The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1903-07-07
RIOT At EVANSVILLE
An Attempt to Lynch a Negro
471 Caused a Race War.
City in the Hands of Mob--Several
Persons Were Killed and Wound
ed on Both Sides-Hardwar
Stores Broken Into.

Evansville, Ind, July AT ]
o'clock Monday morning this city was
in the hands of a mob. The troops
have been ordered 4 out by the gov
4ernor to protect the Jail which is
surrounded by 1900 men. Two Ne
groes have been killed q in the race
riot, which is rampant. The crowd.
around the Jail, incensed at the MUIR
der 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 be
lieve 1T and is trying to- tear down
the Jail Stone masons in the mob
aregchiseling out the bars. of the win
dows and a battering ram is being
used A white boy has been shot by
Negro, an unknown Negro woman
has been killed and several Negroes
have been seriously injured
The race riot Sunday was the i'm
mediate outcome of: the shooting OF
Patrolman Massey Friday. might lby
Leo Brown, a Negro Brown and an
other Negro had engaged in a quar-
rel, and Brown had sworn to kill his
antagonist He ran toward his home
to secure a revolver and PatrOiman
Massey, hearing Nof the trouble, lay
came back armed, hunting his enemy,
Massey stepped from a doorway and
laid his handuon his shoulder Brown
turned quickly, a revolver in hand,
and shot the policeman in the alb
domen.j j. The officer as he lay on the
sidewalk fired at Brown and wounded
him dangerously. Massey died Sat
urday nights.
F. The steel bars of the Jail windows
could not withstand the rain of blows
from the, battering rams of the mob.
At 81 o'clock Monday morning the
crowd swarmed in. and began a search
for the murderer. Police Capt. Breen-
7neckes tried to- check their advance by
turning the hose upon them. When he
appeared at the-windov, holding the
nozzle, a rain of bullets was sent
the window. The captain re-
treated and no further attempt was
made to keep the mob out. A mob of
200 white men heavily armed was
marching through, the streets, of the
city where Negroes would be likely 70
be found. Shots were heard constant
ly. tt was reported that another Ne.
gro had been shot in First street
Monday morning the crowds on the
streets were increasing, and firing
could be heard in all directions Dis
order and deadly rioting were every
where and every one of the thousands
onSthe streets was carrying his life in
his hands The police were being
cheered for numerous arrests of the
Negroes they were making. Every
time Negro was taken into CUSTODY
the police were applauded and hun
dreds Of people--were.~f following the
wagon. A whole patrol wagon load of
Negroes was picked up on Water
street and about 800 shots were fired
as they passed up Main street. The
mob was still going through the
streets looking for Negroes.
After the mob had been in the jail
only a few minutes word was brought
that gang of Negroes was congre-
eating at Budd Fruits saloon, at No.
415 Upper Fourth street, and was fir
ing from windows and roof upon the
whites as they passed.
The mob Immediately decided to
| lombard it. A hundred or more arm
ed men, upon command, fell into line
| and marched from the Jail up Fourth
street into the Market square, hating
in 'front.' of Fruits place. Negroes
were to be seen below. and in most Of
the windows, 8 but they quickly dis
persed upon the arrival of the MOB.
| Then, upon command of the leader, a
volley of 100 shots was fired into the
building completely wrecking it. 1t
was known at the time that there
was large number Of Negroes in the
saloon. It is thought that many Of
them were hid in. the large buildings
surrounding the saloon. Several are
reported snOt, but no dead bodies have