93
Lee and he claimed no knowledge of the
order. 70
Rumors circulated throughout the
state that Wilmington outsiders also tried to
help local African Americans protect
themselves in response to white armament.
The story that Congressman George White
of Tarboro attempted to equip blacks
through the purchase of guns via his wife
received much attention. In an article
published the week before the election, the
Wilmington Evening Dispatch declared that
not only was a Wilmington black leader in
Norfolk and Baltimore purchasing guns and
ammunition but that other black leaders such
as White were assisting the effort. The
Dispatch quoted from the News and
Observer that whites in Tarboro discovered
that White’s wife received an “ express
package containing rifles, name of shipper
withheld.” The paper concluded the article
with a simple, menacing statement: “[ W] hite
people are ready and prepared for any
emergency.” 71
Due to indications that blacks were
arming themselves, local Wilmington
leaders moved to determine the extent of
weapon stockpiles in the black community.
Two detectives, one of each race, were hired
by Edgar Parmele, George Rountree, Frank
Stedman, and Walker Taylor at the urging of
Atlantic Coastline Railroad president John
Kenly. The detectives informed the men that
the blacks “ were doing practically nothing.”
Additionally, the Group Six decided to hire
70 The fact that the News and Observer was included
in the matter reflects the important role that Josephus
Daniels and the paper played in the 1898 campaign.
It was not illegal for blacks to own or purchase guns.
Local Wilmington Republicans probably denounce
the rumor for the sake of peace and safety.
McDuffie, “ Politics in Wilmington,” 625- 6;
Wilmington Messenger, October 9, 1898; News and
Observer ( Raleigh), October 8, 1898; Evening
Dispatch ( Wilmington), October 10, 1898; Morning
Star ( Wilmington), October 9, 1898.
71 Evening Dispatch ( Wilmington), November 2,
1898; Glenda Gilmore, Gender and Jim Crow, 107- 8.
2 black Pinkerton agents to investigate.
Walker Taylor of the Group Six was
informed by these detectives that the blacks
were contemplating arson instead of arming
themselves. 72
After the election, many of the city’s
merchants were called to testify in a court
case challenging the validity of John
Bellamy’s victory over Oliver Dockery in
November. Attorneys requested specifics on
the number of guns sold in the days and
weeks leading up to the election. Two
merchants, Joseph Jacobi and William E.
Springer, were evasive in their answers and
provided little information as to the number
of guns they sold. Three other merchants
provided a glimpse into the total sales of
weapons in the city. Charles D. Foard
testified that he sold 25 to 30 guns and
pistols between November 1 and 10; Owen
F. Love, member of the Second Ward White
Government Union, did not believe the
WGU would tolerate violence but still sold
about 59 guns. J. W. Murchison reported
that he sold about 200 pistols, 40 to 50
shotguns, 125 repeating rifles, including 75
Colt repeaters that could repeat 25 times,
and 50 Winchesters that could repeat about
15 times. Under cross- examination by a
Democratic Party attorney, Murchison stated
that the sales for 1898 were similar to sales
from other election years. The line of
questioning for all merchants appeared to
acknowledge that gun sales escalated in
election years and that the weapons sold by
these merchants were to whites only. 73
72 William Parsley wrote a relative after the riot that
“ every blessed one of them [ blacks] had a pistol of
some sort and many of them rifles and shotguns
loaded with buckshot.” William Parsley to Sal,
November 12, 1898, Eccles Family Papers, Southern
Historical Collection.
73The testimony presented in the challenge to
Bellamy’s election by his opponent Oliver Dockery
has provided insight regarding the activities of many
of the leading participants in the campaign and riot.
Contested Election Case, 8- 18.
State Publications Collection
