A major confrontation between local blacks and whites occurred during a four-day period between September 21 and 24, 1831. On the evening of Wednesday, September 21st a brawl between white sailors and blacks living along Olney Street (near the corner of North Main) escalated into gun fire with one white being fatally shot.
Later that week the rioting continued and spread to another black neighborhood called Snowtown near the present site of the State House. Five local militia units were called in to restore order. On Saturday night, September 24th a large crowd gathered near the corner of present-day North Main and Smith streets and began pelting the militia with rocks and sticks and damaging nearby homes. Ordered to disperse, the crowd grew even bolder, surrounding the militia wounding several. The troops fired on the crowd, killing four and wounding many others.
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Later that week the rioting continued and spread to another black neighborhood called Snowtown near the present site of the State House. Five local militia units were called in to restore order. On Saturday night, September 24th a large crowd gathered near the corner of present-day North Main and Smith streets and began pelting the militia with rocks and sticks and damaging nearby homes. Ordered to disperse, the crowd grew even bolder, surrounding the militia wounding several. The troops fired on the crowd, killing four and wounding many others.
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