Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-10-12
SATURDAY,, OCTOBER IL, 1918.
RIOT IN HOPEWELL QUEILED
BY TROOPS; THREE SHOT.
Alteration Between Spaniard and
Colorcd Men Causes Serious
Race Trouble.
HUNDREDS OF SHOTS FIRED.


Three men were injured in race
riot at Hopcwcll which reached it's
height OF fury shortly after o'clock
yesterday.
AZ midnight following the arrival
of two companies of soldiers from
Camp Lee, two militia companies and
fifty military police from Petersburg.
Hopewcll had quoted down. A com
pany Of State guards dispatched TO
the scene by Governor Wcsimorcland
Davis also aided in quoting the dis
order which for Il time threatened TO
reach dangerous proportions.
The row began shortly after = O'Clock
yes. crday afternoon when II Spaniard
named Gomez engaged i'll an alterca-
ton with Il colorcd woman employed
as waitress in Il restaurant. Gomez
discharged her and the row followed.
In the alteration Gomez is said to
have struck the woman and she i'm
mcdiately appealed to her friends BY
a o'clock Il large crowd had gathered
about the place and several shots
were fired. The Hopcwcll police ap-
peeled to w. p. Allen of the Du Point
Plant, and in an address Allen sought
to prevail upon the Negroes to return
to their homes, promising their case
would receive just treatment.
The Negroes left, but an hour later
returned and an open conflict i'll the
s rect followed. AS Soon rs the first
shots were fired, other Negroes, at
tractcd by the shooting rushed to the
scene. In moment pistols began
1t, ,,.s,N &C l,n
district known as Davisville.
TWO NEGROES SHOT DOWN.
ONE THOUGHT Fatal Wy HURT
Two Negroes were shot down by
the police in an effort to dispcl the
rioters. One is dangerously wounded,
and it Is understood he will not re-
cover. The other is not dangerously
injured. One mcmhcr of the military
p ,ljce who i,aprcncd in the vicinity
also was injured by flying bullet.
His condition is not rGEari.ed rs sc
rions
Efforts were made to get into com
munication with Governor Davis but
owing to the fact that he was then in
speeding the 1dichmond Grays word
of the riot did not reach him until the
disturbance had about subsidized. Hope
well police failing to hear promptly
from Governor Davis, appealed to the
authorities at Camp Lee.
Two companies OF infantrymen were
rushed over in automobiles and street
cars. Later military police and the A.
p. iiill rifles were sent from Peters
burg, hy order of Governor Davis and
tho IIopowcll militia was called to aid
the authorities III restoring order.
Another Petersburg company was ord
cred TO stand in readiness to go.
Major Quindell Of Camp Lee was
placed in command of the soldiers
and militia, and several hours after
arrival order had been restored. How
ever II heavy military guard was post
cd about the district and will remain
there, SO authorities announce until
the trouble has completely subsidized.
SEVERAL HUNDRED SHOTS FIR
ED BY POLICE AND RIOTERS.
Residents Of Hopcwell were panic
stricken when the shooting began and
for several hours few cared to depart
from their homes. Tt is estimated that
several hundred shots were fired by
Wv >tSIOCS plItI III the hTC1NaI OIL
the soldiers and militia. The latter,
Immediately fixed hayonets, and drove
the angry crowd to cover.
At midnight the police authorities
announced that all was quiet and that
no further disturbance threatened. 1t
is understood that arrests will follow
since the police were able to recognize
number of the ring leaders Of the
gang Several also were taken into
custody by the soldiers, it is said, and
these will be arraigned before a mag.
istrate possibly Saturday.
Governor Davis and Adjutant-Gcn
oral 10 Lane Stern kept in touch with
ilopewell practically all night, fear
ing fresh outbreak and planning to
prevent further trouble. The Cover
nor was In the act OF inspecting the
local militia when notice Of the riot
came to him about 8 o'clock. At that
time only meager reports could be got
Ten, but to be on tho safe side he
ordered the Hopewe1l and Petersburg
companies to proceed to the scene
or trouble at the earliest possible mo
mont. At the same time he notified
local militia officers to hold themselv
es in readiness for call.