the jail began, and that
seemed to serve as a signal to the saloon
men TO close their places.