The leader., 1903-07-08

Evansville, Ind, July Grace pref.
udice between blacks and whites
brought on reign of terror here Sun
day which has not ended. All of last
night and all day yesterday armed
mobs threatened the lives of citizens
Gun stores were broken open and
weapons aad ammunition were seized
by blacks and whites. The county
Jail is partly wrecked. An angry mob
o. 1000 whites broke in to hunt for
black victim; the wall was forced
with battering ram, negro dives
were ransacked and shot to pieces in
the search for the blacks, and an
armed company of drilled blacks
marched through the streets threaten
ing the lives of all whites. The gov
ernor ordered out troops to protect
property and quell the disturbance,
but they have not arrived.
At daylight this morning three hun
dred armed white men have started
for the powder magazine near the city
to secure explosives with which they
declare they will blow up the entire
negro colony of Baptist town, sub
urb of the city.
Negroes in the Fight.
While Mr.. and Mrs. Paul Morgan
and Mrs. Press Robb were seated on
their porch last night two negroes
passed up Third street. One of them
said: There are some white folks -
and with these words both negroes
drew their revolvers and fired. One
Of the bullets came within an inch of
Mrs. Robb. The three were panic.
stricken, rushed into the house and
fastened the door. After firing sew.
eral more shots at the house the two
negroes continued up the street.
A company of armed negroes,
aroused by the race troubles, marched
through the streets, shouting: Down
with the whites!" and threatening
death to all if the negro was lynched.
This started rush for the gun stores
by the whites. Three were broken
open and 400 rifles and revolvers with
ammunition were seized.
The March on Negrodom.
The march on Baptist town was be-
gun with unarmed men bowling for
guns. On Main street near Fifth one
yelled that the store of e. M. Bush &
Co. should be attacked. His sugges.
ton was answered by rush on the
plate glass front. In two minutes the
door was forced open and the big win.
dows shattered by gun barrels. Pc
licemen rushed up an ddrove the moi
away.
About this time 6 a. m.) the men
were still crying out for victims. The
mob rushed to Willerding's gun store
and forced its way in. Ten minutes
later the mob had three hundred add
tional guns, boxes of cartridges were
grabbed and the march to Baptist
town, where the negro colony lives
was resumed. The mob continued its
rush for Baptist town with the inten
ton of stopping on the way and rob
bling a powder magazine to secure ex
plosives with which to blow up the ne
gro colony.
Not Counting Victims.
Whether the mob is leaving any
dead behind is not known as everyone
fees before the crowd and no search
has been made for dead. The mob
does not stay to inspect the result OF
its work.
After leaving the wrecked place OF
Bud Fruit the mob of men swelled to
between 300 and 400, ran down Syca
more street. Bystanders seized with
the mob fever joined them. At the
corner of First and sycamore streets
an attack was made on the store OF
Boettrich & Kellogg. This was re
pulsed by an employee of the company
who declared .uat the store contained
no guns. The crowd then passed to
water street, where the lack of ne
groes seemed TO rankle the men. Some
yelled "On to Baptist town." where
many negroes live.
The race riot began growing still
worse at o'clock this morning. The
pOilc0 Sent dII0F Inc moU WHICH SIdIC
ed for Baptist town to blow up the ne
gro colony, telephoned back to head
quarters that they were powerless, as
the mob was armed with rifles and
they had only revolvers.
Bombarding Baptist Town.
Just after dawn tht mob began bonn
harding the houses of colored people
| in Baptist town and the police had re
ports that many people were wounded
| in the battle that followed, and that
there are probably some deaths. The
police obtained no names.
The mob started for the magazine
Just outside the city, and the police
think they have secured more ammu
milton.