The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-10-16
'BLOODSHED ATA DANCE
Excited Negroes Do Terrible Work
with Razors.
CRIME LET LOOSE AT CHICAGO.

Free-for-All Fight Follows the Refusal Of
Orchestra to Play because the Cash Was
Not Forthcoming-Six Persons Badly Cut
In Another Part of Town Policeman
Loses His Scalp In a Fight with Toughs-
Bloody Quarrel Over Beer.
Chicago, Oct l6.-Colored revelers at
Columbia hall, 6142 Halsted street. en-
gagged in a melee at 1880 o'clock Friday
morning during which six persons. in
cluding a policeman. were cut more or
less seriously with razors in the hands
of Frank Jackson and Charles Cross.
who were the managers of the affair.
Four wounded men are in custody at
the Englewood police station and one.
the most seriously injured is at the
county hospital. Those who were cut
during the progress of the fight were:
Policeman George Jones of the Engle-
wood staton hands and arms cut:
taken to the Englewood Union hospital.
Frank Jackson, 60O9 Ada street; cut on
face and side Charles Ewing, 1903
Dearborn street; scalp and face cut.
Charles Gross. 6313 Peoria street: arms
and shoulders cut. Barney Reed. deep
cuts in breast and side; condition seri-
Gus; at county hospital
Orchestra Demands Pay.
Seventy-fve dancers were in the hall
when the disturbance began, ali Of them
worked up TO a high pitch of excite
ment by the fact that the orchestra en-
gagged for the occasion had refused TO
play unless il was first paid for its
services but sat silently on a platform
in one end of the hall. From 1880
o'clock until after l the managers Of
the dance argued with the musicians,
but to no purpose. At this time an out
break became imminent, as the indig-
nation against the orchestra became
more marked, and Policeman Jones
slipped out TO the patrol box around
the corner and asked the desk sergeant
at the police station to send re-enforce-
ments. He hurried back TO find that
during his absence the trouble had TO-
mented and the gathering was in an up
roar.
Razor rs Persuader.
The musicians had seized their instru-
ments and were making their way out
OF the stage door when Manager Jack
son jumped on the platform. razor in
hand. and attempted TO restrain them.
The policeman, close behind. seized him
by the coat, and was in turn attacked
by Charles Gross, who was also armed
with a razor. The officer attempted to
draw his revolver, but his arms were
seized from behind and he was helpless
10 defend himself. Gross succeeded in
cutting him several times before the
crowd closed around the combatants,
but in few moments the fighting was
all at random. Barney Reed. who had
drawn knife, forced himself into the
thick of the fight, but before he had
done any damage he had been knocked
down and cut three times, and the
crowd was walking over his body.
instruments Are Demolished,
Charles Ewing, who also had a knife
was cut by some unknown person, and
he, too was lying on the floor. The
musicians, meantime, had escaped.
leaving their instruments behind. all OF
which were demolished during the row.
While the fight was at its height, Off |
GERS LAWN Welsh and Graham had |
jumped into the patrol wagon and were |
driven to the hall. When they entered |
the crowd was all gathered around the |
platform and all of them seemed to be |
participating in the fight. The moment !
they made their presence known the |
crowd divided and rushed for the doors |
The only ones the officers succeeded in |
arresting were the men who were |
wounded and unable to run.