The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-13

thority when the old order was exploded.
Even in the spiritstirring speeches
made at the meeting there was always
that prophetic sense looking toward the
coming new government. They knew
that with the passing of these resolutions
the scepter in this city would pass from
Radicals once and always.
Thursday morning dawned ominously.
No reply came to the demand that the
Record be removed from the city and its
editor banshed. Out came the deadly
Winchester that so quickly snuffs out
human life. In columns of fours men
march to the Record office and destroy
the outfit of the paper. They do their
work only too well. The building is ac-
cidentally fired and now stands Il char
red and blackened ruin.
While this is going on the negroes are
sulking on the street corners. Forum
ately they had few arms. but such as
they had they tried to use. Advice is
useless now. The issue is drawing on,
and the doubtful hour, with it's pain and
blind struggle, is to bring forth its GER
tainty never to be abolished.
The office was burned. as | have said,
in the forenoon, from 9 to IL O'Clock.
"A II.
fairs in the northern part of the city.
were startled by the echo of a pistol
shot. 1t was followed by Il yolley from
Winchesters.
Before this firing had ceased, half a
dozen negroes were biting the dust in
death. three white men We're wounded
and three times as many negroes.
Much to be regretted is this blood
she'd Surely few things in the history
of carnage are more painful, and yet
it had to be done Death only could
settle the score and bring peace. That
neffaceable red streak, Pickering so
balefully in Wilmington's history to-day
had become a necessity. And who can
help the inevitable? All North Carolina
was interested in this conflict. That
first pistol shot was heard reverberating
to the four corners of the State. and
through all hearts. For blood is thicker
than water. and there is sympathy
among men. Indeed mankind is like
tuned strings-strike one and all VIII
sound in infinite concordance.
Negro rule is Mt an end in North Caro-
lima forever. The events of the past
week in Wilmington and elsewhere place
that fact beyond all question.
With the approach of night the dread
and horror of the situation increased.
and extra precautions We're taken until
the city became formidable fortress.
The military remained on duty. and 400
special policemen were sworn in. About
200 men who came from Fayetteville.
Goldsboro and other places We're also put
on duty. Besides, the citizens, heavily
armed. patrolled each block.
With them Ready" was the word.
They carried loaded guns upon their
shoulders or loaded pistols in their
pockets. The strongest passions drove
them on. and at the same time restrained
them from excesses-love. hatred. venge-
full sorrow, patriotic determination.
The negroes now thoroughly subdued
and frightened. few of them ventured
forth. But every road leading from
Wilmington was filled with them
They were loaded with packs and
bundles. fleeing in the darkness to make
their home elsewhere
Now and then, during the night. there
were alarms and reports of men killed in
various parts of the city. Fortunat tely,
however, all these rumors proved untrue
and nothing more serious than the
wounding of one or two negroes who
rashly refused to halt when called on by
the guard resulted.
Then there was a fruitless attempt to
lynch some negroes in Jail and the put
ting of the rope around the neck of G..
u. French at the station as he was being
sent away.
In this manner wanes the slow night
and threat, uncertainty and bloodshed,
On every block the steady tramp of
guards is heard. AS the yellow lamplight
pales in the gray morning, the negroes
failed to re-appear on the streets and it
was evident that the worst of the trouble
was over.
l have seen no more grewsome sight
than was that presented the morning
after the fight. 1t was in a little under
taking establishment, owned by n negro
IA rickcty shanty on Second street
Three men were at work making rude
pine coffins. On the bare floor, stretch
six dead negroes. Their stark bodies and
staring faces tell the story of the previ-
Gus day. They were dressed in their
working clothes, just as they were shot
down on the streets. Around them
stood negro women with sad faces.
There were no men present, for the men
feared to leave their homes.
could but feel pity for these poor, de-
luded creatures, and a certain amount
of honor for them. No doubt they be-
lieyed they were right White leaders
had told them so. No martyrs We're ye
and yet almost more. They We're no
brave men, these leaders of yours who
melted you to murder and deeds of law
lessness, and they forsook you i'll your
hour of need. Ye were but valuable to
them as cats paws and for your poor
votes. They deserved death rather than
you.
Oh, We hapless negroes. why was there
no order from your leaders not to begin
this fight? And why, after screwing
your courage up to desperate defiance,
did they i'll trembling cowardice seek
cover for themselves behind barred
doors? The laswless lesson they taught.
YOU have learned too well. Nothing but
death will cause insurrection to hear and
heed. You have been betrayed to your
death and your betrayers have escaped.
But have they?
On Friday came events no less import
ant and quite rs momentous as the con-
flict of Thursday. A dozen of the lead
ers, white and black, were deported. Il
uromise being eXacted from them TO