A Mob's Fury
September 7, 1895
Summary
A black man gathers a crowd of “minute men” to take a stand against a white mob looking for an unidentified black man.
Transcription
Venna P.O. Prince Edward County Virginia – On Sundary, August 25th, gathered at Triumph Church, they were surprised at the appearance of a mob (white) which had surrounded the church and inquired for a colored man whose name we have not learned.
They were informed of his whereabouts and hastened to a house on the road not far from the church.
Mr. Stanup Dodson (Col.) a prominent teacher here who was at the church, no sooner heard of the search than he jumped into his buggy and spared not his horse in going to the above named house. Of course a large crowed of “minute men” followed him.
They arrived at the house a few minutes after the mob which was standing at the gate.
Mr. Dodson ordered his men to take a convenient position, at he same time declaring he would wade in blood to his shoulders before he would see one of his race suffer at the hands of a mob.
The colored man was walking about in the house watching the gate.
He had said the first white man entered it, would be his.
The mob, seeing that to go in meant to shed blood on both sides turned from the gate and rode away declaring they were only joking.
The “minute men” understood how it became a joke, as will the reader.
Some days ago while this negro was coming home near Prospect Depot he saw a white man and a high toned white girl cohabiting, and being much surprised at the new couple, he made it known to some of his friends.
When this news reached the ears of the whites, this poor negro-hater who being caught in the act, lost his rights as a citizen and should have been in the State’s service, was moved with anger and further violated the law by raising a half frightened mob of his like and kind and going to the church with the intention of saving his and the girl’s name by suspending the colored man from the limb of a convenient tree.
The anger of the mob is very great and their revenge, it is thought does not stop here, but when all is quiet, will take the colored man and carry out their efforts.
Signed F.T.R.
They were informed of his whereabouts and hastened to a house on the road not far from the church.
Mr. Stanup Dodson (Col.) a prominent teacher here who was at the church, no sooner heard of the search than he jumped into his buggy and spared not his horse in going to the above named house. Of course a large crowed of “minute men” followed him.
They arrived at the house a few minutes after the mob which was standing at the gate.
Mr. Dodson ordered his men to take a convenient position, at he same time declaring he would wade in blood to his shoulders before he would see one of his race suffer at the hands of a mob.
The colored man was walking about in the house watching the gate.
He had said the first white man entered it, would be his.
The mob, seeing that to go in meant to shed blood on both sides turned from the gate and rode away declaring they were only joking.
The “minute men” understood how it became a joke, as will the reader.
Some days ago while this negro was coming home near Prospect Depot he saw a white man and a high toned white girl cohabiting, and being much surprised at the new couple, he made it known to some of his friends.
When this news reached the ears of the whites, this poor negro-hater who being caught in the act, lost his rights as a citizen and should have been in the State’s service, was moved with anger and further violated the law by raising a half frightened mob of his like and kind and going to the church with the intention of saving his and the girl’s name by suspending the colored man from the limb of a convenient tree.
The anger of the mob is very great and their revenge, it is thought does not stop here, but when all is quiet, will take the colored man and carry out their efforts.
Signed F.T.R.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Lower Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Cord Fox
Citation
“A Mob's Fury,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed January 20, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1457.