The Semi-Weekly Messenger
30 March 1897

Murder Last Night
Dross Neck the Scene of Another Tragedy
Walter Pemberton, [Black], Shot in the Head and Instantly Killed - Another Man Said to Have Been Shot in the Arm
At the residence of James Whitley, [black], on Second street between Brunswick and Bladen streets, the notorious section of the city known as "Dross Neck," there was a shooting affray that resulted in the instant killing of Walter Pemberton, [black], last night about 10 o'clock.
In about ten minutes after the tragedy, the two [black] policemen, Louis Geyer and Joseph Sharp, reached the scene of the murder. Jim Whitley, the man at whose house it occurred, ran up to Fourth street, a couple of blocks away, and notified the policemen. When they got to the house the men who had done the shooting had disappeared.
A Messenger reporter went over to the scene of the murder at 10:40 pm and found an excited crowd of [black] men and women crowding into the house to gaze on the dead man. He was lying dead in the passage with a bullet hole in his forehead and his brains oozing out of the hole just over his left eye. There was but the one wound.
Whitely's Story
When Police Sergeants Thomas Lossin and T B Thayer heard of the killing, they went to Jim Whitley's house and arrested him just as The Messenger reporter had got there, after groping his way through dark streets and alleys. Whitley was taken to the city hall and locked up, to be detained until the can be investigated. He stated to the reporter that himself, Walter Pemberton, Henry Shepard, Simon Prince and Archy Brayley were sitting in a room at his home, engaged in a sociable conversation, when Simon Prince told Henry Shepard he wanted him to pay him what he owe him. Shepard replied, "I'll never do it." Prince jumped up and began to draw a pistol and Shepard jumped up in an instant and also pulled his gun. All the men then jumped to their feet. Whitley states that he said, "Don't you n---ers shoot in here!" but seeing them inching up to each other and believing they were going to shoot, he made a break for the door, followed by Walter Pemberton. He got safely through the door and ran down the passage, but just as Pemberton got in the door two shots were fired. One of the bullets hit Pemberton in the head and he fell dead in the passage.
Whitley says he shouted to the men in the room that he was going for a policeman and that Shepart came out of the room and left. Prince stayed in the room, but was gone when Whitley got back there with the two policemen. Whitley says a woman named Mary Houston was sleeping in a room across the passage from the room in which the shooting occurred. His story is that one of the men was backing towards the door with his drawn pistol and the other was standing near the fireplace fronting the door with his weapon. The man who was at the fireplace missed his man and accidentally killed Pemberton.
Such is Whitley's story, but it is believed the party were gamblign and fell out. Whitely says they were not. He says both the shooters were drunk.
Pemberton is about 24 or 25 years of age and works as a section master on the Carolina Central railroad. He is a single man and lived with his sister on Brunswick street.
Henry Shepard is a stevedore and Simon Prince works at Powers, Gibbs & Co's fertilizer works.
Jim Whitley works at the Champion Compress when employed.
One of the bullets passed through the facing of the door and it was evidently fired from a 38 calibre pistol.
Coroner Jacobs was notified of the killing and went over to the scene at 11:15 pm. He viewed the body and had it removed to the residence of deceased's sister on Brunswick street, between Seventh and Eighth streets. The coroner will summons a jury of inquest today and the inquest will be held tomorrow.
It was reported late last night that a man who had been shot in the arm applied to a physician to have it dressed, but the doctor declined. He is believed to have been one of the men who engaged in the shooting affray.

The Semi-Weekly Messenger
11 June 1897

Funeral of Mrs Mauger London
The funeral of the lamented Mrs Emily B London, widwo of the late Mr Mauger London, took place from the residence of Mr R D Cronly, on Third and Chestnut streets, yesterday morning at 10 o'clock. The services were conducted by the Rev W B Oliver, pastof of the First Baptist Church, assisted by the Rev Robert Strange DD, rector of St James' Episcopal church. The remains were taken thence to Oakdale for interment. Beautiful floral tributes were laid upon the grave. The pallbearers were Messrs Fred Kidder, M Cronly Jr, John E Crow, J H Boatwright, W L Parsley, W A Wright, T C James and N N Davis.

