Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-04-26
ALEXANDRIA'S SCARE
Rumor That a Crowd of Negroes
Were Seeking Revenge.
said TO Be MARCHING ON TEE CITY
Military Ordered Out and Citizens
Greatly Excited.
o T Fl E r NJ A II T Z r S
Evening Star Bureau,
No. so King Street.
Bell Telephone, No. JOG,

Neved before in the history of Alexandria
has this city been in such a state of ex-
element as 1t was Saturday night when
the whole city was up in arms and the
Alexandria Light Infantry under COM
mand of Captain Albert Bryan, were pa
rading ready for action. The cause of this
was that Mayor Thompson received a tele-
gram from Commemorative Attorney
Richard Johnson of Alexandria county to
the effect that large crowds of negroes
were forming in the vicinity of Arlington
and that it was their intention to come
to Alexandria to avenge themselves of the
death of Lewis, who was lynched Thurs
day night.
All during the day Saturday rumors were
being circulated to the effect that a mob
of negroes from Washington and Alexan-
dria county would enter the city armed
looking for vengeance. The streets early
Saturday night were thronged with per-
sons all freely discussing the rumors. The
Star bureau was crowded with persons
liable news from the county. At 10 o'clock
Mayor Luther H. Thompson received a
telegram from Alexandria county as stated
abov" Shortly after this came a teie-
gram % The Star bureau from the tele-
graph operator at Arlington junction to the
effect that a crowd of negroes numbering
about 200 were stationed there and We're
very much excited. When this news was
given to the public it acted as if a bomb
had been thrown.
Mayor Thompson notified Capt. Bryan to
hold his company in readiness. At exactly
1921 the military call, which is seven
upon the town clock bell. Within twenty
minutes 5000 armed white citizens were
upon the streets One hundred members of
the Alexandria Lisbt Infantry were at
OF aJr,f 1r
next hour people were like maniacs. so
great was the excitement as reports from
the county in regard to the mob kept COM
ing in.
Climax to the Excitement.
The climax was capped, however, when
Mr.. Park Agnew, the newly appointed in
ternal revenue collector for this district
and one of the vice presidents of the Wash
ington, Alexandria and Mt Vernon electric
railroad, received a private telegram from
enc of the operators on the road between
this city and Washington, to the effect that
a mob of negroes numbering between 400
and GO were on the way to Alexandria
and had just passed Four Mile run, which
Is about three miles from town. Mr.. Agnew.
accompanied by Mr.. Henry Strauss i'm
mediately proceeded to the armory of the
Alexandria Light Infantry, and reported
TINS TACT to Mayor Thompson, who was
there. Immediately the mayor ordered
Capt. Bryan to proceed with his company
to the head of Washington street and halt
the mob
By this time every street in the vicinity
of the ar1nory was thronged with white
men. At las o'clock the doors of the
armory. which had been kept closed and
guarded, only members of the company
being admitted, were thrown open, and out
marched the company, amid the shouts
and yells of the vast throng The company
ton and out Washington to the old canal
basin, where halt was made and i'm
mediately line formed across the road
During the march from the armory it is
estimated that fully 1900 men, armed with
shotSuns, Winchester rifles muskets, pls-
tolls and every weapon conceivable, march,
ed behind the company. AS stated never
peIore was such sight ever seen in this
ganized, and hastily stationed on eyery
road leading into the city. The police
force, with large number of reserves
were stationed around the home of Mr.
were outraged by the negro Mccoy. The
police there were assisted by about $40
armed citizens. Col. w. A. Smoot. grand
of Camps Confederate Vet
Grams, with squad of apoGt twenty-five
men, proceeded up the turnpike about a
mile and did picket work. AT exactly l 30
a courier on horseback was seen coming
cut Washington street at a break-neck
speed.
An UmfOunded RumOr.
AT the same time the city bells began
rir ging the second military call, and the
courier reported to Capt. Bryan that the
mob had succeeded in entering the city
from the south and were then attacking
Mr. Lacey's house, and that one police
man had been killed. Immediately there
w2s great rush of citizens and the mil
itary company in double time, for the
scene of the fray, which was at the ex-
IRENE southern end of the city, This re-
port, however, turned out to be without
foundation. except that the police had ar
rested two negro men near the scene for
insulting language. The entire tire de-
partnent responded to the second alarm
ahd the nose wagons were used to trans
port men 10 the scene of the supposed at
TACK. When 1t was learned that the sery-
Ices OF the company were not needed at
the Lacey residence Capt Bryan proceed-
ed TO the corner of Washington and King
streets with his company. At O'CLOCK
capt. harrington of Fort Myer reached
the city, and Immediately offered the sery-
ices of the soldiers stationed at Fort NV
er, saying that he could easily have them
upon the ground in short while il their
services were needed.
rms oner was declined, however by tho
mayor, who told Captain Harrington that
ne thought that the old city would be able
to protect itself without outside assist
ance. At o'clock the mayor directed
Lieutenant Smith, who was in charge of
the police. to mount ten men and place
the m at every entrance into the city, and
he directed Captain Bryan to take his COM
P&py back to the armory and hold them
selves in readiness there. After the COM
psny went to their armory the streets be-
gan to assume their normal appearance.
although many never went home, pre-
ferring to see the night through At 6
o'clock Captain Bryan received a COM
munication from the mayor to discharge
his company, and he complimented them
for their speedy reply to the call. The
company had intended to go to New York
yesterday morning, but this was abandon
ed. although call arrangements had been
made. Over 1000 Westinghouse visited
the city yesterday. The station house, the
lamp post upon which Mccoy was hanged
and the Lacey home were the centers CT
attraction. 1t has been suggested that
the city council have telephone placed
In the armory of the Light Infantry, so
that the company would be connected with
the station house at all times. During the
excitement Saturday night Mrs. Lacey,
mother of the children. suffered an attack
of nervous prostration. but her condition
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