The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-18
Five Whites and Black Are wound
ed and a Block of Buildings Is
Destroyed by Use OF Torch.
DAY OF GREAT EXCITEMENT
THOUSANDS OF ARMED CITIZENS
PARTICIPATE IN THE "HUNT."
Rendezvous of Negroes n VeritabIe
ArsenaI-Savagery of the Mob
Governor CandIer's Statement.

ATLANTA, Ca, May 17.-An effort by
officers OF the law to arrest negro outlaws
who had barricaded themselves in a store
at Pittsburg, a suburb. resulted to-day in
the most fatal riot in the history of the
city. Eight men were killed, including
three policemen, a white citizen and four
negroes. Six people. black and white, were
wounded. The most exciting scenes pre-
vailed at the place of the disturbance. and
all available policemen. with military called
out by the Governor. had all they could do
TO keep down a general riot. An entire
block of buildings was burned before the
conflict, which began early this morning,
was terminated.
The Dead
ED BATTLE, baiIifT Of Fulton county.
II. G. OSBORNE, policeman of Fulton
county.
THOMAS GRANT. city policeman.
EDWARD CRABTREE, a city police
man.
WILL RICHARDSON, the negro des-
perado who killed these men.
JOHN HARRINGTON. a negro who at
tempted 10 escape from a sewer.
UNKNOWN NEGRO. believed to be
CHARLES CLISBEY killed in a nearby
yard.
WILL GREGG. negro. died tonight, was
shot by unknown men while passing COM
ments on the ARRAY.
The wounded
S. A. KERLIN, beaten by negroes
w. A. WRIGHT, a county policeman,
wounded in the left shoulder.
w. T. JACKSON, a street-car man.
wounded In hip
OWEN HEARD. a county policeman,
wounded in the thigh.
CALL OFFICER SPRADLIN, wounded
In the arm.
SHEPHERD FINER. a negro hackmau
shot through the hand.
The scene Of the tragedy was on Nc
Daniel street. few hundred yards outside
the city limits. The county police first at
tempted TO raid the place alone where the
negroes had taken refuge, and later the
city police were called upon for aid. Still
later the Governor was appealed to and
the military were ordered out
a SMALL ARSENAL.
In the barricaded store were three ne
grOes. 1t is believed there were at first
as many five, and two escaped before
daylight The store Was a small arsenal
In which were a number of Winchester
rifles and a small gatlng gun. 1t was
rendezvous for gang of thieves and MUIR
derers. Within were sharpshooters, who
picked off the men on the outside with
precision and deadly effect. Every time
man showed himself he was shot TO death
The torch was finally brought into requi-
sition and amid the flames was heard the
crack OF the rifles as the deadly messen-
gers of lead sped on their way. The flames
accomplished what the bullets failed to do
Two members OF the gang rushed out. one
20 death and the other. the leader, was
burned up after his body had been riddied
with bullets. Before the riot was ended
three brave officers had been shot TO death.
one citizen had fallen with a rifle in his
hands. four negroes were killed and many
others wounded.
During the entire affair at least 5000
shots were fired. Citizens had joined the
police, armed with shotguns and rifles.
After the burned body of the negro was
found an angry crowd OF white men seized
II and bore IL towards the city. Chief Ball
threw Gordon OF police across street at
the city limits and took the body away
from the crowd and had it sent into the
city I'm a wagon. While the procession was
passing VIII Gregg. a negro. was heard to
remark that it a shame 20 kill negroes
that way. and he had no sooner spoken the
words than he was riddIed with bullets.
He was carried To the county iail. where
he died tonight
Fifty men OF the Fifth Infantry did
patrol duty in the disturbed district of
day. being relieved tonight by the Gate
City Guard AS further precaution Gov
ernor Gambler tonight ordered every mill
tiaman in Atlanta under arms and to re-
main at their company headquarters until
further orders.
GOVERNORS STATEMENT.
Governor Gambler made the following
statement tonight; At O'Clock this
morning l was called by Deputy Sheriff
Shropshire. who informed me that a des
perate negro. who had on yesterday after
noon waylaid and wounded a policeman.
had been located in an old storehouse on
Mcdaniel street beyond the city limits and
that the county police had surrounded the
house and were waiting until daylight TO
capture him. Before day the negro shot
from the house and killed policeman.
With this statement he telephoned me for
authority TO burn the house. 1 advised
him not TO do So but to guard the house
and prevent the escape OF the negro and
call me again when ] got 10 my Office
at once ordered Major Barker 10 proceed
without delay 10 the scene Of disturbance
with nifty men and a Calling gun. n a
few minutes Deputy Sheriff Shropshire ad-
yised me that while he had been at the
telephone talking TO me sherifT Nelms had
the house burned and the negro escaped.
but was believed TO be in another house
Aiese by Meanwhile the troops under Maj.