The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-14
A PRIDE OF HIS RACE
Death of DR.. James B. Ebert, a
Promising Young COlOred Man.
His Noble Act at the Time of the Men,
phis Riot and Lynching-His
Career.

DR.. James b. Ebert, one of the most
prominent young colored men in the city,
died at s o'clock last night at the home of
his father. DIR. S. A. Ebert, go North Ten
nessee street, of ~nsumptio He was
first taken iii in February, and although of
good physique, entered a rapid decline. lie
was twenty-four years of age. and for a
man so young had accomplished much.
After completing his education in the local
schools he entered the Medical College of
Indiana and graduated with the class of
1889. In the same year he went to Mem
phis, Tenn, where in a short time he built
up a large practice, winning the esteem of
his race by his ability. his energy and his
courtly manners. Although scarcely past
his majority the colored people there had
much confidence in him AMI looked to him
as a coming leader.
In 1882 there was a riot at Memphis, in
which a number of negroes fired on a par
ty of deputy sheriffs. The negroes were
running a cooperative store, and the pro-
prietor of a saloon and grocery across the
way had made threats to clean out the ne
groes' place. The negroes obtained legal
advice and found they had a right TO pro-
tect their place with weapons If necessary.
The rival, a white man. had a warrant
80 ooaA oOAAC "a ZIG hO6AOCo IA q
charge Of assault and battery and had a
posse to serve IL. One of the deputy sher-
IFS was a man who had been loafing about
the saloon. and as he came In the door of
the negroes store at the head of the posse
the negroes thought the saloon keeper was
about to fulfill his threat. They fired on the
party and several innocent deputy sheriffs,
men who stood high in the community,
were Injured. There was a pitched battle.
Excitement ran high after the riot and the
entire police force was sent TO the scene
DR.. James Ebert Lived a few blocks
away. but knew nothing of the affair. He
snot at the Curve and he immedi lte y
started out with his surg ca case. The
Police were arresting neg oss On eve.y
side, piling them into a patrol wagon and
street cars. Sentiment, was very bitter
against the negroes, for the people d d not
DR.. Ebert and were about u bundle him
into the patrol wagon. A young man stand
ing by saw that Ebert had been a class
schools years ago and he obtain. his re-
lease. taking Ebert away from the crowd
and urging him TO flee from the loo ility.
Innocent were apt 10 suffer. Ebert pom
ised to leave. but the next mo-nirg he
VINO had been badly wounied in the riot
and for whom the police were looking. At
the risk OF losing his liberty and at the risk
or being lynched. subs squently. DR.. Ebert
went out and alleviated the pain and
dressed the wounds of the injured man. The
police heard of this and a warrant
was sworn out for DIR. Elberts ARE It.
He, however. escaped and came 20 Indian
apolis. The night after he left a mob
broke I'm the jail. took out all the negroes
they could get, four in number, and shot
them TO pieces In a commons near by. Had
DIR. Ebert been in the Jail he would prob
ably have met a like fate, although his
offense was merely one of saving "A human
life at the risk OF his own. His act en-
deared him in the hearts OF the colored
people and after the true facts in the case
became known his friends asked him to
return. He never went back. however,
sending for the young woman TO whom
he was engaged and marrying her here.
She was the sister OF one OF the men. a
mail carrier, who was killed by the mob.
The better class of white people I'm Mem
phis was highly indignant at the lynching.
which was the work Of a vicious element.
and attempts were made to have the
lynchers punished, but without avail.
After returning 10 Indianapolis. DIR. Ell
bert joined his father and was building up
a good practice when seized with consump-
ton. He was one of the young men to
whom his race pointed with pride. and his
modest, gentlemanly ways made him many
warm friends among business and profess
siOnaI people of the city.