The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-24

the crowd to disperse, declaring that the
| assaiants of the white women would be
adequately and promptly punished by due
! process of law.
| Mayor Woodward was given respectful
| hearing. but when he finished the work of
destruction was resumed. He made an
other appeal a few moments later, but
without result Then he turned in a gem
eral fire alarm, calling the entire depart
ment to the scene. To Chief Joiner he
gave the laconic order clear the streets" ]"
Appeal Made to Governor.
I The result was to stop the mob in its
work in that Immediate section and to
drive 1t to other streets. The situation be-
came so threatening at II o'clock that
| Governor Terrell was appealed to to or
| der out the state troops. Although no
request had come from the sheriff, Cover
nor Terrell gave the order mobilizing the
| eight local infantry companies at once.
| Previously a police riot call had been
i sounded, summoning all police reserves
to Headquarters. With the decision to call
out the troops, the big fire bell sounded
| once more, this time the call for every
member of the militia to report forthwith
at his armory. 1t was almost O'Clock
this morning before the first squad ap-
! peared on the streets, and at o'clock six
| companies were under arms
The attacks on negroes had the effect
of clearing the streets of blacks. Street
hacks were abandoned at curbings. drivers
| on baggage wagons vanished and their
places were taken by white men. This
| fear of trouble has affected several pub
| lie conveniences today. The postoffice Of
fcials had much difficulty in delivering
special letters; ice deliveries have been
scarce to private homes; in some res
1 taurants service has been restricted by
! the absence Of regular walters.
Hundreds Flee From City.
| Throughout the day hundreds of negroes
have been fleeing the city, by train and
wagon. and on foot they have hurried
| from the city, fearing the possibilities of
! trouble in the immediate future.
! In the fighting last night negro women
were the most warlile, urging .resis-
| tance to the mob and themselves fight
| ing like amazons. In the residence dis
tricts great anxiety was felt last night.
F, The police force was centered down town,
| practically leaving the residence districts
| without protection. Many families tenn
| porarily without male protection feared
| the possibility of danger of which they
| knew but little. ear of trouble was
accentuated by the newsboys who cried
| on the night air through the residence
sections the headlines of late editions. 1t
was a night of terror to hundreds.
Shows Its LawIess Character.
! The lawless character of the mob last
night was fully demonstrated during the
| latter part of the evening. When negroes
had vanished from the streets the aimless
mob from pure wantonness broke win
dows and damaged pr oerty.
| The crowd after putting the negro
| porters from the Pullmans of Western
and Atlantic railroad train standing ready
to start. proceeded to smash the windows
| In the day coaches and mail and baggage
| cars. They then crossed to the Kimball
house and continued the window smashing
amusement, causing loss of several hun
| dred dollars. Numerous windows in
| stores on Peachtree street today show
the fact that the mob passed that way. A
| close watch was maintained to guard
against incendiarism. but fortunately this
precaution was unnecessary and fire was
not added to the horrors of last night.