Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-07-09
SEVEN KILLED In RIOT
Clash Between the Militia and a Mob at
Evansville, Indiana.
OVER A SCORE SERIOUSLY INJURED,
Serious Clash Between Citizens and Mltl,
Follows the Race Conflict Of the Night Be
fore-Governor Durbin Puts the Place In
der Martial Law-The Entire Community 10
a State of Upheaval.

Evansville, Ind (SpcciaD Follow
ing four days of rioting and general
lawlessness this city saw the most ter
rible OF its experiences with rioters,
Seven persons dead and fourteen arc
known to be in jurcd, with at least that
number more thought to be hurt.
At 1890 o'clock the members OF
Company A, First Regiment Indiana
National Guard, after days vigilance
guarding the county Jail, and 100 dcpu'
ty sheriffs under Sheriff Chris Kratz,
fired pontblank into a mob OF 1000
gathered on Fourth, Division and Vine
streets, surrounding the Vandcrburg
county Jail and attempting its capture
From 7 o'clock a. H. until the hour
OF the catastrophe the crowd surgcc
about the Jail calling the miltamcp
vile names, assauting them with stones
and berating the deputy shcriffs whc
guarded the jail AT 9 o'clock the mob
gradually became more and more cX
cited, its manifestations Of uneasncss
more frequent, and at 10 o'clock it was
seen that nothing could prevent an as.
sault on the Jail. At 1890 o'clock the
rioters pressed slowly forward and i'll.
nocent onlookers and the curious fol.
lowed. Slowly they forced the militia
men back toward the jail until the al
leyway between Division street and the
stone building was reached. Then the
leaders. with a bicycle in their front
as shield to the bayonets OF the sol
dicrs, attempted to enter the alley and
storm the alleyway entrance.
Captain Blum, OF the National
Guard, ordered charge on the rioters.
Gradually the crowd was forced bsck
the soldiers using their bayoncts and
butts OF guns. Suddenly rioter fell
A soldier tried to drag him to his feet
but before he could was assaulted by
a riotcr. Stones and bouldcrs began
to fly tn. ough the air. \ soldier "aI
struck with a rock and fell. \ riotor
was knocked down with gun and
then shot was fired. The one shot
started fusladc OF muskctry and shot
gun fire from the defenders.
Fully 800 shots were fired from the
Jail windows, the courthouse steps I'M
mediately opposite and by the soldiers
on the streets. No one knows who
fred the shot The soldiers claim il
was the rioters. while the rioters make
no claim and refuse to talk about it.
The Governor is said to have in
structcd the authorities not to jcopar-
die the safely of the jail with hallway
measures. The soldiers and deputies
fired into the rctreatiIg mob OF men
who ran into Division street, iaIIiNg,
crying and praying. For fifteen min
utcs the firing continued, then 1t ccaS,
ed The mob was gone and the sol
diers held the place. In front OF the
staggering band oi tiity-eight soldiers
lay the dead and wounded. Means and
shrel<s of agony and fear came from
the injured.
Ed Schiffman, painter, who was
seen in the first ranks of the mob dur
ing the evening, lay on the sidewalk,
the top of his head blown completely
off by a 45-calibre rifle bullet and his
brains oozing out on the sidewalk. y
short distance away from him lay two
other men, both dead, and one with
bullet wound over the heart.