Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-07-07
MOB FIRED ON
SOLDIERS FIRST
That Much About Evansville Riot
Has Been Established,
PEOPLE VERY EXCITED YET
Most Of Victims, Dead and wounded,
Members of Prominent Families
Martial Law May be Declared.

Evansville. Ind, July six shot
dead and 20 injured, four fatally. Is the
outcome OF the race riots that have
caused a reign Of terror IN this city
during the past four days
Al lO.3O last night the Evansville
company Of Indiana national guard. as
sisted by 200 special deputy sherIffs,
sworn In during the day, while guard
ing the county jail In which We're l6
negro prisoners, poured a deadly vol
ley Of buckshot and bullets into
crowd Of several thousand people led
by Il hundred armed riolera which was
pressing them back amid ieers, ac-
companied by stones.
When the smoke cleared away six
dead bodies lay on the ground. There
is contention as TO who fired first, the
soldiers or the rioters. That the
troops were fired on is proven by the
fact that among the wounded were four
members Of the troops
The crowd, angered by the presence
of the soldiers guarding the prisoners,
was shouting its determination to again
blow open the Jail and secure the me-
groes. For a half hour or more the
crash Of the mob against the line Of
soldiers had grown worse The SOL
diers had warned and the citizens had
begged the mob 10 dIsperse. There were
many personal encounters az the riot
ers pressed the line. A stone was
thrown. a soldier fell, a bayonet was
thrust into the side OF a cursing roter
and an order TO fire was given
II was all over In minute. The mob
scattered and disappeared The dead
and wounded were taken 10 homes and
hospitals and the line OF soldiers was
reformed. An night the troops stood
around the Jail, while inside the negro
prisoners prayed for mercy and pro-
lection
At o'clock this morning. under or
ders from Gov, Durham, the Vlncennes
company of militia arrived and relieved
the Evansville troops. who lay down
In the courthouse yard and slept on
their arms. There was no demonstra-
ton when the relief troops arrived
There were still several hundred per
sons on the streets. but no attack was
made and the incoming troops were
not disturbed
Negroes are leaving th,g o. IN large
numbers and dozens OF 80 gro famh-
les are camped In the eG,ht Officials
believe there viii oe no surther out
break although the utmost vigilance
will he maintained
The New Albany and Terre Haute
companies Of militia have been ordered
under arms by the governor and are
ready 10 start Tor this city at once
Gov Durbin Is considering the advis-
ability Of declaring martial law Great
excitement prevails here today
Most Of the killed and wounded were
members Of prominen, families,
There is much criticism Of the militia,
hut the soldiers probably acted within
their rights, as laid down by law, and
Il seems that the sufferers or their
friends and relatives will have no re-
dress.
In last nights mob there were a num-
Der OF women, led there seemingly by
curiosity and not realizing the dreadful
seriousness OF the situation Two wo- |
men with their infants in go-carts were
noticed i'm the thrOuP but few min ,
utes before the shooting began
Col McClung, who was sent here last !
night 10y Gov, Durhin was given full [,
TO summon an military aid I.
he regarded as necessary but he did not |
ask for reinforcemenls until after the |
rloting
The firing continued two or three |
About 800 shots were fired. |
rs soldiers and about 60 deputies were
on guard.