Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-07-11
RACE ECHOES.

hACE 6NHOE0'
]. E. Chestnut, assistant secretar.
A ~ the Van Transfers and Helpers
Union, has the distinction OF beinl
he FIRST colored man to be made
waking delegate Of labor union il
Chicago. Mr.. Chestnut is painte'
bv trade and member of severa
secre, organizations. Its the opin
ion among the teamsters that 9
more capable and willing worker
could not have been selected.
The school board Of Newport, X.
T.. has elected for the first time a
Negro as a teacher in the public
schools. The young woman is Miss
Louis Van Horne, daughter of Revr
Mahlon Van Horne, United States
consul at ST. Thomas. She is high
II accomplished and has had ex
perience in teaching in texas.
She was recommended by mass
meeting of Negroes a year ago.
Theg made political issue OF the
matter and defeated at the election
Nov. (, school committeeman whom
they thought unfavorable to Miss
Van Horne because of her race.
The school board, however, gave her
the first vacancy that has occurred
since her application was filed.
Surprise is expressed in some
quarters Of Newport, but residents
who know Miss Van Horne approve
the action Of the school board.
Miss Van Horne will receive $500 a
year.
A correspondent in one of the
eastern papers retells the story of
the suppression Of the Cour D'Alene
riots. 1t is interesting in the pict
ure it presents Of desperate mp
rising in the west, but is more es-
pecially important in the testimony
it bears to the bravery of our color
ed soldiers, acting as individuals in
a hand 10 hand conflict. During
the civil war The opinion prevailed
that the colored people would not
fight. Col. Higginson aid other
commanders of colored regiments
soon found to the contrary. This
prejudice was finally disposed of at
the charge Of San Juan hill, when
the colored boys held their place on
the firing line, man for man, with
the white, neither tagging nor shirk
ing.
The story Of the Cour D'Alene
riots is one of reckless and upbridled
lawlessness. At the very out set the
rioters coasted a car loaded with
dynamite down an incline. The ex
DIoslon at the bottom killed 62
people. This Wholesale slaughter
was followed by others until the
whole region was in state of ter
ror, and it was to this scene that the
9th cavalry, colored, came.
The mob had notified the mine
owners that they must leave the
country and had fixed upon II o.
clock the following morning as the
hour when they must leave, death
being the alternative. The soldiers
were due to arrive at 1890 o'clock.
The railroad tracks lay along the
side of creek, which was covered
by bridge under which the rioters
\ had placed dynamite. Beyond on
the slope at bare hill the mob had
gathered in force, to execute its
orders. With whoop and yell the
colored boys took the bridge, before
the dynamite could BE- exploded,
and charged up the hill. 1t was
desperate fight, each man for him
self, and when it was over $50 of
the rioters were dead, but not with
out having given good account Of
themselves in wild western fashion.
There have been more spectacular
assaults in the history of warfare,
but It is doubtful if any body of
troops ever faced more desperate
or more determined foe than the 9th
regiment did at Cour D'Alene, and
it is doubtful il a brave charge was
ever made in any battle of any war.
Register and Leader.
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