Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-26
NEGROES ARE ARMING
Is THE CRATER OF
A RUMBLING VOLCANO.
Every Pistol in Town Has Been Sold
and Serious Race Riot Seems
Imminent.

WILMINGTON, Del, June 26.-As re-
suit Of last nights riots William Cramer. q
negro, who was shot during a disturbance
in the negro district known as the Coast, y
died in a hospital today. There was con-
siderable disorder in the district, and the
riOting reached it's climax in fight among
the negroes themselves. This occurred
about midnight. William Simms has been
arrested on the charge of murder He is
alleged to have shot Cramer, and is held
without bail to await the action of the cor
oner's jury.
Several Men Shot.
James A. Mercer and another negro who
were shot during an encounter with white
men in another section Of the city, are not
dangerously wounded. 1t was during this
outbreak Of lawlessness that Sergeant OF
Police McDermott was shot in the cheek
and Patrolmen Green and Hutton were
slightly injured.
If there is any further rioting tonight the
police authorities say the militia will be
asked for
All is quiet in the city today
A dispatch to the New York Herald from
Wilmington, Del, last night says: Race
feeling runs high in Wilmington tonight
and there Is danger of clash between the
crowds of whites and blacks. Knots OF
angry men are gathered on street corners
discussing the situation and a violent lead
er could easily precipitate a battle.
Firearms Bought.
Alarmed by the demonstrations of last
night. many negroes have purchased fire.
arms. and secondhand dealers and pawn
brokers report that their stocks have been
practically exhausted. There are said to
be meetings in progress in the negro quar-
ters to devise means of defense and Of
fense
While men were inflamed by stories cir
culatlng today about acts of retaliation
committed by negroes, word was brought
to the city that five cows belonging to the
Ferris Industrial School had been poisoned.
The superintendent of the school Is the
Rev. DR.. E. A. Bishop, whose daughter
Helen was murdered by George White last
week. 1t is asserted that these cows were
poisoned by the negroes who wished to
avenge Whites tragic death. 1t is reported
that negroes have threatened to burn the
barns OF the farmers who assisted in kill
ing White.
There have been score of individual col
lisions between white men and negroes dur
ing the day, and the police fear grave con-
flicts.
Governor Confers.
Gov. John Hum, although i'll, visited Will
mington today and held a secret conference
with local officials. Those present included
Chief Justice Lore, Associate Judges Grubb
and Spruance, Mayor Fisher, Attorney
General Ward, Deputy Attorney General
Robert H. Richards, City Solicitor Rein
hardt and the police commissioners.
1t is believed further arrests are to be
made. and that if more warrants are is
sued they will be against residents of Will
mngton. instead of a stranger like Arthur
CorweIl
Gov. Hum is anxious to know how pris-
oners will be protected, there is bound
to be great excitement when the men are
placed IN custody. The great question is
whether the militia should be called out
and this is more puZzling than would appear
at first glance. Delaware has only one
regiment. Wilmington, the largest city,
has a battalion. 1t is known that a very
large percentage of the local military or
ganization was present when the attack
was made on the workhouse and when
White was burned at the stake
These citizen soldiers, who were them
selves in Mondays mob, would hesitate Sc
riously about facing another mob composed
of their friends.