St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-07
NEGROES SHOOT OFFICERS.
Dreadful Work of RiOtous Col
Oced Men.


MEMPHIS, Tenn, March 6.-Trouble
has been brewing for some time be-
tween the whites and blacks in the
lower quarter Of the city, and last
nights attack on three deputy sheritfs
by mob of negroes threatens to bring
matters to crisis and bring on race
war that will eliminate in bloodshed.
The trouble was precIpitated last night
by an attempt to arrest Will Stomart,
negro desperate, for whom
Judge Dubois had issued a
bench warrant. Deputy SheriffS
Charles Cole, Robert Harold and
Avery Young found Stewart about mid
night in Calvin McDOwell'S grocery
store, at the corner of Mississippi and
Walker avenues, surrounded by crowd
of friends. The negroes had been ex-
pecting the raid, and we're armed with
Winchesters and shOtguns. At the ap-
pearance of the officers the negroes
opened fire and the three officers fell,
all badly wounded. They returned the
fire, but none Of the negroes were hurt.
A posse of deputy sheriffs who had been
searching for Stewart, and who were in
the immediate vicinity, came to the
rescue, and fifteen of the blacks were
placed under arrest. The shooting
caused the greatest excitement in
the neighborhood and fifteen minutes
after the first shooting began, every
white man was armed with Winches
ter. The wounded men, all of whom
were at first thought to be fatally shot,
were taken to the hospital, and are still
alive tonight. Officer Cole is in dam
gerous condition. and will hardly sur
vive. The others, it is now believed,
will recover. The police placed four
teen more negroes under arrest today,
charged with completely in the shooting.
If Officer Cole should die further
trouble is expected, as the whites living
in the vicinity of the shooting are thirst
ing for revenge.
The excitement over the shooting of
the three officers by negroes is increaS-
ing. The air is thick with rumOrS of
race conflict, and groups of excited
white men gathered on the streets today
to discuss the situation. Late this aft
ernoon meeting Of citizens was held
at the court house to decide upon
a plan of action. After prolonged dis
cussion, it was decided to call upon all
good citizens to tender their services to
the sheriff to aid him in keeping the
peace. That Official accepted the offer,
and several hundred men were sworn III
as deputy sheriffs. Every white man in
town is walking arsenal tonight,
and should the negroes renew the
trouble the uprising would soon be put
down. The scene of last nights trag
edy is in locality notorious for its
toughness. 1t is hangout for rOusI-
abouts and thieves. and the authorities
have always experienced great diff
ficulty in maintaining law and
order. The negroes in that
section of the city are all armed, and
they are making open threats of apply
ing the torch. The police and deputy
sheritfs are arresting every suspi-
cious character to be found. over
forty having been lodged in Jail
since noon. The Chickasaw guards,
Hibernian rifles, RouZier Zouaves and the
Bluff City artillery, numbering 1,1O0
soldiers, are resting on their arms ready
to respond to the call Of the sheriff.
The negroes are filling up on whisky
and an outbreak is feared before morn
ing.