George Joshua
 

Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 June 1872, page 7

NEWPORT

The Greased Pig Picnic, held in Mill Bottom yesterday afternoon, culminated about four o'clock in a row, which in all probability, will end in the death of the parties concerned. It seems that several entered the list in the race for the greased pig, but two negroes names George Joshua and Dick Tone outstripped the rest and were having it nip and tuck for the animal, when Dick caught it first, but did not succeed in holding it.

George then ran on and caught the pig and held it and of course, thought that he had won the prize, a silver cup. The cup, however was given to Dick and George complained to the referee and demanded that the prize should be given to him.

An altercation ensued and George called the referee, Ws Rippleton, a certain odious name not fit to put in print. Wash said he would not take that from any body, and George thereupon repeated the epithet and said Wash would have to take it form him. Wash then instantly picked up a spade nearby and just as George was turning, struck him on the side of the head what must have been a tremendous blow.

George was brought to town and yesterday evening was lying in the house called King's Mountain House, at the corner of York and Eglantine streets, in a very critical condition, insensible, mostly complaining about being cold and blood oozing from his ears. Dr. George W Thornton and Dr. Robert Thornton were called on to visit the man and though they were unable to pronounce positively yesterday evening upon his prospect of recovery, owing to the fact that he had been drinking some and his symptoms were consequently a little confused, yet they say that the bleeding apparently is from the interior of the skull and that his situation is an exceedingly dangerous one.

George, the wounded man, lived on Southgate street; works for Captain William N Air; is about 28 years old; married and is an industrious quiet man.

Dick Tone, the assailant, was arrested and brought before the Mayor, but some white men who disgraced themselves by being present at such a vulgar spectacle, state that George was no seriously hurt and Dick was released on $50 bail to answer merely for breach of the peace. Subsequently when Mayor Hayman learned of the serious nature of the difficulty, another warrant was issued but the police had not caught their man at 10 o'clock last night.

In 1873, several of the African American citizens of Newport, held a meeting at the courthouse.  The purpose of the meeting was to select a committee of delegates to represent Newport, at the "Colored" Educational Convention to be held in Louisville, Kentucky, on February 15, 1873.  Washington was selected to be the chairman of this committee.

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