The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-18

the district bounded by Amsterdam and
West End and 61st and c3rd
streets socalled because of it's ncto-
Tiety as a battle ground, was the scene
tonight OF a furious race riot which
required $50 policemen to quell after
many shots had been fired and several
persons had been seriously injured.
The trouble began shortly after 3
o'clock when a policeman arrested Ed
ward Connely for attacking Henry VII
liams, a negro AMI was pursued to the
station house with his prisoner by a
mob of Connelly's friends hur!iny
showers OF stones and other missiles.
When the station house reserves
turned out the whole n~eighborhood was
in an uprOar n blacks and whites en-
gagged in very desperate struggles in the
streets. Torrents Of misSels were hurl-
fd from roofs add windows. Within
Yen minutes not less than a thouand,
An, boys and women, blaik n white
were engaged in furious combat. The
small party of police were poweriess
and achievements were summoned.
On their arrival d Gordon was drawn
around the who4e district and strong
patrols made repeated charges down
the streets in a vain effort to restore
order. They succeeded in taking a few
prisoners and were forced to retreat,
fighting every inch of the way, and pur-
sued to the station house by a bowling
mob.
The worst of the fighting was in end
Street where from every window ana
rom every roof rained MISSES
while hundreds of shots were fired.
ROdnlsman Patrick Walsh was knock
ed down by Joseph B.. Smith, a negro,
who Ieaped upon him from a stoOp and
after attempting to shoot him struck
him repeatedly with the butt of his re-
vOlver. Walsh was finally rescued by
his comrades.
Inspector Mclaughlin arrived shortly
before 9 o'clock and realizing how
widespread was the danger, sent hurry
calls for reserves. In all there were
more than $50 men under command Of
the inspector within 20 minutes.
SQUADS of men we're then sent along
the roofs of houses on 62nd street
where the fighting seemed heaVless.
They walked from West End avenue to
Amsterdam, clearing the roofs and
found that many ihimneys had been
torn to pieces II furnish
to the rioters and in the corners OF
roofs were mounds Of bricks, potttr.1
and bottles. More arrests were mat7
and several whites and negroes were
rescued from gangs OF aSSa1lants, out
destultOry comba:s continued. lnspec-
tor Mclaughlin ard Captain Gallagher
while passing through rescued Mlcca2l
Jacobv. a white man who was being
beaten by two negroes armed with
rocks. The negroes escaped.
The rioting spread down to 5'tn
| street and up to 6Sth street
! the hardest battles were fought Le-
tween 61st street and 63rd street.. For
more than half an hour cars on Tie
Amsterdam avenue line were olocheu.
Colored men chased by whites too rel
uge on the cars as they passed anu
were followed by showers OF Drlcks anu
stones as they fed. Every WINDOW III
many cars was broken and passengers
took shelter in neighboring houses.
Conductors and motormen hid under
the seats, leaving their cars to the ner-
cy of the mob. Several passengers were
slightly hurt by stones and broken
glass.
COMMISSIONER N1CAuOO dll1NSu O.
o'clock and made a tour of the baJtie
field, the fighting by that time having
ceased. He said the riot could not
have taken place had not the roughef
element been permitted to carry weap-
ons as the police found when .hey
searched the prisoners.
In all seven whites and two negroes
received injuries attended to by b am
1-Ionoo cI1rorpOnI hIt cc0rac of OTnSrS
less seriously hTrt were taken to their
homes by friends.
Five white and six negroes, amolg
them women of both races, almost all
of whom bore traces of conflict with
the police, were arrested.
\ picked body of 80 policemen vas
detailed to occupy the disturbed re-
eion during the night and assist the
notice of the precinct.
Dsed From HtOmainc.