The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-02

A LIVELY LITTLE RIOT.
A Fight Which Results in the Shooting of
Three Negroes and One White Man.

KANSAS CITY, April la Journal special
from Leavenworth gives sational account
of bloody fight between one white miner and
infuriated mob of negroes in North Leaven-
worth this evening. The ncipient riot resulted
in the death of one negro, the fatal wounding of
one more while negro ard the white man
were each seriously shot
The details of the affair are about as follows:
About half past o'clock this evening, as James
King (white mani, cableman in the Leavenworth
coal mine, was walking along the street hs met
Harrison Young q notorious colored ward poll
tician, Sam Hedspath and Ben Easton, also
colored. The three negroes were standing at
the corner of Second and Dakota streets, at the
exact spot where. one year ago. Hedspath had
knocked down and brutal!y beaten King. King
accosted by Young and Hedspath, who
wanted TO fight. Hedspath drew a knife and
sprang towards King, while Young put his hand
in his pocket, saying Lets kill the Irish -"
At this King drew a 38-caliors revolver and
fired two shots at Young. who dropped dead
with bullet throughout his forehead and shot
through the heart. King then turned on Heds-
path and shot him in the right groin, inhicting
a fatal wound. He then shot Easton in the left
thigh.
The scene of the shooting is in the vicinity of
the LeGvenworth coal mines. There had been
bad feeling between the white and colored min
ers for some time. and the report that a white
miner had killed three colored men created in
tense excitement among the negroes, who COM
pose large part of the population in tn a neigh
borhood In a few moments negroes fiocked to
the scene from every direction. carrying shot
guns. rifles, knives revolvers and clubs OF every
description, all clamoring for revenge King at
once started to run up the river bank, pursued
by constantly-increasing mob of negroee,
yelling st the top. of their voices.
who gamely turned and returned the fire
In short time King, now pressed by his wrath
full pursuers. turned and sought refuge in the
-hn4.1o oNF& &6ov -ofca &n.
shout went up from the mob, who now thought
they had secured their prize. The negroes
swarmed through the water-works building.
searching with dark-lanterns in every nook and
corner for King, while the colored women urged
them on. Their search was unavailing, and It
was to his being able to hide himself for
hour that King owes bis life While the ex-
citement was it's height Mayor Neely appeared
on the scene and attempted to order the turbu-
lent crowd back "A dozen revolvers were
pointed at him, and Chief-of Police Roberts met
with no better success. Mayor Nicely made un-
successful efforts communicate with the sher-
if or his deputies by telephone, and finally
mounting horse, started for Ft. Leavsnworth
to get force of soldiers.
In tho meantime the entire police force of tn
city had arrived and aided in the search for
King. squad OF policemen finally found him
crouching under obscure stairway. They
ordered him to surrender and he responded by
leaping out with cooked revolver ready to
shoot Policeman Street then shot him. the
bullet entering the muscle of the arm. just be-
low the shoulder, inaicting painful and serious
wound
While several policemen qua rded the prison
er, others wenr outside and informed the excited
crowd that King was dead having been shot by
the policeman while he was resisting arrest. A
cheer went up from the mob, many
of whom satisfied, and in short time
nearly all had left under the impression that
King was dead. King was kept secreted in the
building until late hour to- night, when q COM
pany of cavalry arrived from Fort Leavenworth.
and he was taken to the fort to prevent a lynch
ing. He appeared cool and determined, and said
he did not regret shooting Young and Hedspatb
both of whom had threatened to kill him. but
he was sorry for shooting Easton, whom he
thought to be friend of his would be murder
ers. King bears a good reputation, and has an
invention of safety brake for cable cars on
steep inclines. He is poor. and was going topsee
a man to induce him to help him to get patent
when the trouble occurred