The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-12-28
.OMETH|NG BROKE LOOSE.
mOst Rioting Race War Made
Christmas a Day of Woe and
Trouble for the Police.

Never in the history of Ria have
ch doings hapneu d as arlted the
tn of December inns year. How or
6y it began no one seems to know,
nb, something started which seemed
4tned to end only in bloodshed.
The night before Christmas liquor
rot in its work Several colored young
mcn, moved to daring 10y their num-
bees and the spirits within them, delied
thj police. one of the crowd was ar
res he'd and the gang ''rus he'd the
police and got him away andt then they
W. xed bold and talked loud and
. pasted of their having worked and
utTed the police.
several fights among themselves
arSed the colored mems first night,
1t the next morning they ran against
sGme of the and smelter boys
wi b. the same that had won il
the police and ( didn't go at all.
"July,n colored man who works in
the barber shops had "a fight with an
other barber shop porter Christmas
we and received a cut on his left hand.
esday morning he mixed up with a
lite boy named Kelley and they
ight until both were worn out near
New York store before the police
lived. In police court the two,
cred with blood were fined s. EACH
LEY paying land "July" going to
Deacon Woodland, following the
ag to see fair play" pumped him
elNdown in the police judges chair
while waiting for his honor and police
mnn Roger took a large revolver from
his pocket. Why he wasn't fined none
seems to know.
q, bout half an hour later Jim Allen
=, West street resort keeper, flourish
d revolver near the heads and faces
of q number of people and defied the
pol re to take him or the white linen to
VIII 2 him. He got away untouched
but another colored youth named
Ew III, who stepped in to help him was
beaten almost insensible. Crowds
gathered at every street corner and
within three hours half dozen flights
occurred between whites and blacks.
Paddy Hite was arrested for carrying
knucks although he says he had none,
and none was found on him.
There was general armament after
this and more guns were carried in
town than since Prices raid, A regular
battle was predicted and an ugly
temper was everywhere manifested.
The colored crowd kept near their
churches, however, and most of the
waite boys We're at the masquerade
dance. Lewis Coflield had the last
experience. On his way home from
the Elks' club he had to pass II crowd
of half dozen young negroes. He
walled down the walk between them
- the last two bumped into him,
lr,ed him as blamable and chased
lin the block intervening to his home.
Lewis is a warrior bold and he prompt
y sought the family revolver and was
starting for town when his father.
earn ing the facts, interfered and took
he 'eapon. Lewis's uucle finally
escorted Ihim down town to protect
lin and was set upon and roundly
eaten by the gang, Lewis giving leg
}il. He armed himself down town
Il found no more disturbers.
The night passed without any of the
core Of threatened killings taking
place- The rows We're confined to two
rowds and many of the better colored
eop,e were in no way implicated.
Where the first blame lies none seems
, know, but if as reported, the police
)rce was bullied out of their duty
omeYhing should be done. lola has
hitting, floating element which will
uickly be augmented by many, Grim
nails and thugs if word goes .'out that
here is no law here and an example
tade
THE POLICE SIDE.
The affair Monday night, when the
.oubles all started; is reported as
blows: A crowd of colored bows
ere disturbing u colored meeting in
ne eeper block and the police were
mmpned. They told one of the boys
go home and he refused. SHAPED
crested him and he and Mcpherson
arted to take him to jail The crowd
lshe0 up and Mcpherson said some
- iNt him. He let loose of the |
iso er and SHAPED threw the colored
nthto the walk, but lost his hat and |