Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-23
SERIOUS SITUATION
At Newport News for Awhile
Yesterday
A SMALL RACE RIOT STARTED
By The Killing Of a Negro Burglar In a
Store.
Az IMMENSE CROWD GATHERS.
\ White Man knocked Down aud
Two Other Negroes Shot-Special
officers sworn mail the Princf-
pals Arrested. "a

NEWPORT NEWS, VA. December 2.
(Special)-As sequel to the killing OF a
negro in Rockets early this morning by
three white men. there was a race riot in
that quarter later in the day, which re-
suited in tho shooting Of two more ne
gr0es. one seriously. Everybody I'm Rock
ctts is excited tonight and II Is feared
that there may be further trouble. rho
police are keeping a close watch. and spe-
cial officers have been sworn in TO be on
hand in case of emergency. But Tor the
prompt response OF the police to-day
there would have been more bloodsRld.
as an angry mob Of 1000 negroes made
persistent efforts to set hold OF the man
who. # is alleged. ala the killing.
Rockets IS a thiclIly populated section
OF the city. i'm which the negroes are In
the majority There are many small mcr-
chants I'm business in tho locality. some
OF them doing well. There have been
number OF burglaries in the district re-
Gently. and some Of the merchants OBJ
tanned police authority for their own pro-
lection. Every night this week some OF
the stores have been robbed. and n ono
place the thofts had been repeated night
after night Last night three armed white
men sat up i'm a store to keep watch, and
about / O'Clock this morning they spied a
negro making his way through window.
When the negro got inside Che watchers
opened fire. directing eleven shots at PM
Williams, tn intruder. two of which took
effect and caused death.
EXCITED THE NEGROES.
When the colored people learned of the
shooting they gathered I'm groups on tho
streets and loudly discussed the affair. e
seemed as II the entire populace was Out.
The men were excited, and made all man
ner OF threats against the whites. They
only needed some overtact TO put them IN
fighting mood and this came very soon.
John Harper knocked down one OF tho
men. VIII. was responsible for Willoms's
death. Several OF the merchants jumped
on the negro. and one Isadore Kahn, who
was one OF tho men who had been given
police authority, attempted 10 arrest Har-
per. who ran. Kahn shot him after y
chase. Jim Cross was aho shot. but not
seriously I'm the mean time mob OF ne
groes. numbering about 1909 armed with
pistols. clubs. and bricks. surrounded tho
whites and one policeman. who was on
the scene and for "a time /. ,ookst as x
the white men would % Killed, put n
squad OF policemen under sergeant itey-
nods and several city 'hieiais, armed
and mounted. rode Lp IN time 10 prevent
further bloodshed.
AFTER KAHN.
Their arrival, however did not deter
the negroes In their purpose 40 ge; bold
OF Kahn. and 30 looked as n there would
be trouble. bur the GOODNESS and norye OF
the police checked any dangerous move
on the part OF the mob All Of the prin-
cipas have been arrested, and several ne
groes who tried 20 mcite riot are IN
iau. The streets in Rockets are crowd
ed with excited negroes. This Afternoon
several reports came from Rockets that
more trouble was brewing. but up - 4
late hour there had been no demonstra-
ton against the whites.