The Semi-Weekly Messenger
6 July 1897

McBride's Singular Fate
The body of Henry McBride, [black], who was drowned on Wednesday while in bathing at Brittain's shingle mill, on the Northeast river, opposite Hilton, was recovered yesterday morning at 9 o'clock. When the tide went down he was found standing upright with his legs down in the mud. The bottom of the river at that point at high tide is swampy, and when McBride jumped into the water he sank into the mud. This accounts for the fact that he never rose to the surface after leaping into the water.
Coroner Jacobs viewed the body and gave permit for burial. He did not deem an inquest necessary.

Sudden Death
Chauncey Armstrong, a young [black] man about 18 years old, who resides at Seventh and Bladen streets, took suddenly ill with cramp last night about 8 o'clock and died in half an hour.
Coroner Jacobs was notified, and upon investigation he decided that it was not necessary to hold an inquest. He ascertained that Armstrong, who was a man of previous good health, drank copiously of ice lemonade all day yesterday, and it is believed that, owing to the heated condition of his stomach, this caused his death.


The Semi-Weekly Messenger
20 July 1897

Fire at Federal Point
Friday night about 11 o'clock the residence of Mrs Sarah J Freeman, at Federal Point, caught fire and was burned down. The neighbors turned out and did all they could to save the house, but to no purose. The house, a structure of one story and a half, was totally destroyed and also nearly all the contents. Mrs Freeman was fortunate, however, in having her house and furniture insured to the amount of $400 with Colonel Walker Taylor, of this city.


The Semi-Weekly Messenger
30 July 1897

Probably Killed His Neighbor
Last night about 10:30 o'clock Henry Taylor, [black], who resides on Walnut street between Tenth and Eleventh streets, heard somebody prowling on his premises for the purpose, as he supposed, of stealing. He got up and secured his pistol and went out and saw a man in his year. He hailed him, but getting no answer, he fired two shots at the man. The man hollered and when Taylor and others went to him, he found that it was his neighbor Sanday Bell, [black], who lives next door. The ball struck him in the left side, cut a rib and penetrated the hollow. He was carried to the city hospital where Dr McMillan gave him attention. It was considered too dangerous to try to probe very far for the bullet, so very little effort was made to find it. Bell is very dangerously wounded and will probably die. He is a man of about 56 years of age.
Taylor is about 35 years of age and is foreman at the Fore and Foster door, sash and blind factory. He bears the reputation of being a hard working and straightforward fellow. After the shooting, he went to the city hall, and Mr J A Fore came down to go his bond but as the condition of Bell could not be learned definitely Captain Robert Green thought it best not to take bond.
Bell denies that he was in Taylor's yard but gives no explanation of the occurrence.

The Semi-Weekly Messenger
31 August 1897

Attempted Suicide
A Young Man Cuts His Throat and Horribly Slashed Himself with a Razor - He is no Doubt Insane.
Yesterday afternoon about 4:30 o'clock, Billy Ames, son of Mrs A. Ames who resides on North Third street between Bladen and Harnett streets, attempted to commit suicide in a most singular manner. He has been subject to epileptic fits and his mind is more or less affected when he has attacks. At one time he had to be sent to the asylum. He is about 30 years of age.
Yesterday he got mad with his mother about the cutting of some wood, and took a razor and locked himself up in a room, saying he intended to kill himself. His distressed mother gave the alarm and several neighbours and passers by ran in. Ames, however, refused to open the door and Mr Mc Bell and M. C. Wall, [black], went around to the window to try to get to him. When they looked in they discovered that Ames had stripped off his clothing and was as bloody as a hog, having cut his throat and slashed his body in about twenty-five places. When the two men appeared at the window he warned them not to come in and tried to cut Wall with the razor. Wall, however, disarmed him, and then he seized a pitcher off the washstand and was about to strike Mr Bell. Mr Bell coolly dared him to strike and that seemd to bring the man to his sense. Then they seized him and he fought desparately but they succeeded finally in tieing his hands and feet.
Dr John Sconewald was caled in and he found that Ames had cut a gash about an inch long in his throat, had laid open the back of his left hand, severing the blood vessels and tendons, and had slashed himself all over both arms and across the abdomen and thigh and other portions of the body and endevored to sever the leaders at his heels. None of hte wounds, however, were of a dangerous character. The gash in the throat and across the hand were sewed up, and Ames was sent to the city hospital where his wounds were dressed. At last accounts he was doing well.
-----

