Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-10
Citizens of Alexandria Regard 1t as
a Disgrace.
)ENIAL OF PUBLISHED REPORTS
Leading Citizens Not Participants
in the Affair.
7 HE VICTIM RIED

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
ALEXANDRIA,Va- August 1o.-After the
disorderly and riotous scenes of the early
week Alexandria has returned to its nor
NAL condition. While nerves had been at
high tension for two days the natural re-
action has set in, and citizens generally
express sorrow and humiliation at the hor-
rible work of Tuesday night, when Ben
Thomas was lynched.
Many of the leading citizens with whom
a reporter for The Star has conversed
have denounced the lynching in emphatic
language as disgrace to the city. From
many quarters protests are heard against
the statements that the leading citizens
were most prominent In the affair The
mob which lynched Thomas, II is urged,
was a miscellaneous congregation, in the
ranks of which were to be found many
who were not Alexandrians. A large ma
jority of the better class of citizens feel
that a dark blot has been placed on the
fair page of the city's history.
Up to an early hour this morning the ex-
citement occasioned in anticipation of a
negro uprising had not subsided. Citizens
in squads patrolled the principal streets and
congregated on the public corners. Every
body was armed and ready for conflict
should any hostile movement on the part
of the blacks be made. Special policemen
were sworn in, while every regular officer
was at his post.
The station house was a center of inter-
est. There the uneasy people drifted again
and again through the night, eager to learn
of any new developments.
Unfounded Rumors.
Several messages were received at head
quarters of negro gatherings at various OBJ
scure points. These warnings received
prompt attention, but nothing alarming
came to light.
About IL o clock a telephone message was
received from Washington stating that a
mob of colored people had gathered in the
vicinity of Waterloo, in the county, and
were preparing to invade the city. But
little credence was given to these reports,
as upon investigation so many had proved
groundless.
Mayor Simpson issued orders against the
holding of colored balls last night. As a
| result twenty-five or thirty colored people
who had come down from Washington pre-
sumably for attendance on these social af-
| fairs, were compelled to return.
Capt. James Z. King of the Alexandria
Light Infantry assembled his men in Arm
ory Hall at 7:30 o'clock last evening. The
| arms and ammunition for which he had
telegraphed arrived from Richmond on the
3 o'clock train. The company was, there
fore. well armed and equipped The men
lay upon their arms almost the entire
night. Late in the night Capt. King sent
telegram to Adjt. Gen. Nalle in Richmond
under arms by orders from the mayor. and
would probably disband by am.
Mayor Simpson was active and alert dur
ing the night, keeping in touch with the
police and military and alive to the state
of affairs. Notwithstanding all the fears
and apprehensions. the night wore away
without the slightest aggressive movement
by the colored people.
Thomas Remains Buried.
The remains of the unfortunate negro,
Benjamin Thomas, were quietly inferred
this morning at 10 o'clock in Penny Hill.
Since the lynchiHg Tuesday night his body
had lain in Demaines undertaking rooms
on King street. Here 1t was visited by
hundreds. Considering Thomas violent
death, his features were surprisingly nat
ural in appearance. He was only slightly
bruised about the head, and his neck was
swollen. Elizabeth Thomas, his mother,
refused to receive the remains at her home.
She could not bear to look upon her boy,
she said, and would have nothing to do
with his funeral. No incident of interest
attended the burial.