The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-23
SWANSON WENTTO
Scene OF TROUBLE
Lett With Adiutant-G General An
derson for Onancock When
People Asked for Help
MILITIA WAS ORDERED OUT
That Happened i'll 1907, and No
Troops Have Been Ordered
Out Since Then.
MILITIA WAS ORDERED OUT

since, the first call for help came
from the mountain village OF Hills
Nllie on The morning OF March II. the
people OF Virginia have tried TO re-
mcmUer eNac,!y the last date on which
troops were ordered out by the Gov
ernor so many questions bearing ON
inns point nave been asked that The
Times Dispatch files were consulted
for authentic Information.
ne mliitia has never been called
on, during the administration OF GOV
ernor Mann. ON saturday. August
10. 1897 trouble occurred at Onancock.
when Garland Belotc was shot twice
BY James Uzalc. colorod editor. In
stontiy feeling ran to high pitch.
and there was fear of Il widespread
conflict between the whites and
negroes. The information from Oman
S"vk thut night was neAErc, hlthoug u
governor swanson. who was promptly
advised Of the trouble by The Times
Dispatch. made every effort to secure
facts from an official source.
ON sunday, August IL, the citizens
ut Onnrcock held a mass meeting and
sent telegram to the Governor urg-
!nE him I" rush arms for the citizens.
This request was not received until a
lat" hour, but the Governor immc-
diatcly got in touch with Adjutant-
General Charles J. Anderson and de-
cidcd that they should so at once TO
tho scene of the riot.
Governor Goes 10 Front.
On me morning OF August IL The
Timca Dispatch printed the following:
Adiutant- General Charles j. Anderson,
left Richmond for Onancock last night.
after receipt of a telegram from the
Mayor of that place asking that men
arms and ammunition be sent imme-
diately, that more trouble was feared.
Tho message was not received until .
o'clock.
calling the chief dispatcher of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, the
Governor was Informed that second
section OF train No. IS would leave the
ia fNFg M Il
boarded that. having telegraphcd in
the meantime TO have the Commodore
Maury meet him at Old Point at l2:45
O'Clock this morning for q hurried trip
10 the Eastern shore,
The Times-Dispatch correspondent
at Newport News was instructed over
the telephone to meet the Governors
train and find out ii ne had received
word on the way OF any fresh out
break at Onancock. or If he had deemed
it necessary to order out troops. The
correspondent entered the Pullman and
aroused the Governor from mis- slum-
bcrs. but he had received no add'-
tional messages after the alarming cry
for help which started him from Rich
port News to Old Point the Chesapeake
and Ohio ran "a special train for the
Governor and the Adiutant-G General
and they sailed about ! o'clock"
Before the train reached Old Point
the Governor decided that Adjutant-
General Anderson should proceed at
once Ia NOriolk 10 arrange ior tNe
movement OF troops from that city.
Militm Quickly on scene.
There was a feeling OF relief when
the Governor reached Onancock at
noon Quickly taking in the situa-
tion. Governor swanson sent orders
to General Anderson in Norfolk
to have nifty soldiers rushed to the
Eastern shore. Practically the entire
village had congregated in the street
Governor Swanson made speech, IN
which he said that every rifle sent, TO
Onancock must have its soldier THAI
he could not send arms as the people
had asked but that ne would keep the
soldiers IN the town until the excite
mcnt was aliay.d In this way the
trouble was nipped in the bud and
Governor Swanson and .Adiutant-Ci
cral Anderson returned to Richmond.
Tho Governors action in ordering out
the militia and the fact that he went
was widely commended by the news
unners OF Nlrginin ana olhcr States