Billy Ames, the young white man who tried to commit suicide on Friday by cutting his throat with a razor and slashing himself across the hand, arms and other parts of the body, made his escape from the city hospital yesterday morning between 2 and 3 o'clock. The surgeons dressed his wounds, and the nurses watched him closely. About midnight, he had a fit, and after it had passed off he and his attendants dropped off to sleep. Between 2 and 3 o'clock the attendants woke up and found that Ames had made his escape. He had taken all his clothing off and torn the bandages from his wounds, and they were found lying on the floor.
Search was made for the unfortunate man, an he was trailed some distance by a stram of blood from his reopened wounds, but up to midnight he had not bee found. It is feared that he went into the woods and is dead, or probably drowned himself in Smith's creek.


The Semi-Weekly Messenger
3 September 1897

Attempted Suicide
Maggie Evans, [black], who resides on Ninth street between Castle and Queen streets, attempted suicide yesterday at 10 o'clock by taking laudanum. Dr T R Mask was called and administered antidotes that prevented the success of the rash act. This is the woman's second attempt, and it is said that disappointment in love is at the bottom of it.

The Semi-Weekly Messenger
7 September 1897

The Late Mr R J McIlhenny
City Treasurer's Office
Wilmington, NC, September 4
Editors Messenger:
For the past two years I have seen the late Richard J McIlhenny almost daily. During that time I have carefully observed and studied the man. He was modest and retiring. There was never one more considerate of the feelings of others. His speech showed that his thoughts were pure. By nature intense, he devoted all his energy and rare talent to his work. His great hope and aim was to make perfect and complete the fire alarm system of the city, and he was, therefore, often compelled to be out at night and in the storm, dying but working. Of the small compensation paid him he never complained though it was plain to see he was hampered in his work by lack of means. His death deprives this city of an official whose place it will be exceedingly difficult to fill. The state loses a son endowed with talents such as would have benefitted mankind had she even encouraged him in his efforts. Such men are rare gifts to a people, returning tenfold all they ever receive.
J E Taylor

The Semi-Weekly Messenger
10 September 1897

Drowned at Masonboro
Two Brothers Drowned While in Bathing at Trask's Landing Yesterday Afternoon The Accident the Result of Romping in the Water
Mr B B Trask, of Masonboro, arrived in the city by private conveyance last night about 9:30 o'clock to notify Coroner David Jacobs of a double drowning at Mr D W Trask's landing, on Masonboro Sound, yesterday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock. The persons who were drowned were two brothers, Alfred and Vann McDaniel young [black] men, aged respectively about 20 and 18 years.
Mr Trask informed us that he and the two unfortunate young men went to the landing and went in swimming, and that he jumped from a spring board into the water and swam out into the channel. Alfred and Vann waded out and when in water about shoulder deep, they began to play. Alfred caught Vann and ducked him, holding his head under the water so long that Mr Trask told Alfred to turn him loose, he would drown him. Vann caught his brother around the waist and they clinched. They were right on the edge of the channel which shelves off into water ten to twelve feet deep. In their struggles they got off into deep water, and Alfred called on Mr Trask for help.
Mr Trask swam within three yards of them and as they attempted to seize him, he feared they would drown him, too, and he swam back ashore. There was a boat at the landing, but there was no paddle in it, so Mr Trask swam out pushing the boat to the drowning men. Meanwhile Alfred had disappeared and Mr Trask got the boat within two yards of Vann, when he too went down. The boat was leaking and when Mr Trask got into it to try to pull Vann in, it turned over, but did not sink. Finding that both men had disappeared, he took the boat ashore and gave the alarm.
Mr Trask states that the brothers were on the best of terms and were only playing. Both of them coul swim some, but were not good swimmers. They were both merry when they went into the water and began to play.
The drowned men were sons of Henry and Julia McDaniel, two well known [black] people who live on the sound. Vann worked in the city with Mr W R French, on Ninth and Market streets until Monday, when he went to the sound to work for Mr G W Trask. Alfred worked on Mr B B Trask's truck farm. Mr Trask says they were both industrious and well behaved.
Men dragged for the bodies with a sein and the body of Alfred had been recovered when Mr Trask left to come to the city. He says he had no doubt the body of Vann was also recovered shortly afterwards.


