The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-06

Evansville, Ind. July 6.-The race riot began Is growing still worse at o'clock this morning. The police sent after the mob which started for Baptist Town to blow up the negro colony. telephoned back to headquarters that they were pow erless. as the mob was armed with rifles and they had only revolvers. Just after dawn the mob began bombarding the houses of coiored people in Baptist Town, and the police had reports that many people. were wounded in the battle that followed and that there are probably some deaths.
 this morning this city is in the hands of a mob. Troops have been ordered out by the Governor to protect the jail. which is surrounded by 1000 men. Two negroes have been killed in the l race riot which is rampant. The crowd around the jail. incensed at the murder of a patrolman by a negro. Is shouting death to all negroes. The negro has been secretly removed to Vincennes. but the mob refuses to believe 1t and is trying to tear down the jail. The stonemasons in the mob are chiseling out the bars of the windows and battering ram Is being used. A boy, white. named Logan, has been shot by a negro. An unknown negro
 woman has been killed and several ne- groes have been seriously injured. A company of negroes armed with Winches- ters is marching through the streets threatening to kill all white people. They have broken into a hardware store and secured all the arms and ammunition. Three business men have just been fired on and are now organizing and arming a party to exterminato the negroes. 1:S0 a. m.-The militia has been ordered out and within an hour will be at the jail.
 A telegram has just been received by Captain Blum of Company E to get the men together as quickly as possible and to protect the prisoners at the jail at all hazards. After the mob has been dis persed the militia will begin to run down the riotous negroes. AlnSst every hard
 ware store sn the city has been broken into by the citizens and not a man can
 be seen on the streets who Is not armed. Those of the police officers who are not on duty at the jail or the station houses are patroiling the streets with winches- l ters. The streets present a scene of wild disorder Frightened women are hurry fng to atiaeir homes ffaid, to venture on the side streets, Negroes are reported 1 gathering at several points. The police are powerless to preserve order The en- ltire force Is not sufficient to cope with | the crowds around the jail.
 | .1:40 a. m.-The mob has just broken into the jail.
 The steel bars of the jail windows could not withstand the rain of blows from the battering rams of the mob. At o'clock this morning the crowd swarmed in and began a search for the murderer. Police Captain Brennecke tried to check their advance by turning the hose upon them. When he appeared at the window holding the nozzle, a rain of bullets was sent through the window. The captain re- treated and no further attempt was made to keep the mob out.
 1:45 a. m. A mob of POO white men heav- fly armed is now marching through the streets of the city where negroes would likely to be found. Shots are heard con stantly.
 It is reported that another negro has been shot on First Street.
 At 2 o'clock this morning the crowds on the streets are increasing and firing can be heard in all directions. Disorder and deadly rioting are everywhere and every one of the thousands on the streets is carrying his life in his hands. The police are being cheered for numerous arrests of the negroes they are now making Every time a negro Is taken into custody the police are applauded and hundreds of persons are folliwng the wa gon. A whole patrol wagon load of ne- groes was picked up on Water Street few minutes past o'clock and about SOO shots were fired as they passed up Main Street. The mob is still going through the streets looking for negroes. The Acme Hotel had Ito close its doors tonight because all of it's colored servants became panic-stricken and ran away.
 After the mob had been in the jail only a few minutes word was brought that gang of negroes was congregating aN Budd Ruit's saloon at No. 4l6 Upper Fourth Street, and was firing from win dows and roofs upon the whites as they passed.
 The mob immediately decided to bonn bard it. A hundred or more armed men upon command fell into line and marclfed from the jail up Fourth Street into the market square, halting in front of Ruit's place. Negroes were to be seen below and in most of the windows. but they quickly dispersed upon the arrival of the mob. Then. upon the command of the leader, a volley of one hundred shots was fired into the building. completely wrecling it. It was known at the time that there was a large number of negroes in the saloon. It Is thought that many of them were hidden in the large build ings surrounding the saloon. Several are reported shot. but no dead bodies have been brought in.