The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-05-14
LOOKS LIKE A RACE WAR
ARMED MEN AND INCEND1ARY
FIRES A. GRErNA,

Tho Trouble Started By Conflict
Between Fir men and a Mob OF Ne
groes-A Confia ration That SmacSed
OF Retaliation Breaks out In the Me-
gro Quarter a Few Days Later.
New ORLEANS, May 1S.-Oa Tuesday
evening last a free fight occurred in Gretna.
odpoSi O this city, between the members of
the Mechanics Fire Company (whi e) and a
number of negroes. Several shots were
fire and knives were used. The negroes
hnally fed In The darkness, VINE it was
found that two white mon, T. Riu and
Hillary Roberts, had been seriously stabbed.
OS rge Lomba & and one Neill (colore u
were accused of doing 9 s,abaiug. Tho
affair created great excitement anuuy the
whites of the place and bad blood has OK
listed ever since. About l O'Clock yeste rday
morning fire broke ut in the Goou futent
(colored) engine hou'e. The pc pie on this
ri 10 of the river focked TO the Jackson
str ct ferry. A large crowd collected and
a majority crossed ove".
GUARDED by MILITARY.
Upon arriving at Gretna they were met
by "A delegation of tie Gretna mill ar,y. who
escorted them to the scene OF the fire. The
c. red military company's arsenal adj jim
ing the engine lie ignited aud the two
buildings were entirely consumed. Duing
the confiagratioL a large nunIoer of white
men, armed with shotguns, rlhss
and pistols, congregated around the
sec and prevented any negro
from coming within 100 yards of the fire.
The oniy gine in Gretna broke down
early in action, and the fire a ally died out
for want Of further material. While the
smo.dering embers were dyitg cut 6rmed
squads scattered promiscuously around tne
town ard entered lumber IL negco cabins
0stensibly in sea oh II arms. The white
people, Notwithstanding endorsements
from the city, were still Ia an excited state
aid anticiJate trouble. Fro II 2 to 4
O'CLOCK everything remained quiet.
NEGROES rERRoRIzGD.
The negroes were at home and among
them reign of to r0r prevailed. A. 4
o'clock this morning a b az, vas bsetve
in tie 3 cond Baptist culored churc the
larges IL G.etna- The clurcl aud u or
five adj dining houses were cons imed. O'e
Of tn 50 houses was occupied b. c. r.
Brown, a coored member OF the legislature.
Every effort was made TO geJ him to
oo.uo out Of tho house bu5 he
.eared to face tho ar ned white
people. They d not harm him, however.
but assisted in saving his household effects
Ia cause Of the fire is unk own, but IL la
belize eI to have been the work OF an in-
cfadiary. Several neg oes refu ed 10 leave
burning buildings with their families until
their cl thing begal 70 scorch from the
| neat. Several men escaped through back
| wi ,dows, z ling through The oarn, aud
then ran down the railroad track. After
getting away some dista .ce these \ ere fired
nJ By the whites, bui none we're hit. In
some Of the EARL pro uiscuo1, firing, how
ever, three negrl es ere wounded.
The negroes of Gtetna have had full
sway in labor and political matters, and
tn y are very doInineerng. This, coupled
with the stabbi affray and re iorted egro
uprisi q, had tue Eject OF ince1sng me
r the white residents, who determined to
regulate matters.