Norfolk Virginian, December 9, 1890

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Transportation -- Water - StrandingsSea -- WreckingMoral -- AlcoholMoral -- Property crimeAfrican-Americans -- Racial violence

Onancock, Va., December 8.

The schooner Daniel Brown, Capt. Davis, which went ashore near Cobb's Island several days ago, has been floated by the wrecking crew.

Sometime ago Joe Ide Hopkins, a young married man, built a small house about a mile from Onancock, and set up a saloon, which has been frequented mostly by negroes. Last Saturday night Luke or Tom West, Henry Watson, Bob Drummond and Mack Selby, all negroes, the two former notoriously tough characters, were at Hopkins's place about 7:30 o'clock with a goodly quantity of bug juice aboard. Watson called for drinks and was refused by Hopkins, whereupon he and the West boy went out, when Hopkins locked his door, keeping Drummond and Selby in, not desiring to be troubled by the two outside, he having had a previous difficulty with Watson.

Shortly afterwards those inside were startled by the crashing of a brick through the front window, which was followed by another and another. By this time the entire sash of the front window had been demolished, one brick going though with such force as to smash a lighted lamp to flinders and crash through the end wall. Bottles were also smashed and Hopkins and the two negroes literally frightened to death, neither of whom has anything to defend themselves with.

Drummond and Selby piteously begged Hopkins to let them out, which he did, unlocking the back door, through which they ran out. Before he could again shut and relock it Watson and West had sprung to it, and forcing it open, one grabbed Hopkins by the lapel of the coast and pressed a cocked revolver to his temple, while the other held an uplifted razor near his throat. So close, in fact, that Hopkins could feel the cold steel against his head.

In the meantime Drummond and Selby had fled to the woods; not, however, before the other two negroes hurled an imprecation to them to the effect that they would be killed. The captive man expected every moment for his life to be taken, and therefore when the demand "money or your life" came he quickly pointed to a box in which were the day's sales, about twenty dollars, to which the desperadoes both rushed and grabbing it up, shook it at him, exclaiming: "You -- -- we've got it."

Before they could again come from behind the counter Hopkins darted out the door and took to the woods, arriving in town at about 8 o'clock, where he told the above, which was doubted by many. He also added that as far as he could hear, the sound of crashing glass and flowing whiskey reached him. Someone believing the story telephoned to Accomac court-house for Constable Gunter, a distance of four and a half miles. Hopkins, after some delay, procured a warrant from Magistrate Nelson.

By this time an excited throng of whites had congregated on the street corners, debating the truth of Hopkins's tale and the advisability of going to the place before the constable arrived. When he rode up and after reading the warrant quickly wheeled around his carriage and rapidly drove to the scene followed by the crowd, none of whom were armed. Arriving there the ribald sound of drunken revelry could be heard, and trying the front door it was found to be locked. Supposing the guilty ones still to be there, some one proposed for one to follow him around to the back and taking the constable's pistol they went.

Not a thing could be seen inside, the broken windows being barricaded with beer crates and barrels. Not being able to get in the back door, the barrel in the side window was knocked down.

Mack Selby, on the inside, at that moment grabbed a gun and a pistol from the outside and leveled it at him. Selby not cocking the weapon two or three ran to the back door and broke it open. Rushing in, and in the excitement, not knowing who was in the room, two men ran up to Selby, and, grabbing the gun, administered a severe clubbing to him with the butt of a pistol and a heavy club.

We then found that the forty inside were friendly, and that they had suffered those outside to be the hostile negroes with a reinforcement. A glance at the room revealed a mass of shattered glass, running whiskey, overturned barrels, etc., and it was told that West and Watson had carried a five-gallon demijohn away. While this was going on a large part of the crowd has returned to town to arm themselves and procure reinforcements, they likewise supposing those inside to be the culprits with others, and thinking a bloody fight would be the outcome.

Being informed where the negroes would likely be found, the constable and a number of deputies started for their supposed refuge, and the remainder of the crowd started to town where they met a party of about twenty-five men, marching three abreast for the channel of the street armed to the teeth with Winchester double barrel shot-guns, and Hopkins being informed of the status of things, went on to the place to volunteer to go with the constable to capture the negroes.

Arriving at Hopkins's before the arresting party departed, it was decided for one party to go to Tasley station and another to Onley, to intercept the culprits should they attempt to take the northbound express, the latter party to visit the house where the negroes were thought to be, which they did finding them there. They surrendered without any ado, and were taken to Onley, where the entire party boarded the train, getting off at Tasley, from whence they came here. Awakening the magistrate, a hearing was obtained, the result of which was the remanding to jail of Watson and West (or Savage as he is sometimes called) to await the action of the grand jury. Watson denied all knowledge of the affair.

Excitement ran high throughout the town and violent measures were urged against them when caught. The likelihood is, had not the constable been present at the capture, that the two would have been summarily dealt with. The matter was the one topic of conversation yesterday and to-day.