and
borne to a place of safety, and an effort made to revive her. At the
front entrance were huddled hundreds of negroes, cursing and crying in
their desperation. On the opposite side of the street in front of a
company of armed whites stood Colonel Moss, his face red with
determination. Above the oaths and groans of the helpless negroes his
harsh voice was heard: "Stand back, Mr. ----! I tell you again, stand
out of the way, that I may blow them into eternity." Mr. ---- heeded him
not, and Colonel Moss was afraid to fire for fear of injuring a British
Consul. There were tears in the eyes of this good man as he went about
among his angry workmen imploring them to keep cool. It was his bravery
and presence of mind that prevented the ignominious slaughter of
hundreds of defenseless men by a mob of armed cowards, who stood there
awaiting the signal from Colonel Moss to "Blow them into eternity."

Dispatching a messenger to Dry Pond, who returned with the assurance
that no one had been killed, was instrumental in cooling the negroes and
inducing them to return to work. Mr. ---- kept at his post until the
white mob melted away to join their fellows in other portions of the
city. Look! up Front Street comes an excited crowd of men and boys.
Every one of them seems to be wrought up to the highest pitch of
excitement. Every individual is struggling to get to some one who is in
the centre of the crowd. On they come! struggling, pushing and swearing.
As the mob draws near, the tall, stately figure of an old man is seen
towering above them. His abundant hair and beard are shaggy and gray. He
stares wildly at his tormenters, and begs them to spare his life. They
shove, they kick, they slap him. "Shoot the Yankee dog! Hang him to a
lamp post! Nigger hearted carpet bagger! Kill him!" Still the crowd
pushes towards the depot. "Who is this man? What has he done?" asked a
stranger. "Done!" exclaims a citizen close-by. '"Why he's been teachin'
niggers they're es good es white men." "How long has he been in
Wilmington?" "Ever sence the fall er Fort Fisher." "Is he a tax payer?
Is he or has he ever engaged in any business in the community?" "Well,
yes; he owns er whole county up the road there er piece." "Think of it!
Bin here all these years, an' we can't make er decent white man out'n
him!" "Well, if he has been in this community as long as you say, and
is to the community what you acknowledge, I'd like to know what right
his fellow cit