Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-07-14
KILLED In RACE Riot,
SEVEN PERSONS SHOT DOWN AT
EVANSVILLE, IND.
Armed Mob Charges Militia on Guard
at Jail and Battle Ensues-Twcnty
Badly Wonnael-M Murder by Negro
the Cause.

The race war at Evansville, Ind, ere
suited shortly before midnight Monday
/ in a battle between mob and State
soldiers, in which seven persons Were
shot dead and at least twenty wounded
/ The troops fired into crowd Of 1000 OF
more persons who were making an attack
on the Jail. Several persons who were
struck by the soldiers bullets were only
spectators of the riot, one of those killed
being girl. The fatal battle followed
four days of rioting that grew out of the
murder of Policeman Massey by Lee
| Brown, a negro.
-Four members of Company A, First
regiment, were shot, one through the
shoulder, another through the ankle and
the other two received slight scratches.
Two deputy sheriffs were slightly wound
| ed.
Company A of the First Indiana regi-
ment, under Capt. ]. E. Blum, had been
! guarding the Jail all day, while mob
/ stood about reyihng the State troops.
| Monday night the mob grew more men
/ acing and at 10 o'clock it was seen that
nothing could prevent an assault on the
| jail. Slowly the mob forced the militia
men back toward the Jail. until the alley
way between Division street and the
stone building was reached.
Then the leaders. with a bicycle in
front as a shield against the bayonets of
the soldiers, attempted to enter the alley
end storm the alleyway entrance.
Orders Charge on Mob.
Capt. Blum Of the National Guard or
dered a charge on the rioters. Gradu-
ally the crowd was forced back, the sol
diers using their bayonets and butts of
guns. Suddenly a rioter fell. A soldier
tried to drag him to his feet, but before
he could he was assaulted by a rioter.
Stones and powders began to fly
through the air. A soldier was struck
with a stone and fell. A riOter was
knocked down with a gun butt and then
a shot was fired. The one shot started "a
fusillade of musketry and shotgun fire
from the defenders of the Jail and n
scattered return fire from the rioters.
Fully 800 sb PTS were fired from the jail
windows, the court house steps immedi-
ately opposite and by the soldiers on the
streets.
The soldiers claim the rioters fired the
first shot. The soldiers and deputies
fred into the retreating mob of men,
who ran into Division street, falling, cry
ing and praying. For fifteen minutes the
firing continued then it ceased. The mob
was gone and the soldiers held the place.
In front of the staggering band of fifty
eight soldiers lay the dead and wounded.
On the Jail steps stood Sheriff Kratz.
At his side was Col. Mccoy of the First
regiment. Around them stood few doc
tors.
Orders Troops to Shoot Mob.
When the firing had ceased Capt.
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,
be careful, but for Gods sake keep a
close watch" shouted the captain. His
men prepared for another struggle. 1t
did not come. The rioters got out of
sight quickly and, fearing that another
charge would be made, scattered.
Prisoners in Terror.
During the strife forty-fye prisoners
in the Jail lay pale and nervous with
fright Sixteen OF them were negroes,