Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-06
RACE WAR IN INDIANA
Evansville the Scene of Mob
Rule.
NEGRO SHOT OFFICER
MOB OF WHITES CALLED FOR
VENGEANCE.
Failing to Find the Murderer, Indis-
criminate War Was Made on
All Negroes.
NEGRO SHOT OFFICER

EVANSVILLE. Ind. July 8.-This CITY II
| quiet this morning and there are no signs
of the mob violence that agitated the popu-
lation all of last night. Business is being
conducted as usual. trip through the
business section reveals the fact that much
damage was done to numerous stores, es-
pecially to the hardware houses many of
which were entered and robbed of guns and
ammunition. Thousands OF shots were Aired
during the night, but so far as learned no
one was killed, although numbers Of peo-
pie are said to have been wounded Sew
eral negroes were caught by mobs and al
most beaten to death before the police
could save them.
Race prejudice between blacks and whites
brought on a reign OF terror here Sunday.
All last night and all day yesterday arm
ed mobs threatened the lives Of citizens.
Gun stores were broken open and weapons
and ammunition were seized by blacks ana
whites. The county jail is partly wreck
ed An angry mob of 1000 whites broke
into 1t to hunt for black victims The wall
was forced with a battering ram. A negro
dive was ransacked and shot to pieces In
the search for the blacks and an armed
company of drilled blacks marched through
the streets threatening the lives OF all
whites. The governor ordered out troops
to protect property and quell the disturp
ance but they did not arrive. AT daynght
this morning 800 armed white men started
for the powder magazine near the city to
seize explosives with which they declare
they will blow up the entire negro colony
of Baptist Town. suburb OF the CITY.
Trouble Brewing for Months.
The trouble. which has been brewing for
months came to crisis Friday, when
Lee Brown, a negro shot and killed Pa
trolman Massey, who was trying TO arrest
him while bent on the murder of man
l,a had Threats
vengeance were followed by the surround
ing of the jail. The negro was secretly re-
moved from the city yesterday ana taken
to Vincennes. Patrolman Massey dieu IN
terrible agony and yesterday morning the
crowd refusing to credit the statements or
the officials that the negro was not IN tine
TAIL became threatening as IT increased IN
numbers. Twenty-Five policemen were
mobiliZed in the jail and repulsed the nrst
attempt to force entrance after the
gates were crushed in. A telephone pole
was used as battering ram ana the jan
windows gave way.
committee was appointed to search for
the negro, but its report that he was not
there was not believed. and. after forcing
a breach the mob poured into the corrl-
doris Finding it's victim gone, there was a
cry of kill the negroes" and arms were
demanded.
A company of armed negroes. aroused by
the race troubles, marched through the
streets shouting Down with the whites"
and threatening death to all II the negro
was lynched. This started a rush for the
gun stores by the whites. Three were
broken open and 400 rifles and revolvers,
with ammunition, were seized. From TINS
time on throughout the night there were
thousands of shots fired.
Shooting in Negro Section.
The mob, shooting. went through ths
streets inhabited by negroes, and did not
stop to inspect its work, and the excitement
and confusion have prevented houses being
searched for dead and wounded
The mob. after leaving the jail on finding
that the negro Brown was gone. broke into
the gun stores of Boetucher & Kellogg,
Wtlerdering & Co. and E. NJ. Bush q Co,
and, after thoroughly arming, all rushed
through the streets hunting negroes
The armed company of negroes had dls-
appeared All blacks fed the streets, and.
falling to find victims. the resort OF Budd
Fruit was visited and shot to pieces.
Whether any were killed there is not yet
known. From there the gun stores OF Will
erding & Bush were broken open, and new
recruits to the MOB were armed. The march
to Baptist Town was then begun. and as
dawn began to break the mob was rushing
toward the powder magazine near the city
for powder with which to blow up the
negro colony.
throughout the night officials were pow
erless The negroes. after the first armed
display of resistance, scattered, and have
not made a stand SINCE lhey are nyinS
in terror
The governor was appealed to, and or
dered out the militia, but ii has not ap-
peared as yet. The jail is partly wrecked,
glass in hundred buildings is broken. and
a spirit of vengeance on the part OF the
whites and OF sullen resistance If cor
nered on the part of the blacks Is mani
tested Governor Durbin has been appealed
to a second time, and is expected to take
action today to avoid further bloodshed.
Rioting Early This Morning.
The riot began growing still worse at 4
O. clock this morning. The police sent after
the mob which started for Baptist Town
telephoned to headquarters that they were
powerless, as the mob was armed with
rifles and they had only revolvers.
Just after dawn the mob began lombard
ing the houses of colored people in Baptist
Town and the police had reports that
many people were wounded in the battle
that followed, and that there were prob
ably some deaths. The police obtained no
names. -
Efforts to get the mintla together are IN
progress.
the police force reported that there was lit
tie possibility Of peace. The crowd of ne
proes that started the trouble last night is
thought to have been organized at Bud
FRUITS place. The captain said that there
is little doubt In his mind that Fruit lnciteo
the negroes to go to the defense OF Brown,
who the mob thought was confined in the
iail The armed force of negroes Is still at
large. though scattered, and Is defyinS the
the policemen have been instructed to do
everything in their power to corrall the
band No deaths have been reported. but
several are known to have sustained seri-
Gus injuries, and a number of negroes are
missing.
Dives Riddled With Bulleta
The mob that moved on Baptist Town
this morning riddled the dives with bullets.
and It is thought a few persons were killed
and several injured.
The mob was unable to get into the pow
der magazine, though an attempt was made
to do so. It has divided into small groups.
and the members are still armed and
marching through the streets. The com
pany of militia which was ordered on the
scene by Governor Durbin has not arrived.
and an investigation will follow the failure
OF the captain of the company to respond to
the call of the state and city authorities.
Captain Brenciee says the police aaDaxtmea4
is poweriess If another outbreak occurs.