New-York tribune., 1903-07-13
NEGROES BESET POLICE
USE PISTOLS And BRICKS.
Rioters Flee to Roofs-Pedestrian
Fires zCith PatroIman.

riot suppressed by the reserves of three
police stations. broke out last night among
negroes in the tenement houses in West Sixty
second-st.. between West End and Amsterdam
aves, about o'clock
A crowd of negroes was standing next door
to saloon at No. 236 West Sixty-second-st.
As Policeman Connor was about to pass Them
some of the negroes began to threaten him. and
acted in such a disorderly manner that he
dered them to move.
Wen stay here as long as we please" shout
ed one of the gang. William Johnson, according
10 Connor advancing on the policeman.
Connor pushed the negro back, but the latter
sprang at him and struck him on the neck
The policeman drew his club and seized the
negros jersey Seeing that their comrade could
not get away. the gang swarmed about the
policeman and followed him across the street
muttering threatenngly.
When in front of a vacant lot at No. 241 West
SiXty-second-st- the riot broke out. Some Of
the gang had climbed to the roof of No 239
and volley of bricks, wrenched from the chin
neys, fell about the policeman
In the first volley one of the bricks struck
| the policeman on the leg, and shout of delight
went up from the mob that encircled him. The
cry brought other negroes from the tenement
houses to the scene, and soon Connor found
himself in d dangerous position
Swinging his club, he backed his prisoner up
| to high board fence in front Of the vacant lot
| and faced the mob, Another shower Of bricks
| from the roofs across the street fell about the
policeman, some striking his assanants and
| others breaking windows at No. 239
Connor blew his whistle and a few moments
| later Policemen Kellaher and Downey arrived
on a run from Amsterdam-ave. The mob in
stanty scattered end fed 10 the roofs and
soon the tops of the houses were lined with
figures
Turning his prisoner over to his comrades,
Connor drew his revolver and fired at a negro
on the roof Of No. 239 who had hit him sec
ond time with brick. The negro ducked TO
| safety, and The policeman started for the en-
trance Of the house. determined to capture him
Before he reached the entrance two negroes
| appeared at the front window Of the top far
| and fired at him. Their shots were answered
| by white pedestrian. who was endeavortng to
get through the mass of excited negroes. The
| stranger bazed away at the top fiat until the
! temporary occupants disappeared and the glass
| from the windows fell on the mob that pursued
! Conno- TO the entrance of the houYe
About this time excited mulatto dashed
| into the West Sixty-eighth- IT. station He
| shouted, killing a cop down in Sixty-secoo6-
| st.r and dashed out again before Sergeant Fitz-
| patrick could stop him.
Captain Kear and Sergeant Tierney. with the
reserve Of fourteen in a patrol wagon.
| started for the scene Meanwhile Policeman
| Connor had gained the roof of No. 239 and SIR
| prised William Bracket, a negro of No 22o
| West Sixty -seventh-st., in the act of throwing
bricks on KeIleher and Downey, who were de-
| Tending themselves against the gang in the
| street.
| Dragging his prisoner to where his brother
| policemen were holding Johnson. Connor left
| Bracket and, fighting his way through the
| crowd cracking the head OF every man who
| stood in his way, reached a patrol box at Am
| sterdarl-ave and turned in a call for reserves
| to Police Headquarters. The call was dupli-
! Gated TO the West Forty seventh and West One
| hundredth ST. stations. and the reserves from
! each station were soon the way to the scene
where they Joined the SiXty-eighth-st. station
men.
| Captafn kear OF his arrival, succeeded in
| clearing the street and was pursuing the rioters
| 70 the roofs when the other reserves arrived in
patrol wagons. In few moments the policemen
| syyarmed through the tenement houses looking
for the rioters. but the latter had Ietreated TO
! their homes, and peace appeared 10 be restored.
| But as the policemen assembled again in the
| street, q window in one OF .he houses went up
! and Il negress emptled pail of dirty water ON
| nan Cahili Of the West SiXty-eighjh-st. station
| and drenched him TO the skin. The woman
| could not be found.
| Captain Kear put TWO men on each of the
| posts In the locality as a precautionary measure,
! fearing tnat the riot would break out afresh.
! The policemen asserted there would have been
no riot if they had had their long night sticks