The Tupelo journal., 1903-07-10

Evansville, Ind, July Grace pref
udice between blacks and whites
brought on a 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
a black victim; the wall was forced
with a 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
lag 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, a 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: "Dowr
with the whites!" and threatening
death to all if the negro was lynched
This started a rush for the gun stores
by the whites. Three were broker
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 fol
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 a 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 mot
away.
About this time 6 a. No. the mer
were still crying out for victims. The
mob rushed to Wilierding's gun store
and forced its way in. Tel minutes
later the mob had three hundred addi
tional guns, boxes of cartridges wer,
grabbed and the march to Baptis'
town, where the negro colony lives
was resumed. The mob continued it.
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 leavingA an.
dead behind is not known as everyone
6ooc boforo tno oroud opd M coorcI
has been made for dead. The mol
does not stay to inspect the result o
it's work.
After leaving the wrecked place o
Bud Fruit the mob of men swelled tt
between 800 and. 400, raj down Syca
more street. Bystanders seized will
the mob fever joined them. At tn,
corner of First and sycamore streets
an attack was made on the store o
Boettrich & Kellogg. This was re
pulsed by an employee of the company
who declared NAT the store contained
no guns. The crowd then passed tt
water street, where the lack of ne
groes seemed TO rankle the men. SOM
yelled ION to Baptist townE' wher'
many negroes live.
The race riot began growing still
worse at 4 o'clock this morning. TIL
police sent after the mob which start
ed for Baptist town to blow up the ne
gro colony, telephoned back to head
quarters that they were powerless, a.
the mob was armed with rifles ant
they had only revolvers.
Bombarding Baptist Town.
Just after dawn tht mob began BON
harding the houses of colored peopl
in Baptist town and the police had re
ports that many people were wounde'
in the battle that followed, and tina
there are probably some deaths. TIL
police obtained no names.
The mob started for the magazine
just outside the city, and the polio
think they have secured more ammu
milton.