Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-17
WAR ON THE YORK.
Defiant Negroes Are Causing
The Trouble,
TROOPS READY TO LEAVE HERE
Major Simon Ordered TO Hold Ills
HOWizeTS in Readiness.
FORTY BLACKS OPENLY RESIST.
Twice New Kent Officers Have Been
Unable to Arrest Alleged Oyster
Thieyes-The Chesapeake VIII Ala
the sheriff To-Day.
the sheriff To-Day.


fire gun at anchor near by. and a de-
tachment Of the artillery battalion. un-
der Major Simons, ready to so to the
scene on notice. affairs on the York
river, few miles below West Point, are
not serene.
a serious outbreak may result at any
moment. 1t is not unexpected this
morning when the Sheriff of New Kent
and posse attempts to arrest the defiant
negroes. Should there still be resistance,
Major Simons and his artillery will be
ordered 10 the scene at once. Then there
will be trouble. or a very deep quiet.
Trouble has been brewing Tor several
days Matters reached an acute stage
yesterday morning, and bloodshed was
ayerted by hairs breadth.
WE'RE TAKING HIS OYSTERS.
Mr.. G. W. Richardson has for two
years had leased thirty-ones acres OF
oyster ground in York river between
King and Queen and New Kent counties.
The beds have been quite profitable, but
recently Mr.. Richardson decided to take
no more oysters for time, as they were
rather small.
on Monday Mr. Richardson discovered
that party of negro oystermen were
engaged in taking oysters from the beds,
and he at once went before New Ken,
justice and secured warrants for their
arrest The wrts were put into the
hands Of Specal-Constable Hazlewood
who attempted to execute them.
The attempt was a failure. The negroes
did not resist especially. it seems, but
only laughed and jeered at the officer, in
viting him to come and have oysters with
them.
Mr.. b. a. Farinholt, OF New Kent and
a friend. came to Richmond Wednesday
to consult with Governor Tyler as TO
what should be done. Attorney General
Montague was consulted, and he advised
that warrants be secured for the men.
charging them with resisting an officer
Of the law, and that the Sheriff OF New
Kent himself serve them.
Sheriff W. +. Woodward. of New Kent,
secured the warrants from Justice Philip
Richardson. and yesterday morning he
summoned a posse OF eight men and went
10 arrest the negroes. lie was accom-
panied by mis- posse 10 the landing. about
seven miles below West Point and
little ways, probably mile. from New
town. the settlement where the defiant
negroes lived
Sheriff Woodward left five men at the
landing, and took two with him to inter-
view the negroes. His companions were
citizens of King and Queen. The town Is
on the King and Queen side of the river.
THEY WOULD NOT SURRENDER.
The Sheriff went into the settlement.
and TO the house Of man named Rowe,
who is the leader of the gang. Rowe
was very determined. He declared he
would never surrender 10 a New Kent
officer. nor would any man I'm the settle
ment. While talking 10 the Sheriff and
companions he blew a whistle. and sent
a boy 10 summon his henchmen. The
response was very prompt and In Few
minutes he was surrounded by num-
Der Of fellows. as insOlent and violent of
speech as himself.
The Sheriff tried to reason vita them,
but IL was useless They would not heed
him. They declared they had been told
By officials Of King and Queen that they
could not be arrested by New Kent
officer. They swore they would not
Seeing that the negroes could not be
arrested. Mr.. Woodward and the two
men with him went back 10 the landing.
They were practically unarmed, not an
ticipating serious trouble. while every
negro had a rife or an axe. They seemed
ready TO use either upon slight proyoca-
tiOn.
Several of the negroes who were
thought to be- of those wanted had Joined
the members Of the posse at the landing
during the absence OF the Sheriff, and
when they saw the latter returning with
out any prisoners they set up shout.
CAME TO THE RESCUE.
The effect was magical Negroes came
running from every side except the river
Nearly all had "A gun or an axe. They
thought the posse had taken the negroes
who did the yelling. and they were pre-
pared to rescue them. There were few
arms in the posse but the Sheriff and
his men were prepared TO make as strong
a fight as POSSIBLE They realized, how
oyer that il would be the height Of folly
TO think OF arresting the negroes.
"a single act that looked like we were
going to try TO carry OFF any of the ne
eroes would have been like dropping a
live coal I'm powder magazine said
snerin Woodward 10 a Dispatch repre-
sentative last night. "Ine negroes had
the devil in them. They looked Ike they
would not mind a scrap bit. So the
best thing We could DO was to with
draw"
MILITARY IN READINESS.
Sheriff Woodward and Mr.. u. Alarm
holt came TO Richmond last night 10 see
Governor Tyler. After stating the whole
case 10 them the Governor directed Major
" f.. Simons. Of the artillery. to have a
detachment OF fifty men and Gatling
gun ready To go TO the scene OF the
trouble al ;he shortest notice. The Sheriff
a,vised tnat the military be sent at once
IN aid him in executing the warrants
but the Governor refused He t0ld Sheriff
woodward that he must summon another
and stronger posse, and serve the war
rants.
Attornev-Ceneral Montague was con-
,,,i,ed as TO the authorities OF the officials
., Naw Kent to execute warrants i'm King
and Queen county. lie referred t,c Gov
er,or ,o section $40 Of the Code. defining
The jurisdiction Of courts OF counties
over water courses: Where any river.
water course. or bay lies between any
in this State. the courts for the
counties on each side. respectively. shall
have concurrent jurisdiction over 50 much