The Semi-Weekly Messenger
24 September 1897

The Late Hon. Walter E Faison
The funeral of the late Hon. Walter E Faison who died in this city yesterday morning at 1:25 o'clock, will take place this morning at 8:30 o'clock at the residence of his brother-in-law, Dr J E Matthews, 210 Nun street, and thence the remains will be conveyed to Front street depot and sent away on the 9:25 am train on the Atlantic Coast Line to Clinton, where the interment will take place this afternoon.
Last night the Associated Press sent out from Washington DC the following dispatch, which shows how highly Mr Faison was esteemed at the national capital:
"Washington, September 22. - The announcement of the death yesterday at his home in Wilmongtin NC of Walter E Faison, formerly solicitor of the department of state, was received with genuine sorrow by one and all of his late associates in the state department. Mr Faison's record as an official was a bright one, and up to the date of his retirement last spring, was pointed out as a triumph of the fullest application of the civil service reform principle. He was appointed in 1886 from North Carolina, after a competitive examination, to a $1000 clerkship in the consular bureau. His promotion was rapid and Secretary Gresham made him chief of that bureau which he administered with signal ability. Upon the resignation of Solicitor Dabney, Mr Faison was promptly installed in the solicitor's office by secretary Olney, who had a keen appreciation of his legal abilities."


The Semi-Weekly Messenger
1 October 1897

Death of Mr John F Bloom
The friends of Mr John F Bloom will regret to learn of his death whcih occurred last night at 11:15 o'clock at the city hospital where he has been since July 20th. He had been in bad health four or five years.
The deceased was a son of the late Mr H H Bloom and was in the 35th years of his age. He leaves one brother, Mr W H Bloom, and one sister, Mrs George Fredericks, both of this city, who have the sympathy of their friends and acquaintances in their bereavement.
The funeral will take place this afternoon at 4:30 o'clock from the family residence on Fifth and Chesnut streets. The interment will be made at Oakdale cemetery.

The Semi-Weekly Messenger
8 October 1897

Death of Mr H H Waxman
The friends of Mr Harry Herman Waxman will learn with sorrow that he has passed away. He suffered a stroke of paralysis about three years ago and combined with the effects of an acute attack of la grippe, it has made him an invalid and confined him to his home most all the time since. He died yesterday at 1:30 pm.
Mr Waxman was born in Germany March 18, 1857, and was aged 40 years, 6 months, and 19 days. He came to this country when a boy and has been a resident of Wilmington for many years. For several years up to the time he was taken sick he was with Messrs. A David & Co and during his residence here he has had the respect and regard of a wide circle of acquaintances. He leaves a wife and two children who have the sincerest sympathy in their bereavement.
The funeral will take place at 4 o'clock this afternoon from the family residence on Market street near Seventh.

