The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-12-26
Race Riot in Mississippi Town,
Two Whites Dead.
MENACING MOB GATHERS
Trouble on Mobile and Ohio Road
Led 10 Shooting Of Two Col
ored Passengers.


a conductor OF the Mobile and Ohio rail-
road killed two negroes In quelllng
disturbance among negroes on bis
train there was race riot In Wahalak,
forty miles north OF here, and II In re-
ported that In a clash between the
white and black residents OF the town
two white men were killed and several
were wounded.
In response 10 n plea for protection
sent by the whites Battery ! and Com
pany ID OF the state militia, stationed
In this city. were sent by special train.
The battery Is armed with Calling
gun.
Reports from wahalak said that the
negroes for miles around gathered
about the town and that the district In
which the whites lived was surround
ed. Men and women barrlcaded them
selves In their homes, the whites being
determined 10 avoid clash.
The negroes, However. remained bel
llgerent. They fred their pistols In the
air. terrifying the station agent and
threatening to kill the telegraph opera
tor II he sent for help. Groups OF col
ored men marched through the streets
shouting and singing, and II was APP
parent that as soon as they had sum.
Client drink In them trouble would be-
gin.
Not a white person ventured out In
the street The men, women and chill
dren after barricadng their doors arm.
ed themselves with shotguns and PTS
tolls, ready TO repel any attack. The
shutters Of all the houses In the white
district also were closed, and those
who had telephones In their homes sent
messages TO neighborlng towns for
help.
From Scooba, the first town south OF
Wahalak, a message was received say
ing that the negroes, emboldened by
drink, made a concerted attack on sew
eral houses. Neighbors ran to the res
cue of the threatened inmates OF the
houses, and several volleys were fired.
Two white men were killed instantly,
and several others were wounded.
After the shooting the. negroes appar-
emily became frightened and drew OF.
They surrounded the white section,
however, threatening to kill any white
person who ventured into the street.
A second attack was made about an
hour after the first, but whether any
one was killed Is not known. 1t Is al
most impossible to obtain authentic in
formation In regard to the happenings
in the town, for the negroes apparently
are in control of the telegraph Office.
If the report that two white men
have been killed proves true it is be-
lleved that there will be general race
fight. The soldiers. 1t Is known, will
shoot to kill, and the white residents
Of the town undoubtedly will be arous-
ed to high pitch of resentment With
the soldiers on hand to protect them.
It is believed they will make a raid
on the negro quarters, and no mercy
will be shown to those responsible for
the rieting.
Reports received from towns near
Wahalak say the rloting has been more
serious than reported at first. Moth
ing has been heard of the arrival or
the troops. The negroes outnumber
the whites there by about twenty to
one, and In their present temper they
are apt to lose control of themselves.
The conductor who killed the negroes
on the train, it is believed, lives In
Wahalak. All the colored men who
took part in the disturbance on the
train also live there, and 1t is said
that when it became apparent there
would be trouble several of the white
residents went to the home of the con-
ductor to protect his wife and family.
The railroad officials here said they
had received information of trouble In
Wahalak but refused to divuiga the
nature Of the reports. The reticence
Of the railroad officials Is taken as an
ominous sign here, and the belief Is
expressed that the rioting has been far
more serious than the reports received
indicate.
Residents Of nearby towns, 1t was
said also, are on their way to Waha-
lax All the men are heavily armed
and are prepared to protect the whites.
The negroes of the entire surround
ing country are also marching on Wa
halak, and 1t is believed there will be
clashes on the roads.
Every effort was made here to learn
the exact conditions at Wahalak. but
the attempts were unsuccessful Tele-
phone messages sent to residents Of
nearby towns brought the response
that most of the negroes are feeling
ugly. If in their drunken rage they
resent the interference of the troops
they will be moved down by the CAT
ling gun and the rifles of the soldiers.
kilograms have been sent to the cap-
tains of the companies ON their way to
Wahalak to protect life and property
at all costs and to repress the rioters
with a strong hand.
To feel strong, have good appetite
an n to- pstiOn. slepD sOundly and ~