New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-26
A RACE WAR IN KEY WEST.
THE CITY IN THE HANDS OF A MOD OF
NEGROES.


wouNDED-GoyEnNon nLoxHAM ASKS HELP
From FEDERAL TROOPs-sTII.L MORE
sERIoUs TROUBLE EXPECTED.
IDY TELEGRAPH TO THE TnIBuNnl
Key West Fla June 20.-This city was COM
pletely at the mercy Of infurlated mob OF
negroes last night. They surrounded the jail
and courthouse. In the latter building Is the
local military crmory. The mob would not
allow the company to go to tie armory. In the
excitement the negroes began firing, killing one
white man, William Gardner. and wounding sew
eral others Sheriff Knight has telegraphed to
the Governor asking aid to que!l the riot which
is expected to occur. He has requested the Gov
ernor to order out the local military and ask the
Secretary Of War ct Washington to order out
the National troops If needed to protect lives
and property. The Sheriff has summoned
posse OF forty determined men, and serious trou-
bic is expected
Yesterday a negro named Sylvester Johnson
was arrested for assault, and proposition was
made to lynch him. which greatly exasperated
the negroes of the town. This threat. 1t Is
feared by the negroes. will be carried out the
most sensational occurrence yesterday was the
call made by c. B. Pendeton in the courtroom
for a force Of volunteers to lynch Johnson. This
nearly precipitated race war, as both sides
had drawn pistols, and n second later firing
would have begun But Sheriff Knight man
aged to stop 1t i'm time.
The negroes guarded the Jail last night. five
hundred or over strong. all we'll armed and
furious at the attitude OF the whites. They
swore they would kill every white man on the
island before Johnson should be lynched. The
white men are in deadly earnest now, the kill
ing Of Gardner having reused their anger to
white heat Mrs Atwe, the negro's victim, Is
reported dying tonight. and this aggravates
the situation. The fact that the militia cannot
get their arms keeps the authorities from hav-
ing a force to quell the disturbance. The regu-
lars, II they are ordered out at once, can stop
further bloodshed, but II not. then more trYble
is looked for The negroes Outnumber the Whites
four to one and knowing this. they are out
rageous in their demeanor and fiaunt their guns
everywhere.
Johnson will be lynched II Mrs. Atwell dies, and
the negroes realizing this, are all the more de-
termned to fight for him. 1t is said that they
lost five killed and four wounded last night. but
as they carried the men off nothing has been
ascertaned to-day Of the details. Firing was
heard all might but further casualties are
reported. The situation has been strained, ana
the danger limit Is about reached. The whites
will not rest quiet much longer. and If attacked,
the negroes, who are well armed, VIII resist, ana
many lives may be lost.
Washington June 2j.-This afternoon the Gov
ernor of Florida telegraphed to President Mckin-
ley that a riot is threatened in Key West, and
asked him. In view Of the distance OF Key
West from the mainland and the difficulty in get
ting State troops to the scene Of the trouble In
time to be Of any avail. to instruct the COM
mander OF the Federal troops there to act. The
President replied to the Governor. citing the law
In the case and asking for particulars. Secre-
tary Alger has telegraphed to the commandment
OF the post al Key West asking for telegraphic
advces giving the exact situation. The action
to be taken will depend on the response to these
inquiries.
The request OF the Governor FOR the assistance
of the Federal troops discussed at con-
ference at the White House tonight. There
were present, besides the President. Secretary
AlGer, Attorney-General Mckenna and General
Brock of the Army The conference lasted until
after II o'clock Secretary Alger said that moth
ing further had been received from Key West
bearing on the situation. and in the absence Of
any information no action has yet been taken on
the Governors request There are now two COM
panies of artillery and one or more Of infantry
that oipt