The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-07-13

sons are dead and fourteen are known to
be injured, with at least that number
more thought to be hurt. 81
Four members of company A, First
regiment, bullet and light gun shot
wounds on the body
One of them was shot through the
shoulder, another through the ankle and
the other Two received slight scratches.
Two deputy sheriffs slightly wounded.
Soldiers Fire Point Blank.
At 1890 o'clock tonight the members OF
company A. First regiment Indiana ma
tional guard, after a days vigilance
guarding the county jail. and 100 deputy
sheriffs under Sheriff Chris Kratze. fired
point blank into a mob of 1000 men gath
cred on Fourth. Division and Vine streets.
surrounding the Vanderburg county jail.
and attempting its capture. From -
o'clock this morning until the hour OF
tonights catastrophe the crowd surSed
about the Jail calling the militiamen vile
names. assailing them with stones and
herating the deputy sheriffs who guarded
the jail.
At Q o'clock the mob gradually became
more and more excited. Its manifesto
tons of uneasiness more frequent and at
10 o'clock it was seen that nothing could
prevent an assault on the Jail. At 1880
o'clock the rioters pressed slowly forward
and innocent onlookers and the curious
followed. Slowly they forced the militia
men back toward the Jail until the allay-
way between Division street and the stone
building was reached Then the leaders
with a bicycle in their front as a shield
to the bayonets of the soldiers. attempt
cd +I,o oil ,r,d CT allpV-
way entrance. Captain Blum, of the ma
tioual guard. ordered a charge on the
rioters. Gradually the crowd was froced
back. the soldiers using their baSonets
and butts of guns. Suddenly rioter fell.
A soldier tried to drag him to his feet.
but before he could do so was assaulted
by a rioter. Stones and boulders began
to fly through the air A soldier was
struck with a rock and fell. A rioter was
knocked down with gun butt and then
a shot was fired. The one shot started a
fusilade of musketry and shot gun fire
from the defenders and scattered re-
turn fire from the rioters. Fully three
hundred shots were fired from the jail
windows, the court house steps immedi-
ately opposite and by the soldiers on the
streets.
Who Fired the First Shotp
No one knows who fired the first shot.
The soldiers claim 1t was the rioters,
while the rioters make no claims and re-
fuse to talk about it. The governor is
said to have instructed the authorities
not 10 jeopardize the safety of the Jail
with halfway measures. The soldiers
and deputy sheriffs fired into the retreat
ing mob of men who ran into Division
n.
fifteen minutes the firing continued then
it ceased. The mob was gone and the
soldiers held the place. In front of the
staggering band ffty-eight soldiers lay
dead and wounded. Means and shrieks
of agony and fear came from the injured.
In the yard of the courthouse wounded
rioters lay and back OF the line of sol
iiers two of the militiamen had fallen.
On the Jail steps stood Sheriff Kratze. At
his side was Colonel Mccoy, of the First
regiment, Around them stood a few doc
tors and reporters. When the firing had
ceased Captain Blum reformed his men
and gave them orders.
Keep that mob back Call on them to
halt! If they don't halt. shoot them
down. We can't take any more chances.
Men he careful. but for Gods sake keep
a close watch" shouted the captain and
his men prepared for another struggle 1t
did not come.
Quiet Followed the Riot.
The rioters got out of sight quickly and
fearing that another charge would be
made, scattered They stood In knots
around the corners in the vicinity They
could be heard at the Jail arguing with
themselves. Let's go get the ----- -
murderers, called one. Down with
them; kill them and a score of cries
were heard. Some of the rioters tried to
change their positions aud Were greeted
with cries OF haiti accompanied by the
clicking of rifles. Within half hour
things had become so quiet that care
could be taken of the dead and injured.
Negroes in Terror.
Inside the Jail forty-three prisoners lay
terrified in the darkness sixteen of them
negroes whose lives are far from safe
If the mob attacks the jail again and
fleets capture. The lights were turned
out when the shooting began anal the
prisoners moaned and cried in their
cells Telephone messages We're sent
from the jail to the hospitals and to
physicians calling for aid and to them
the response was quick. Doctors from
all over Evansville drove rapidly AZ the
call.
The Vincennes company of militia is
On its way here and Colonel Mccoy fears
now quiet around the jail, the soldiers
still standing under arms. Outposts are
stationed 10 avoid guerrilla shooting
from the streets with rifles. Governor
Durbin has summoned a number OF
prominent citizens TO confer with him at
once over the telephone 10 decide what
action will be taken. Should an out
break follow the arrival of the Vim
cennes company the Terre Haute COM
pany Will be rushed here by special
train
'Blue Goose" Dive Wrecked.
The last work Of the mob this morning
before 1t dispersed was to destroy the
Blue Goose saloon. Il negro resort in
Baptisttown The windows and doors
were demolished and a hundred shots were
fired
There was a circus In town today. which
brought additional crowds of sympathiz-
ers with the different races. The police
were at work preventing crowds from
gathering There were dozens of per-
sonal encounters, but no duels with weap-
ons.
Governor TO the Sheriff.
Indianapolis, Ind, July 6.-Governor
Durbin said tonight the situation was
very much to be regretted and he would
do everything to prevent an outbreak
He said he had authorized the sheriff
at Evansville to swear In one thousand
deputies If necessary. and II that was
found TO be not sufficient he would give
him additional troops.
Adiutaut General Ward said tonight:
THE people of Evansville are sensible
pec.,ie and they know that the militia
has the power to kill where others have
not For that reason I think the situa-