1898 Wilmington race riot report - Page 192 |
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167
Although Democratic leaders sought
to end the banishment campaign once the
few readily identified “ troublemakers” were
expelled from the city, papers noted that
many “ are still leaving of their own
accord.” 37 Many of both races who had
been low- level political appointees from city
and county government were not forcefully
ejected from the city but were encouraged to
leave. W. J. Harris, a fifty- year- old white
Republican, reported in 1899 that he had no
home because he was “ run away from it.”
Harris had been identified as a man who was
“ white of skin but black of heart” by the
newspapers prior to the election, and his
departure from the city was considered
necessary by leading Democrats. 38 C. P.
Lockey, Fusion attorney for the city, also
It was reported that the men who attacked Brown
thought he was Manly but it was later discovered that
Manly was in New Jersey at the time of the attack.
From Norfolk the blacks went to Baltimore and the
whites were not found in Norfolk. Some men of both
groups ended up in Washington, D. C., where they
sought assistance from the Justice Department and
the president. The Dispatch reported that one of the
exiles thought it would be safe for them to return to
Wilmington but that the others knew that “ it would
be unwise to return.” No additional information can
be found regarding the actions of these men while in
Washington or the response they received from
federal officials. Morning Star ( Wilmington),
November 13, 15, 1898; Evening Dispatch
( Wilmington), November 14, 16, 17, 1898; Raleigh
Morning Post, November 15, 1898.
37 News and Observer ( Raleigh), November 13, 1898.
38 Harris learned about the treatment received by
Melton and Gilbert and that he was to be visited by a
group planning to run him out of town. In response,
Harris kissed his wife and left his home. From there,
Harris had trouble leaving the city because he had to
dodge roving bands of Red Shirts who were looking
for him. After he finally escaped the city, Harris
spent the next months moving from place to place,
including Rocky Point, Goldsboro, Raleigh,
Greensboro, and Randolph County. Although Harris
had not returned to Wilmington by the time of
testimony in April 1899, his wife remained in the
city. Contested Election Case, 387- 91; Wilmington
Messenger, October 20, 1898.
was reported to have left the city in the
aftermath of the coup. 39
Additionally, men such as attorneys
William E. Henderson and Armond Scott
were informed that they should leave for
their own safety. Scott left the city hurriedly
on the morning of the riot with the
protection and assistance of his brother- in-law
Dr. Thomas Mask, white Democratic
Party leader Frank Stedman, and a white
train conductor. 40 Henderson was notified
by a mob of whites the night of the riot that
he should leave the city but was allowed to
remain for a brief time to put his affairs in
order. He and his family were then escorted
to the train bound for Richmond. Henderson
was seen as a liability by white leaders since
he attempted to challenge Waddell at the
meeting between the Committee of Twenty-
Five and the Committee of Colored
Citizens. 41 Young attorney Armond Scott
39 The Wilmington Star noted that Lockey was in
Fayetteville, “ waiting for the clouds to roll by.”
Morning Star ( Wilmington), November 12, 1898.
40 An oral tradition in Wilmington contends that Scott
escaped by being placed in a specially made coffin
equipped with air holes that was shipped to
Washington, D. C. Shirley Webb Smith, telephone
interview with LeRae Umfleet, June 17, 2005;
Edmonds, Negro and Fusion Politics, 169.
41 On the morning of the riot, Henderson apparently
attempted to offset tensions when, according to the
Dispatch, he presented several leaders with a letter
explaining the actions of the Committee of Colored
Citizens: “ I feel it my duty to set at rest the public
minds as to the action of the colored citizens that was
intended to meet the white citizens last evening. The
object of that meeting too well known to repeat. We
discharged the duties entrusted to us by informing the
Chairman, Hon. A. M. Waddell, that we would use
our individual influence to carry out the wishes of
your committee. The same was mailed to Colonel
Waddell. We appointed a committee to search for F.
G. Manly and inform him of the facts and to urge him
to act at once. We were informed and we believed
that Editor A. L. Manly is now and has been out of
the city for more than a month. Our committee could
not find either of the associate editors, but hoped to
find them today. Respectfully, W. E. Henderson.”
