By the Associated Press
Raleigh, N.C., Sept. 27—Governor Cameron Morrison late this afternoon directed Adjutant General J. Van Be. Metts to proceed to Spruce Pine, in Mitchell County at once to handle a serious race situation which is reported to have arisen there as a result of an alleged assault upon a white woman by a negro.
Reports received by the governor indicted that concerted attempt is under way to drive all negro labor from the Spruce Pine section. The executive immediately wired authorities that he would afford the community ample protection and see that rights of both races were protected.
The governor’s telegram, addressed to two officials of Spruce Pine and to two citizens, is as follows:
“Please call on local authorities to uphold law and protect everybody in their rights, including the colored people. I am directing adjutant General Metts to leave for Spruce Pine tonight. I will afford all protection the local authorities may require.”
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Asheville, N.C., Sept. 27—Everything is quiet at Spruce Pine tonight, according to a telephone message from Mayor A.N. Fuller at 11 o’clock. Citizens are still looking for the negro who is alleged to have attempted an attack of Mrs. Mack Thomas, on the road near her home, about three miles east of Spruce Pine, but no trace had been found of him, the mayor said.
All the negroes on public works, about 75, have gone, including about 15 engaged in work on the Spruce Pine sewer and water systems. The town has no native negroes.
A group of 50 or 60 men were prevented by Chief of Police L.N. and two or three other officers from entering the negro camp near Spruce Pine yesterday evening and running the negroes out. The officers took their position on the bride and use persuasion to stop the men, the mayor said.
However, about 100 men went to the camp this morning and ordered the negroes to leave. The sheriff of Mitchell county and two or three deputies came over from Bakersville today, but found nothing they could do, the mayor said. No violence has been used, he stated.
Mayor Fuller had not received the telegram from Governor Morrison and the message was read to him from the Citizen office. Asked if he needed General Metts now, he said that there was no special need just now, but that he should like to have him come, as work on the city sewerage and water systems had stopped when the negroes had been ordered away. Local people would not do the work, he said, so it was necessary to get outside negroes and he wanted it to be safe for them.
Two officials were with the posse looking for the negro last night, but are not now with the men, the mayor said. The description is said to fit John Goff, a negro convict, who escaped from a camp near the Thomas home yesterday. Mrs. Thomas suffered no personal injury, it was stated.
From the front page of The Durham Morning Herald, Friday, Sept. 28, 1923
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