Norfolk Landmark, August 13, 1907
Untitled
Moral -- AlcoholTourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - HolidaysTourists and sportsmen -- Other recreation - FairsInfrastructure -- Public : Churches
Eastville, August 12. -- Joseph Cerious, a negro character of the county, in jail charged with illegal sale of whisky at Cape Charles, was today on hearing admitted to bail in order to present his appeal. He now stands convicted and his fine is fixed at $200 with a jail sentence of six months additional.
Today is old August court day, in old times one of the holidays of the county. THe fact has been mentioned by a number of people around town today.
The Tasley fair begins tomorrow. The people of the Eastern Shore attend this fair in large numbers. The racing schedule is a very good one and they promise some very attractive exhibits.
Rev. W. T. Hundley announced to his congregation in the Baptist Church here yesterday that he had received a call to the Petersburg Baptist Church, in South Carolina and that he had decided to accept the same. Mr. Hundley came to this church two years ago. He, however, was the organizer of this Baptist Church, having come here in 1875. He had the pleasure of seeing the present building erected in 1877, but left that year for the South, where he has done most of his active work as a minister.
TROOPS ORDERED TO EASTERN SHORE.
African-Americans -- Racial violence
About Fifty Negro Families Warned to Leave Onancock.
ACTION A PRECAUTION
Captain Gale, with a Mixed Company, Left for Scene of Disturbance Yesterday -- Reinforcement Go Today.
Richmond, August 12. -- The situation at Onancock, on the Eastern Shore, the scene of the recent race rioting, is reported quiet tonight, the community is in charge of vigilance committee, but the feeling remains intense, and there may be another outbreak at any time.
Governor Swanson and the adjutant general went form Norfolk to the scene of the trouble today, arriving at Onancock tonight. The Governor made an address from the hotel steps, in which he advised the people to keep cool, but told them that it was up to them to maintain their supremacy. Many of the negroes have left the community on account of the resolutions passed at a mass meeting on yesterday, advising all negroes, who have been in any trouble within the last eight years, that they would be given until this morning to leave the Eastern Shore.
One of those to leave under this notice was Moon, a colored preacher. Uzzell and other leaders of the rioting have not been captured. The search for them continues with unabating zeal. The whites are in complete command of the situation.
Onancock, Va., August 12. -- Although some fifty negro families have been ordered by the white citizens to move from the town within the next few days, there was practical quiet at Onancock throughout today.
Notwithstanding this fact, however, Governor Swanson, who arrived at Onancock this morning on the Commodore Maury, issued orders for fifty men of Norfolk companies to be sent here.
This action on the part of the Governor, it is said, was more to prevent future disturbances than to quell any existing riot, the men being required to carry only three days travel rations.
The riots, which shook the little town of Onancock, resulted in the shooting, Sunday night, of Garland Belote, a prominent citizen, by James Uzzel, a negro editor, who thus far has not been captured.
The negroes throughout this section seemed to be throughly armed with guns, revolvers and rifles, while the whites were equally equipped, and much trouble ensued, although no serious shootings have been reported.
According to the instructions of Governor Swanson, twenty additional soldiers have been directed to leave Norfolk tomorrow morning and proceed to Onancock to assist the forty-six men who left tonight.
While fifty or more colored families have been ordered to leave the town, those educated and more respectable negroes, who did not participate in the riots, have not been molested.
NORFOLK TROOPS TO GO TO EASTERN SHORE.
Fully armed and equipped and with three days' travelling rations, forty six enlisted men of Companies A and B, 71st Regiment, Virginia Volunteers, under the command of Captain E. R. Gale, left Norfolk at 5:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon for Onancock to assist in preserving order.
The order for the troops was issued by General C. C. Vaughan, through Major Clinton L. Wright, assistant adjutant general, and called for fifty men. Twenty additional soldiers will leave this morning at 7:30 o'clock.
The order of General Vaughan was directed to Colonel Thomas J. Nottingham, who was accompanied to the scenes of the riots by Major B. W. Salomonsky and Assistant Surgeon Israel Browne.
TWENTY MORE MEN LEAVE THIS MORNING.
Captain Gale, who was in command of the mixed company, had with him Lieutenants J. L. Mitchell and A. O. White. The twenty men to leave this morning will be under the command of lieutenants W. V. King and W. R. Jones.
Under the order as issued from Governor Swanson to General Vaughan and thence to Colonel Nottingham, the latter and his officers are directed to report to the mayor of Tasley or the sheriff of Accomac county, and to obey such orders as they may receive for the preservation of the peace.
The soldiers who left yesterday, as well as those who will leave this morning, carried their regulation rifles with many rounds of ammunition, as per the orders of General Vaughan.
Late last night Governor Swanson telegraphed Major C. L. Wright that everything was quiet, but that he wished the men to assure continued order among the whites and negroes alike.