Dispatch, May 28, 1889

Untitled

Watermen -- Personal injuryAfrican-Americans -- Racial violence

Onancock.

The father of the late Henry P. Smith, of Wellfleet, Mass., whose body was found some days ago in Gargatha Inlet, came to Accomack Saturday and fully identified his son's body. Mr. Smith left today for his home, carrying the remains of his son with him. He declined to receive any of the money that had been taken from his son's body by the men who found him.

The town is considerably stirred up over a difficulty that occurred here Saturday night between some impudent negroes and several white gentlemen. Joseph Finney, the ringleader of the negroes, drew a pistol and threatened to shoot one of the white men, but he was disarmed and severely cudgeled on the head with his own pistol. Finney was arrested and sent to jail. He claimed that if his crowd has stuck to him he would have cleaned up the town. Daniel West, another ringleader in the disturbance, has been warned to leave the town.