Negro in the Pullman
NEGRO IN THE PULLMAN.
It' All Right in the North, But as Soon as the Train Gets Into the South the Northern People Want Him Ousted.
(Special to News and Observer.)
STATESVILLE, NC Dec. 31, 1907
Raleigh, NC -News & Observer Jan. i, 1908, ed. 1 page 3
NEGRO IN THE PULLMAN.
It' All Right in the North, But as Soon as the Train Gets Into the South the Northern People Want Him Ousted.
(Special to News and Observer.)
STATESVILLE, NC Dec. 31, 1907
There were some very indignant passengers on westbound passenger train No. 11 yesterday and there came near being a "rough house" on the train between Salisbury and Statesville. The cause of the disturbance was the presence of a Large sporty negro in the Pullman car.
He had secured Pullman accommodations from Pittsburg, Pa., to Asheville, NC and had been riding with the Whites unmolested until he reached North Carolina.
Our people do not take kindly to such business and there was a demand from the White passengers that the negro be removed. But he had paid for Pullman car accommodations and the Pullman conductor had no right to remove him from the car.
The White passengers grew very indignant after leaving Salisbury and made threats that they would "remove" the objectionable passenger before they reached Asheville. Some of the White passengers were "red-hot" when the train passed through Statesville, and stated that there would be "somethin' doin" pretty soon, but the negro sat by a window in the Pullman apparently little concerned about the matter.
The conductor on the train said to your correspondent that he was surprised to hear Northern people on the train complaining about the negro's presence in the car. In the North they ride with negroes and never think anything of it, but as soon as they get to the South they want to do as the South does and oust the negro from their presence.
Some of the passengers on the train yesterday told the conductor that they had heard that North Carolina had a law to exclude negro passengers from the White coaches and they insisted that the law be enforced on No. 11 if there is such a law.
Whether or not the negro rode all the way to Asheville in the Pullman we do not know.
The Hawley Museum is passionately committed to uncovering and sharing the fascinating family stories that have influenced our state's and nation's history. We believe that every family has a unique story to tell, one that adds depth to the rich tapestry of North Carolina and U.S. History.
We encourage you to reflect on your own family narrative—did your ancestors play a pivotal role in these historical events? We invite you to become a part of our family curator team by sharing your family's history, whether it be through photos, videos, articles, or documents.
Let’s work together and weave a more comprehensive narrative that honors the roles families have played in our collective past to inspire future museum visitors.
The Hawley Museum is passionately committed to uncovering and sharing the fascinating family stories that have influenced our state's and nation's history. We believe that every family has a unique story to tell, one that adds depth to the rich tapestry of North Carolina and U.S. History.
We encourage you to reflect on your own family narrative—did your ancestors play a pivotal role in these historical events? We invite you to become a part of our family curator team by sharing your family's history, whether it be through photos, videos, articles, or documents.
Let’s work together and weave a more comprehensive narrative that honors the roles families have played in our collective past to inspire future museum visitors.