The Irish standard., 1903-07-11
RIOT IN EVANSVILLE.
Indiana City Is the Scene of Des-
perate Battle.
Occurs Between Militia Defending
Jail Against Mob Seeking Negro
Murderer-Ninek illed and Over
Twenty Wounded.

Evansville. Ind. July 7.-Following
four days Of rioting and general law
lessness this city Monday night saw
the most terrible of Its experiences
with rioters. Nine persons are dead,
and II are known to be injured with
at least that number more thought to
be hurt
At 1920 o'clock the members Of
company A. First regiment Indiana
National guard, after days vigilance
guarding the county Jail. and 100
deputy sheriffs. under Sheriff Chris.
Kratz, fired point blank into a mob Of
1000 men gathered on Fourth Dr.
vision and Vine streets. surrounding
the Vanderburg county Jail and at
tempting its capture. From seven
o'clock in the morning until the hour
of the nights catastrophe the crowd
surged about the jail calling the mill
tia men vile names. assailing them
with stones and berating the deputy
sherfffs who guarded the Jail. At nine
o'clock the mob gradually became
more and more excited. its manifesto
tons Of uneasiness more frequent and
at 10 o'clock 1t was seen that nothing
could prevent an assault on the Jail.
At 1890 o'clock the rioters pressed
slowly forward and innocent onlookers
and the curious followed Slowly they
forced the militiamen back toward the
Jail until the alley way between Divi-
sion street and the stone building was
reached. Then the leaders, with a
bicycle in their front as shield to
the bayonets of the soldiers attempted
to enter the alley and storm the alley
way entrance. Capt Blum. OF the Ma
tional guard. ordered charge on the
rioters. Gradually the crowd was
forced back, the soldiers using their
bayonets and butts Of guns.
Fu.tllnde of Bullets.
Suddenly rioter fell A soldier
tried to drag him to his feet, but be-
fore he could was assaulted by rioter.
Stones and powders began to fly
through the air. A soldier was struck
with rock and fell A rioter was
knocked down with gun butt and
then a shot was fired. The one shot
started fusillade of muskrety and
shotgun fire from the defenders of the
Jail and a scattered return fire from
the rioters. Fully 800 shots were fired
from the Jail windows, the courthouse
steps Immediately opposite and by the
soldiers on the streets.
Cause of the Trouble.
The trouble, which has been brewing
for months, came to crisis Friday,
when Lee Brown, a negro, shot and
killed Patrolman Massey, who was try
ing to arrest him while bent on the
murder of man with whom he had
quarreled Threats OF vengeance were
followed by the surrounding of the Jail
The negro was secretly removed from the
city Sunday and taken to Vincennes
Patrolman Massey diedin terrible agony
and Sunday morning the crowds re-
fused to credit statements of the Off
Gals that the negro was not in the jail
and began threatening as 1t increased.
Twenty-Five policemen were modified
In the Jail and repulsed the first at
tempts to force an entrance after the
gates were crushed In. A telephone
pole was used as battering ram and
the Jail windows gave way. A COM
,mittee was appointed to search for the
negro, but it's report that he was not
there was not believed and after forcing
a breach the mob poured into the cor
ridors. Finding its victim gone, there
was cry Of "kill the negroes" and
arms were demanded
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 sush for the gun stores by the
whites. Three were broken open and
400 rifles and revolvers, with ammuni-
ton, were seized.