The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-22
|.0LD0 MARKET HALL
AND |. ITS | 5 4. HISTORY 5 n
Famous Landmark, Where Stir.
ring Political Scenes Have
Been Enacted.
.CtlAHo0N-ELLYsON CONTEST.
Fires Of This Great Battle Ragged
Fiercely Around Building Nov
About to BE Raced.

{ III :
About to BE Raced.
The determination Of the city to tear
down the Old Market Hall because 1t
has been condemned by the city Engi-
neer as unsafe, will not only remove a
landmark OF long standing. fn11tliar to
the public eye, but will be the end as
we'll, OF one Of the most famous and
historic political meeting places In Nir-
GINA. Built in 1876. 1t shortly became
the rendezvous OF politicians generally
and those OF Jefferson Ward in partlcu-
lar. and 1t continued its popularity and
usefulness in this line until a few years
ago. when the City Engineer pronounced
It unsafe for largo meetings.
Time was when 1t was we'll tndor-i
stood In city politics. that las goes Jef-i
ferson Ward, so goes the city, and this
fact, and the additional one that 1t was
the most comrnodious and centrally To-
Gated public hall In Richmond. made It.
popular as gathering plcco for great
political occasions.
Many Stirring Scenes.
4 Perhaps there Is no room In Richmond
in and around which SO many stirring
ana exciting scenes have taken place
and the older citizens remember and
tell Of them in the most interesting
manner. yi
Tho most strenuous and animating of
snll however. were those enacted in con-
nection with the famous Chahoon- Ellysonl
contest for the lrlayornity of the city in
1869. when Virginia was In the throcs
OF reconstruction.
The story is we'll known to many, and
has been frequently written by eye Wit
,nesses and others.
George Chahoon was a Northern man..
and was the military appointee 3D. as
Mayor, while Virginia was {! military
(: Finally there was an election; in which
Chahoon ran, and was opposed by the
late Hon. Henry K. Bllyson, who was
the conservative or really the Democratic
or white mans candidate. The ballot
box of the First Precinct. ] efferson Ward,
was stolen, and could never be discov-.
cred. SO bitter contest ensued.
Would Not Give Up.
Chnhoon, as mayor declined to admit
his defeat, and refused to surrender the
Office This arrayed the IA two parties
sharply against each other, and Apply
steal clash seemed immipent5 for weeks
and weeks. Chahoon, tn his counsel,
General Henry a.. Wise. as advisor, as
serted his authority, and surrounded by
such Of the police force as he could COM
mand, took charge Of the Old Market
Hall and dened Interference from with
out. DELI 5
The Police headquarters were there,
and he removed his office from me
City Hall so as to be In a strategic po-
slton. For days and days serious trou-
had q small army Of nesroes in and
about his headquarters, and feeling ran
high on both sides. t E4{Y 5ss
He was in possession of all the police
stations, and maintained his office behind
closed doors in the Old Market Hall. The
situation was growing more lntolerable
day by day and the business men and
white citizens generally determined to
put an end to It, and bring about law
and order. Ell Ia III
One day, the late Isaac Davenport had
a number Of business men to meet him
by appointment at his bank, to discuss
the matter. Meanwhile she3 had sent for.
General Bradley 7. ;ynJohnstonaS When
General Johnston. arrived aA1r. Davenport
told him he and his associates realized
the seriousness Of the situation; that
the whole city was in q -state OF con7
fusion and that riot and bloodshed were
imminent at any time.
" Time for Action.
They desired him to organize a hum
dred citizens In each ward = appoint cap,
3tains OF the companies to be formed, and
take prompt steps to quell the dlstur-
bance and to restore peace 3, and good
order in the community. In his quick,
characteristic manner OF talking. Cen
eral Johnston accepted the duty as
aligned him upon condition that the gem
tuemen present should guarantee what
ever of financial support might be needed.
e Not having had experience In such mat
tiers they could not understand that any
great sum could be requisite to the con-
duct OF the proposed operations.
I'VE do not wish any money for I'M
mediate purposes said General johns
gton It may not be needed at all. but II
IT is, 1t must be forthcoming. and some
citizens must be responsible. @tl
I'VE are about to enter upon a serious
undertaking, and no man can foretell the
result - ! ssgF, HI, Il 8E
Some OF our men may be killed or
seriously hurt, and the controversy may
take many important turns before It
has progressed very far.
The old warrior convinced his financial
friends OF the Importance OF having the
"sinews OF war In place and leaving
them. he proceeded at once to organize
his army Of five hundred white citlzenH
to protect his people from riot and blood
shed. X I'll
Picked His Men.
General Johnston picked four reliable
men in each ward and assigned them the
duty OF raising twenty-five men each.
Captain Louis r. Bossieux and the late
Major Robert Stiles were among his
best and most faithful lieutenants When
tho organization had been perfected, the
whites proceeded to cut off the water
and gas supplies at tho Old Market, leay-s
Ing the Chahoonites mt a great dsad-
-cantnge. The next move was to charge q
large gathering OF negroes that were
packed between Main and Cary Streets
below the Old Market. No firearms were
used In this engagement, however. The
night was dark and trick was played
upon the negroes.
1t Is characteristic Of the race to
fear anything that smacks OF firearms
So the whites purchased all the sky-
rockets that could be located among
the Italian confectoners on lower Main
Street and routed tho negroes by firing
them In the darkness OF tho night. The
rlutn