The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-25
Where, without Warning, the Ne
grOes Opened Fire with Spring.
fields and wounded Two Men.
SEVERAL OF THE RIOTERS SHOT
ARMORIES BROKEN OPEN AND GUNS
AND CARTRIDGES STOLEN.
Assistance Rendered the White Sol
diers by Civilians Who Armed
ThemseIves-NOtes from the Camps.

ANNISTON, Ala. Nov. 2i-Members of
the Third Alabama, the negro regiment,
with murder in their hearts, caused the
greatest excitement tonight that this
town has ever known. Shortly after dark
Private Gilhart, of Company b, Second
Arkansas while returning to camp from
town, was shot in the head by negro sol
dier, who also stabbed him in the back
Gilhart was taken to the regimental hos
pital. A little latter a member of the
Fourth Kentucky is reported to have been
shot on Walnut street by negro soldiers,
who lay in gully shooting at the white
men who passed Firing was heard in Lii
IBERIA, the negro quarter of the city, which
is not far from Walnut street, and squad
of the provost guard went to investigate.
AS it turned the corner of Fifteenth and
Pine streets a large crowd of negro SOL
diers without warning, opened fire on the
guard with Springfield rifles, the gun in
use in the regiment. The guard returned
the fire, but had few cartridges and soon
had to retreat. When reinforcements and
ammunition were secured the negroes had
disappeared In the engagement Dodson,
Third Tennessee, was shot in the arm, and
Private Graham, Third Tennessee, in the
stomach. Two members of the provost
guard are missing.
When news of the trouble became known
white soldiers who were in the city gath
cred around the provost guard headquarters
and begged for guns and ammunition, out
were refused. Citizens armed themselves and
went to the scene of the fight Mayor Hight
had the saloons closed Several negro sol
ders, one with a Springfield which had just
been fired, were arrested in various parts
of the city and locked up, though it was
with difficulty that the infuriated white sol
diers and citizens were prevented from
wreaking summary vengeance on them.
Armories of the two local military compa-
nies were broken into and every gun and
cartridge appropriated by unknown persons.
General Frank, who is in command of the
troops here, was on the streets until late
hour General Colby, commanding the Sec
ond Brigade, brought in two companies each
of the Third Tennessee and Second Arkan-
sas They secured the city and carried all
soldiers not on duty back to camp MEM
ber of the Fourth Wisconsin is said to have
been shot, but the report cannot be verified.
One negro soldier while under arrest was
shot in the arm by a citizen. After the en-
gagement at Fifteenth and Pine very few
negroes, either soldiers or civilians, were to
be found on the streets. but firing has been
heard at intervals in various parts of the
city.
A negro soldier was dangerously beaten
by some white soldiers on Tenth street this
afternoon and this incident is supposed to
have caused the riotous actions on the part
of the negroes, who are said to have slipped
out of the camp through the guard lines.
Late tonight one negro soldier was
brought in dead and another fatally injured.