The age-herald., 1900-12-25
Many Were Under the Influence
 of Liquor
DRUNKEN NEGRO WOMEN ON PARADE
Number of Fights and MeIees Occur red, Several of a Very Serious Ma ture-PatroI Wagon and Am
 balances on the Run.

Birmingham was wild last night. The most riotous crowd ever seen on the streets of the city paraded the business sections from early in the evening until midnight or later. Of the thousands on the thorough fares a large proportion of them were in- toxicated and great number so much un- der the influence of liquor that they could hardly walk unaided. No more riotous scenes perhaps were ever witnessed in any place than those enacted during the early hours of the evening. In the motly crowd were many women blowing horns throwing confetti and firing off every description of fireworks from the innocent little cracker to the dangerous cannon cracker and the torpedo.
 Fights were numerous and the patrol wagon was unable to carry all the men arrested to the city jail. Three men were busy docketlng cases, searching prisoners and confining them in the jail. Before mid night stack of papers six inches deep con- taining charges made by the policemen against prisoners were on file at the war den's office. It was dangerous for persons to try to walk along some of the streets in the business portion of the city, notably  Twentieth streets, and Twentieth street from First avenue to Fourth avenue.
 Scattered all along these streets were scores of men and boys, white and black, with sacks of confetti and flour mixed with meal and dirt, which they threw in the faces of any one who might chance to pass along.
 DisgracefuI Scenes.
 The most disgraceful scenes of the even- ing were the scores of drunken negro wom- en parading the streets and throwing con- fetti and other things in the faces of per- sons they met. The streets were crowded with men and women, but this made no diff ference with the inebriated negresses. They were no respecters of persons, but dashed confetti flour, dirt Or whatever they might have in their hands into the faces of such persons as came in reach of them. Some of the women were arrested, but police force of two hundred men would have been re- quired to keep up with the rioters. In all this fun and merry making there were in- numerable melees, some of which may prove fatal to one or more of the partici- pants.
 The revelry exceeded anything ever before seen in the city. Mardi Gras occasions are not excepted A reporter for the Age-Herald in walking the distance of one block sawt three fights and two other men knocked down without the slightest provocation.
 A erious Affray.
 Perhaps the most serious fight of the ev- ening occurred about 9:30 o'clock in a sa- loon at the corner of Morris avenue and Twentieth street, in which Charles Nixon was dangerously stabbed by Joe Spencer. Witnesses differ as to the cause of the fight, but it is alleged that Spencer was the ag- gressor They had been quarrellng for some time when, 1t is said Spencer drew his knife and made lunge at Nixon, the blade striking the latter in the abdo- men, laying it open. The intes- tines bulged out at the opening, and slits were made in two ofythe larger ones. Dr. Charles Whelan was summoned and sewed up the wound Nixon was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital by Dr. Whelan, who gave him every attention possible. His wound Is dangerous, and may prove fatal.
 Spencer was arrested by Officer Walton and sent to the city jail in the patrol wagon. Assault with intent to murder was the charge registered against him.
 About a quarter past 10 o'clock man named Woodrow, who had charge of fireworks stand in Twentieth street, near First avenue, was stabbed in the face by John Lewis, a bricklayer The wound in- flicted is painful, but Dr. Rittenberry, who dressed it, states that it is not dangerous. A gash was made from the left ear to the point of the chin MT. Woodrow states that Lewis had been trying for some time to get some fire works at less than cost, and because Woodrow would not let him have them he got mad.
 According to Woodrow's statement to an Age-Herald reporter, Lewis came to him five times, and each time tried to raise row with him, finally saying he would get a shotgun and kill him. MT. Woodrow states that he was walking along the west side of Twentieth street. midway between First and Second avenues, when Lewis att tackled him from the rear Before he had time to defend himself Lewis had stabbed him. He was first taken to the drug store of Nabers, Morrow and Sinnige and later to Dr. Rittenberry's office, where his wounds were dressed by Dr. Rittenberry.
 Other Fights.
 Albert Cannon, a big yellow negro was knocked in the head by another negro ahout o'clock yesterday evening. his