Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-07-11
SEVEN KILLED IN RIOT
Clash Between the Militia and Mob at
Evansville;
OVER A SCORE SER .LY INJURED.
Serious Clash Between Citizens and Militia
Follows the Race Conflict OF the Night Be-
fore-Governor Durbin Puts the Place In
der Martial Law-The Entire Community In
q State Of UpheavaI.

Evansville. Ind. (SpcciaD.-Follow-
ing four days OF rioting and general
lawlessness this city saw tho most ter
rible OF its experiences with rioters
Seven persons dead and fourteen are
known to be injured. with At least that
number more thought TO be hurt
At 1880 o'clock the members OF
Company y. First Regiment Indiana
National Guard. alter a days vigilance
guarding the county jail. and 100 depu-
~ sheriifs under Sheriff Chris kratz.
fired pointbank into 4 mob OF 1000
gathered on Fourth. Division and Vine
streets, surrounding the Nandcrburg
county jail and attempting It's capture.
From 7 o'clock 4. III. until the hour
OF the catastrophe the crowd surscd
about the Jail calling the militamen
vile names. assaulting them with stones
and bcrating the deputy shcrtfs who
guarded the Jail At o o'clock the mob
gradually became more and more cX-
cited, its manifestations oil uncasiness
IL.
seen that nothing could prevent All as
sault on the jail AT 1890 o'clock the
rioters pressed slowly forward and in
nocent onlookers and the curious iol-
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
e,;oii .Ea ~ tho SOL
diers, 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 back.
the soldiers using their bayonetS and
butts OF guns Suddenly rioter fell
A soldier tried to drag him to his feet.
but before he could was assaulted by
a rioter. Stones and boulders began
10 fly through the air 4 soldier was
struck with a rock and fell. A riotcr
was knocked down with gun and
then shot was fired. The one shot
started iusilade OF musketry and shot
gun fire from the defenders.
Fully 500 shots were fired from the
Jail windows. the courthouse steps inn
mediately opposite and by the soldiers
on the streets. No one knows who
fired 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
fred into the rctreating mob OF men
who ran into Division street. falling
crying and praying. For fifteen mill
utes the firing continued. then it ccaS-
ed. The mob was gone and the sol
diers held the place In front OF the
staggering band 81 fifty cigh; soldiers
lay the dead and wounded. Means and
shrieks OF agony and fear came from
the injured.
Ed Schiffman. painter. who was
seen in the first ranks oi the mob dur
ing the evening, lay on the sidewalk.
the top OF his head blown completely
off By a +5-calibrc rife bullet and his
brains oozing ont on the sidewalk. \
short distance away from him lay two
other men, both dead, and one with I
bullet wound over the heart.