N&W in 1907 -- Race Riot

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Reports of Race Riots at Thaxton Unfounded
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    Roanoke, Va.,  Feb. 15.--A telephone message to the Baldwin Detective Agency from the station agent at Thaxton this morning, stated that there was no trouble at the camp of the Vaughn Construction Company there, and none was anticipated.
    The report that emanated from some source was probably due to the fact that Mr. Vaughn left the city yesterday afternoon with two of Baldwin's men and a new foreman, whom he was taking down to replace one that he expected to discharge as soon as he arrived there.  It seems that there was considerable dissatisfaction with the way the foreman had been acting and complaint had been made to Mr. Vaughn.
    On Wednesday night the foreman became involved in a quarrel with one of the men and shot him, how seriously could not be ascertained.  He had threatened trouble and when Mr. Vaughn left here yesterday afternoon with the new man, he took two of Baldwin's men along as a precaution.  The two men will probably remain at the camp several days to forestall any trouble that might occur.
    The station agent at Thaxton said that the night passed off very quietly and that all the men were at work this morning.
    Mr. Vaughn is working on the double track of the Norfolk and Western and the camp is right at Thaxton station.

Bluefield Daily Telegraph
February 16, 1907

[An article in the Bluefield newspaper the previous day reported a considerable race riot.]

Gordon Hamilton
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