The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-07-11
THE RACE RIOT.
SOLDIERS FIRED ON INDI-
ANA MOB, AND CITIZENS
FELL.
Some Dead and Others Mortal1y
-Wounded-Negroes Fleeing
From the City-A1l is
III Quiet Now.

From the City-All is
Quiet Now.
Evansville, Ind, July THE
morning breaks on one Of the most
turbulent conditions of affairs that
could be imagined in heretofore
peaceable community. It is be-
yond conjecture how SO violent an
antipathy could have arisen in the
breasts of the white population a.
gainst the colored man. AS condi-
tions stand today, the sight of a me-
gro, or even the mention of the
name, is sufficient to incite riot.
J Were this feeling confined to the
lower element of whites it would
not seem SO strange, but when it
is understood that some of the best
men in the city or state are party
to the cry against the blacks, the
matter assumes the most grave as
pect.
Last night in the mob which sur
rounded the jail, and into which
the soldiery fired their deadly mis-
sills, were seen merchants,s clerks
and professional men, who before
have held the reputation Of the
most upright citizenship. These
would unite their voices with the
cry, "exterminate the negro. Ban
ners were carried on which was
written this expression. 1t is the
slogan of the mob, or populace,
whatever the vast gathering of al
legged avengers might be called.
It is reported today that se-
cret meeting was held in subur-
ban hall, which was attended by
nearly 500 people, who swore ale
glance to one another and to the
cause of ridaing Evansville of the
negro race.
The meeting is said to have been
orderly and was presided over by
W. K. Bloom, reputed to be a law
yer of indianapolis. Resolutions
of condemnation were framed in re-
gard to the killing of citizens by
troops last night.
Not alone is censure of the troops
actions confined to those persons
who were members of the attacking
party on the jail, but today there
are beard on every side expressions
fof repugnance for the manner in
which seven lives were sacrificed.
It is announced that meeting
will be called by the city council
to convene at 5 o'clock this after
| noon, when steps will be taken to
formulate plans by which the negro
population of the city can be gath
cred in one locality and there guard
ed until the excitement of the last
four days subsidies.
Last nights experience was the
most terrible ever with essed in this
city. At 1890 o'clock a crowd of
1000 persons had gathered about
thejail and began crying, EXTERN
mate the NegroE" Soon the shout
went up to attack the Jail and Com
pany A of the first infantry, under
Captain Bloom, and 100 special
deputies under Sheriff Chris Kratz,
prepared to defend the structure.
Within the Jail 43 prisoners lay
trembling. Half of the number
were negroes and these begged pit
eously for protection.
Shortly before II o'clock the mob
gan a forward movement and press
ed the militiamen back. The lat
ter were endeayoring to keep the
attacking party in control by using
bayonets. The leaders of the mob
began urging their followers to rush
the guard, and this was attempted
when, at a moments command,
Captain Bloom gave the order to
fire, and fusillade of bullets was
fred point blank into the crowd.
There was fierce yell as the crowd
fell back, leaving seven dead and
Is wounded.
The scene that followed cannot
be described in words. The wound
ed were crawling here and there,
trying to get to places of safety,
while those dead were either taken
into the jail or were carried away
by friends.
Angry were the murmurs which
went from the retreating' members
of the mob. Threats of revenge
were freely expressed, and no man
can tell where the end will strike or
when it will come.
EvansvilIo Ju1v of thoea