Henderson kept a diary of his experiences. That
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| Title | 1898 Wilmington race riot report - Page 192 |
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| Full Text | 167 Although Democratic leaders sought to end the banishment campaign once the few readily identified “ troublemakers” were expelled from the city, papers noted that many “ are still leaving of their own accord.” 37 Many of both races who had been low- level political appointees from city and county government were not forcefully ejected from the city but were encouraged to leave. W. J. Harris, a fifty- year- old white Republican, reported in 1899 that he had no home because he was “ run away from it.” Harris had been identified as a man who was “ white of skin but black of heart” by the newspapers prior to the election, and his departure from the city was considered necessary by leading Democrats. 38 C. P. Lockey, Fusion attorney for the city, also It was reported that the men who attacked Brown thought he was Manly but it was later discovered that Manly was in New Jersey at the time of the attack. From Norfolk the blacks went to Baltimore and the whites were not found in Norfolk. Some men of both groups ended up in Washington, D. C., where they sought assistance from the Justice Department and the president. The Dispatch reported that one of the exiles thought it would be safe for them to return to Wilmington but that the others knew that “ it would be unwise to return.” No additional information can be found regarding the actions of these men while in Washington or the response they received from federal officials. Morning Star ( Wilmington), November 13, 15, 1898; Evening Dispatch ( Wilmington), November 14, 16, 17, 1898; Raleigh Morning Post, November 15, 1898. 37 News and Observer ( Raleigh), November 13, 1898. 38 Harris learned about the treatment received by Melton and Gilbert and that he was to be visited by a group planning to run him out of town. In response, Harris kissed his wife and left his home. From there, Harris had trouble leaving the city because he had to dodge roving bands of Red Shirts who were looking for him. After he finally escaped the city, Harris spent the next months moving from place to place, including Rocky Point, Goldsboro, Raleigh, Greensboro, and Randolph County. Although Harris had not returned to Wilmington by the time of testimony in April 1899, his wife remained in the city. Contested Election Case, 387- 91; Wilmington Messenger, October 20, 1898. was reported to have left the city in the aftermath of the coup. 39 Additionally, men such as attorneys William E. Henderson and Armond Scott were informed that they should leave for their own safety. Scott left the city hurriedly on the morning of the riot with the protection and assistance of his brother- in-law Dr. Thomas Mask, white Democratic Party leader Frank Stedman, and a white train conductor. 40 Henderson was notified by a mob of whites the night of the riot that he should leave the city but was allowed to remain for a brief time to put his affairs in order. He and his family were then escorted to the train bound for Richmond. Henderson was seen as a liability by white leaders since he attempted to challenge Waddell at the meeting between the Committee of Twenty- Five and the Committee of Colored Citizens. 41 Young attorney Armond Scott 39 The Wilmington Star noted that Lockey was in Fayetteville, “ waiting for the clouds to roll by.” Morning Star ( Wilmington), November 12, 1898. 40 An oral tradition in Wilmington contends that Scott escaped by being placed in a specially made coffin equipped with air holes that was shipped to Washington, D. C. Shirley Webb Smith, telephone interview with LeRae Umfleet, June 17, 2005; Edmonds, Negro and Fusion Politics, 169. 41 On the morning of the riot, Henderson apparently attempted to offset tensions when, according to the Dispatch, he presented several leaders with a letter explaining the actions of the Committee of Colored Citizens: “ I feel it my duty to set at rest the public minds as to the action of the colored citizens that was intended to meet the white citizens last evening. The object of that meeting too well known to repeat. We discharged the duties entrusted to us by informing the Chairman, Hon. A. M. Waddell, that we would use our individual influence to carry out the wishes of your committee. The same was mailed to Colonel Waddell. We appointed a committee to search for F. G. Manly and inform him of the facts and to urge him to act at once. We were informed and we believed that Editor A. L. Manly is now and has been out of the city for more than a month. Our committee could not find either of the associate editors, but hoped to find them today. Respectfully, W. E. Henderson.” Henderson kept a diary of his experiences. That |
