Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-15
FIFTY YEARS. AGO In THE STAR

A municipal election occurred In
Washington half . century ago which
was marked by some ex-
EIacfion citing incidents. The vote
was being cast for COL
1saos' lector, register and sur
veyor and members Of the board of
aldermen and common council. In the
second ward occurred the most seri-
GUS trouble. which is described in an
extra edition Of Tho Star OF Juno Z,
1859. In part, as follows:
In our report elsewhere Of tho cleo
made OF the disturbance In front Of
Mr.. W. r. Givens' store. in 18th
street near L. in which Charles Stu
art. a colored man. was attacked by a
mob. The crowd continued to incre ase
in front Of the store and became more
boisterous. finally obliging the family
of Mr.. g. to leave the premises.
Stuart having taken refuge in an up
per room. The police force. having
arrived IN considerable numbers.
formed lines in front of the house and
kept tho crowd back. Maj. Richards,
superintendent Of police. having sent
word to Stuart to know II he wished
to como out, received from him an an
swer in the Affirmative. Tho police
force were then ordered to clear the
crowd from the front Of the building,
which they did with considerable diff
ficulty. the crowd shouting Here he
comes Hang him. etc Maj. Rich
ards having taken his position at the
front door Of the store. Stuart in a
few minutes appeared. which was the
signal fer the crowd to make a dash
at him. but they were beaten off by
the mounted men, when Lieut.. TAFT
and the dismounted men formed a
hollow square around Stuart, who was
In company with Maj. Richards. and
the police and Stuart commenced to
march of in that order. The crowd
whooped. swore and threatened to
mob Stuart, and 1t required all the
exertions of the mounted men to keep
him from being lynched on the spot.
Stuart was taken down L street to
18th and thence to the corner Of the
alley where the polls were held. and
there he cast his vote.
THE alley was literally packed
with colored men. as well as the
alley on the opposite side Of the
street. and hardly had Maj. Richards
left the polls with Stuart when a
volley of stones was thrown and sew
eral Of the police were struck. The
mounted ofiicers warned the mobs to
desist and charged. but quickly the
attack was recommended. At the
corner of X street the stones COM
menced to ny SO fast that 1t was
dangerous for all parties in the
neighborhood. and the police fired
into the party engaged in throwing
tho stones. but this seemed to en-
rage the crowds. who threw stones
in larger quantities. and several pis-
tolls were fired. The ofYicers, realizing
that prompt measures should be taken
to put down the riot. were obliged
to fire directly into the crowd. when
the police pursued the fugitives close
ly. William Smith. colored. was shot
and 1t was reported that he was
killed. but at last accounts he was
still living. He was among the fore
most in the attack upon Mai. Rich
severe blows on the arm and head
with-a club and fred q pistol at him
within twb feet OF his head. 1t was
miracle that Maj. Richards was
not killed. Tne widest excitement
prevailed after this firing, the mob
yelling with rage against the police
and calling out that this policeman or
that one was the one who killed
Smith. Meanwhile the policemen,
who behaved with great lf-posses-
sion, moved up and down through
the threatening crowd. preventing
anything like riotous demonstrations.
Maj. Richards, though much injured.
remained on the ground in a car
riage. Mayor Bowen was on the
ground soon after the occurrence and
was busily engaged when we went
to press, endeavoring to restore or
der and to keep down the excite
ment."
There was turmoil in France fifty
years ago, Just preceding the war
with Prussia. The
French Empire empire was shaky.
Losing Ground. in Jun. 1s 3. ,s as.' !. Of a
summary of recent events:
"As the details come in concerning
-