The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-08-07
Tennessee Election Rotu ms.
Riot In MOblle-Three Negroes killed
and Several Whites and Negroes
Wounded. ~ NHaM Ts

MOBILE August 6.-Last night a
serious riot occurred in this city, be-
ginning in an out door Republican
.meetingrfo celebrate the triumph Of
the Republican candidate for this
Congressional District. The meeting
was a large one, aud composed exclu-
sively of negroes, except a few white
leaders. During the W hole OF yester-
day rumors were ina circulation that
the negroes were very much excited
aud defiant, threatening to burn the
Democratic candidate for Congress IN
efigy. Several citizens called on the
Mayor, and some Of the leaders ad-
yised them it would be better to post
pone the meeting, for if the efhgy
threat was carried out, the white peo-
pie could not be restrained from an
attempt to resent the indignity by
force.
Il was thought these representa-
tions had the desired effect. and
there would be no meeting. At eight
o'clock, however, the tar barrels were
lighted and the negroes began to
flock in until they sWelled into
crowd of 1000 to 1900. Many came
with guns, and most all with conceals
ed arms-pistols, knives and razors.
Nothing occurred except the lntlam-
matory talk of the speaker until about
10 o clock, when a jocose dispute be-
tween two citizens, on a subject en-
trely foreign to politics or the meet
ing. attracted some attention, and IN
pressing up to see what it was about,
a white man accidentally treac on the
foot Of negro. just as the alteroa,
tion about this was settled, pistol
shot was heard. !,
This was the signal for general
firing, when the whole crowd dis
persed Immediately. The hre was
continued a few moments as the
crowd scattered, and in ten minutes a
dead quiet reigaed, broken only by
the tread of the white patrol. A de-
tachmentl Of United States troops
we're stationed at the guard house by
request of the Mayor, IN anticipation
of trouble. They look no part In the
frav except TO march up town to look
to, and put stop to the firing. 1t IS
not known who fred the first shot.
There we're not over one hundred as
lockers on atthemeetSDg.E g. The casu-
alties were small considering the
number of shots fred and close quar-
tiers. Many shots must have Deen
shot IN the airs hHF .sL.R.eF
Three negroes were killed outright,
and five wounded. -Four police ot1-
GERS and three other white men were
wounded. --
lroThe Register OF this morning COM
ments on the riot as follows:
| g, Last nights work, done alter an
editorial of this morning was In print,
is a sharp and quick commentary on
the danger, we forecast from the pres
ent aspect of affairs. It is a burning
shame that this community should be
exposed to outrages like this, and the
community owes a duty to itself TO
prevent repetition. As TO where the
4 blame lies there is no room tor ques-
tion. These deeds are the direct out
growth Of the malignant passions oi
the negroes, infamed and lashed into
fury by public haranguesA aud private
instigatioRs of the foreign Radicals IL
our midst. Its a qnestioR for the
public to decide, how long these In
cendiaries shall be allowed to expos
the peace Of society and the safety O.
women and children. We hope {
public meeting will be held toi decide
this question"
The First Congressional District il
uncertain, and 1t will take the ofieia
count to decide the vote. ~n
a q