The Semi-Weekly Messenger
26 October 1897

A War Story From Wilmington
Wilmington, NC, October 23
Editors Messenger:
Please give me space in your paper to set right the following which appeared in the Charlotte Observer of October 6th, under the head of "A War Story From Wilmington:
"An interesting story comes from Wilmington about a man who has been missing since the civil war.
"Roland Harrison left his home in McDowell county in the year 1864 to join the confederate army. He went toward Wilmington and was never heard of again until some days ago. The keeper of the cemetery, T Donlan, in looking over some old records saw and remembered the inquiries made about Harrison just after his disappearance. The conclusion generally accepted by his friends was that he took sick at Wilmington, and died ther eon his way to the army. His family have been notified of his death and burial."
Now, Mr Editor, what I wish to convey is that in July, 1895, a Mr Loftin from McDowell county, NC came into my office at Oakdale cemetery and said that his mother wished to know if his father was buried in the cemetery, giving his name as Troy Loftin; that he was a confederate soldier, and the last heard from him was just before the close of the war. I went over my record and found his name recorded November 7, 1864, and gave his son a copy. In the summer of 1896, this same man entered my office with three other brothers, who informed me that there were still three more brothers, making seven in all, and I was informed that the first one I met was the youngest and that he had never seen his father, being born soon after his father left home to go into the army. They told me how much pleased they all were, especially their mother, at even finding the last resting place of their loved one. They also said that two miles away from their home lived a widow lady named Harrison whose husband left home with their father and in the same company, and that when last heard of he was sick in the hospital in Wilmington, and that it was thought he had deserted to the enemy. I promised to go over my records and the man who inquired of me was to come back, but he did not do so. He gave me the man's name as Rowland Harrison, of the Senior Reserves C S A. When I got time I went over the records and found entered November 3, 1864, Rowland Harrison, aged 45 years.
Now this is the man that all these thirty-one years was supposed to have deserted. Not only his country, but his wife and children so though at his home. This in my main motive in writing this long article, so that this man's kindred may cherish his memory with pride, he having laid down his life in defense of his country rather than acted as the coward and traitor as was thought at his home. The last letter receved from him by his wife was in October, 1864, when he was sick at Wilmington.
With no other motive than that this may reach the family of the Harrisons and Loftins through the press of North Carolina, I write the above. I can be addressed at 711 Princess Street, Wilmington NC.
Timothy Donlan
Supt of Oakdale Cemetery

P.S. The subject of the above sketch sleeps in the confederate lot in beautiful Oakdale cemetery, where stands on guard a statue in bronze of a private confederate soldier at "parade rest" and hwo keeps vigil over that sacred spot from year to year. Every 10th of May there is held memorial services at this lot under the care of the Ladies' Oakdale Memorial Association of Wilmington, who in the war and for the past thirty-two years have paid tribute to those noble heroes who gave up all, even life, for home and country.
The lot where those heroes sleep was donated for that purpose in 1866 by the managers of Oakdale cemetery to the Ladies' Memorial Association, and the cemetery company keeps it in the best of order. The remains of 366 confederate soldiers lie there. The remains of all soldiers were removed there from another part of the cemetery when this lot was secured for that purpose, and at this date few, if any, of those first interested in the perpetuity of this noble work are left, most all having passed to that reward that all will receive according as our works deserve.
T. D.

The Semi-Weekly Messenger
5 November 1897

One Youth Kills Another
M O Martindale arrived in the city yesterday afternoon to inform Coroner Jacobs of an accidental homicide yesterday afternoone about 1 o'clock on the new Federal Point road, in Federal Point township, about seven miles from the city.
Mr Martindale informs us that while Owen Horne, the 16 year old son of Mr H L Horne, was out hunting with John Craig, son fo Mr S F Craig, a tenant on Mr Horne's place, a covey of partridges crossed the road in front of them. Young Horne raised his double barrel shot gun to fire into the birds, and just as he pulled the trigger young Craig stepped in front of the gun and received the entire charge of shot in the left side of his head. His brais were blown out, and his distressed young friend ran home a mile and reported the terrible orrurance.
When the people reached young Craig he was still alive and they carried him to his home on Mr Horne's place, where he resided with his parents. he died about 3:45 pm as Mr Martindale was leaving for the city. The parents of both boys are greatly distressed over the terrible afair and it has cast a gloom over the entire neighborhood where all the parties are known.
Coroner Jacobs will go down to Mr Horne's this morning.

The Semi-Weekly Messenger
31 December 1897

Suicide at Midnight
An Unfortunate Woman Blows Out Her Brains With a Pistol
Mamie Mays, a dissolute woman about 24 years of age, who made her home at the house of Mattie Allen, on Fourth street, between Church and Castle streets, committed suicide this morning at 12:30 o'clock by blowing out her brains with a pistol. While in her room she put the weapon to her head and sent a bullet through her temple. She died in a few moments afterwards. It is said she had quarreled with her lover and decided to end her life. She was formerly from Raleigh.



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