Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 November 1898 — RIOT AT WILMINGTON [ARTICLE]

RIOT AT WILMINGTON

NINE NEGROES ARE KILLED BY WHITES. The North Carolina City the Scene of Bloodshed Wljite Citizens Overthrow |lie Former Government and Are in Control. Thursday was one of terror in Wilmington, N. G. The white men of the city, infuriated by past acts of lawlessness of the negroes, took the law in their own hands and wreaked terrible vengeance. The result, it is reported, is that sixteen negroes have been killed. Shortly after the negro newspaper office, the Record, was burned, the negroes commenced to display a disposition to create trouble. They began to gather in one of their thickly populated sections of the city, and assumed a threatening attitude toward the whites. one mob fired upon a small number of white men, seriously wounding one and slightly injuring two others. The whites returned the fire with a deadly volley, killing four negroes. As soon as the news of the shooting became known the whites, infuriated and utterly beyond the control of their leaders, rushed in large numbers to the scene and engaging the negroes, killed four of them. One military company and a division of the naval reserves, carrying with them two rapid-fire guns, also repaired to the scene, where they stood guard during the night. Kiddled with Bullets. In the meantime the body of whites had instituted a diligent search for the leader of the mob that started the riot. The negro was finally found secreted in a house. He was taken out and told to run for his life, lie started off, but only advanced a few* yards before his body was riddled with bullets. Next a negro named Tom Miller, and a white man, both of whom had taken a prominent part in inciting the negroes to riot, were sought for and placed in jail. Five other negroes were also incarcerated and severnl banished from the city. Sixteen negroes have been reported killed and quite a number wounded. The Board of Aldermen (colored) who have governed the affairs of the city for nearly two years agreed to accede to the demand made upon them by the mass meeting of citizens to vacate their offices. Consequently they, including the Mayor, resigned and their places were filled by white taxpayers A. M. Waddell. ex-Con-gTessmnn, was elected Mayor. The new Board of Aldermen instructed the Mayor, in view of the turbulent state of affairs existing in the community, to swear in 800 extra policemen. This was done, 250 being on foot, tw r enty-five on horseback, and twenty-five bicyclists. All are whites.