The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-21
A MOVE TO GUST LEWIS.
Atlanta'S Postmaster an Offensive
Partisan.


The Lively Incidents of His First Days
in Once ReoaIled-The People Have
Not Forgotten His Attempt to Work
White Girl and a Negro Side by
Side.
Atlanta, Ga, May 2O-Another aggra-
waited case of offensive partisanship has
been sprung here. The fight on Boss
Buck was so successful that Postmaster
Lewis is now taken up by the local press
and his decapitation demanded POST
master Lewis offensive partisanship
rivals that OF Marshal Buck, whose title
to that charge is undisputed The facts
upon which Postmaster Lewis is ar
raigned make a highly interesting story.
Gen. Lewis came to this city from the
north number CT years ago and entered
business. Though he was both a repub-
lican and a federal general
he found nothing to complain OF
in his reception here He and
Mrs. Lewis became social favorites
and made largo number of friends The
general was conducting the business Of
the Atlanta Rubber Company in which
concern he was a partner. Gen. Lewis
has as yet shown no disposition to resign,
ON Aug. l, 1889. Five days thereafter he
made his first appointment, which brought
| a storm. In the course of time it sub
sided, but he has never since been q
persona grata to the people of Atlanta,
| and now his removal would be more grat-
flying to the public than that of any re-
publican hold-oVer official in the state.
THE OBJECTIONABLE APPOINTMENT.
Nm Ana T
pointed a negro named G. G. Penny to be
clerk in the registry department, of which
Capt. Lyons was superintendent. In the
same Office, acting in the capacity OF
deputy clerk was Miss Lyons, the super
lntendent's daughter. The negro was
| brought into the Office by the postmaster
and introduced as Mr. Penny 1t was
| necessary for the clerk occupying tho
place assigned to Penny to sit about half
the time at thesame table with the young
lady. The father did not relish the pros
pcct, and neither did the girl.
The postmaster was immovable, and
so she rendered her resignation
at once and left within a few hours after
Strengthening up her papers. This at
tempt on the part of Gen. Lewis to place
a negro cheek by iowl in his Office with
the young lady clerk excited widespread
indignation. Awhile applicant who had
also passed the civil service examination,
was available but Gen. Lewis stated that
he preferred the negro. The next day
when these facts were published feeling
ran high, Penny remained at his desk,
while Supt. Lyons was at work
getting the business of his Office in shape
so that he might retire.
BoNDsMEN WITHDRAW.
On the same date e. Van Winklc,
| who was on EGen. Lewis bond
for $4,000 applied to be relieved, as he
did not sympathize with his offensive
method. The postmaster, seeing the
drift of public sentiment at this juncture,
was reported TO have grown uneasy At
all events, he began to explain. He
placed all the blame in the case upon the
civil service law. Judge Henry p. Tomp-
kins also asked to be relieved as surety on
the Lewis bond, dpon which his name APP
peared for $4,000 His reasons were
identical with those that actuated Mr..
Van Winkle in taking the same step. By
this time the excitement was intense,
and on the night OF Aug. 8
Gen. Lewis and his friend, Col.
Buck, were burned in effigy
in front Of the custom house in the pres
ence of n great concourse of people, while
the band played "Dixie, " and the specta-
tors shouted themselves hOarse. Before
the crowd dispersed a procession was
formed, headed by the band, which,
marched TO Mr.. Lyons house and sere-
naded the superintendent aud his daugh-
ter. For some days thereafter eompara-
tive quiet ensued, which was disturbed ON
Aug. IL, by widely circulated reports
that.the negroes in retaliation were going
to burn Capt and Miss Lyons in effigy.
The burning was supposed to have been
fixed for the night of Aug "a.
LOOKED LIKE HOT.
During the afternoon of that date q
small wholesale tobacco store on Broad
street, near the corner of Marietta street,
was converted into an impromptu arsenal
and made the rendezvous of the whites,
who swore that they would prevent the
negroes from carrying out their design.
All over the city ran the reports of im-
pending trouble, and shortly after night-l
fall it was with difficulty that one could
push his way through the dense cPOWd
that occupied tine entire street from the
postoffice to and beyond the corner Of
Broad street. The negroes may have in-'
tended to carry out the programme
they were said to have arranged, but
there was so many Winchesters
rifles flashing under the electric lights
that night that they didn't try it. The
mayor and the chairman of the police
board ordered the chief to arm and CALI
out the entire cOnstabulary. The fire de-
partment was also provided with rifles.
Finally lodge of negro Odd Fellows be-
tdiiiC SO lihNii ul-AA bt4d4 tAlIJ dIpNtAIN
TO Gov. Gordon, who repaired to the scene
and succeeded in dispensing the angry
mob. Shortly afterward on account OF
his unpOpularity Postmaster Lewis and
the Atlanta Rubber Company dissolved
partnership lest the serious criticism,
which had been showered upon him
should bring about boycott and ruin the
firms business.
STRUCK BY A HURRICANE.