The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-12-24
RACE WAR IMMINENT.
Kentucky Town Expecting an
Attack from Negroes.
BLACKS ARE BENT ON VENGEANCE.

They Are Only Waiting for Opportun-
ity To Take Action for Lynching of Jim
stone-Alarm Bells of MayheId, KY,
Sound "A Warning and All the White Cit
izens Arm Themselves Preparations for
Bloody Battle.
Mayfield, KY, Dec. 24.-The chances
for a race war here are good. Special
trains have brought armed negroes and
whites to town, and they are preparing
for fight. An attack is hourly expected
by the whites. Fully 500 whites are
armed, and ii is believed as many ne
groes. Every white man in town who
can carry q weapon is on guard here,
and they are being reinforced hourly
by citizens from surrounding towns
For forty-eight hours news has been
received here from diff Nent points that
the negroes were orgs~izing in large
bodies for the purpose of visiting the
town and wreaking vengeance upon
those who lynched Jim Stone Monday
morning, and followed this by white
Gaping some of the colored families
who lived on the outskirts. At o'clock
kilograms from Walker Valley said
that the negroes who had massed there
were $50 in number. and that every one
J had some sort of weapon.
Preparations Made for Battle.
Half an hour later news of.a similar
nature came from Wingo. These re-
ports, in addition to many of a similar
nature received from surrounding
towns during the afternoon. caused the
| 4 "A =
tions were at once made for battle,
Men first saw to ii that their homes
were barrlcaded, as well as that could
be done, and then they proceeded to
the hardware stores where every one
who could use a weapon was handed
one, until the entire stock was distrib-
uted. A dispatch was sent from here
to Fulton as soon as the alarming re-
ports began to come in asking aid OF
the white citizens at that point. A re-
ply came at once, stating that a special
train would be chartered and a body
of armed men would reach here as
soon as 1t was possible. At 10 O'Clock
the reports had become so alarming
that the fire bell was sounded, and al
citizens assembled in the public square
where they remained, expecting the at
tack at any hour.
Mob of 600 Armed Negroes.
A message from Paducah, received a
II O'Clock, stated that a body of NJ
groes was being organized there. A
1880 Wednesday morning a body o
citizens of Fulton reached town. The!
reported meeting a mob OF eco negroes
every one armed with a rifle, on tn
outskirts of the town. No attempt wa
II Oh 90 into 0rfn
the Fulton people, and IT was eviden
the former are waiting for reinforce
ments. Guns have been ordered fror
J Paducah and are expected here at an
moment on a special train. At 1913
\ o'clock Wednesday morning several ne
, groes who were seen on the outskirt
\ were fired upon. There was no re
sponse. and the blacks retreated, evi
dently toward larger body.
One Negro Killed.
The body of William Suet. coloreC
was found here lying in side stree
1t is known now that he was killed b
tne armed whites who have been OF
ganized for protection in the race wa
and were patrolling the streets. SUE
was pursued and shot in the back.
sorts of rumors are current about
mob of negroes coming into town II
: vengeance. None of the merchants
this place will sell weapon or amm'
milton to negroes. A larger force
armed whites will patrol the street
! and every precaution is being taken
prevent the general outbreak of n
groes, that is threatened Messag
from Paducah and other surroundir
towns warn the whites here to be
their guard.