The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-09-24
ATLANTA
RACE RIOTS
Capital Of Georgia Held by
State Troops.
10 NEGROES SHOT DOWN
Mob Lawlessness Came as Result
Of Repeated Crimes Of the
COlored Men.
Is NEGROES SHOT DOWN

ATLANTA. Ca. Sept. 2i.-Atlanta
Is In possession OF the state troops.
Governor Terrell issued an order at
midnight calling out eight companies
OF the Fifth infantry and one battery
OF light artillery This order was not
issued until sixteen negroes and one
white man had been killed and fifteen
taken 10 the hospitals, Ave OF whom
will die.
This condition came as the result OF
numerous and repeated assaults or at
tempted assaults upon white women
by negroes. The reports OF nm even
dozen OF such assaults within the lin
It's OF Fulton county within the last
nine weeks came here Saturday. four
attempts at assault being recent.
Flarlne headlines IN the special edl.
tons OF newspapers wrought the pop
ulace to a high pitch OF excitement.
The usual Saturday night crowds We're
largely Increased by men and boys
who thronged the downtown streets.
There was no leader and no overt
act until late In the evening. About
10 o'clock negro man showed a white
woman from the sidewalk on White
hall street In the center OF the town.
Almost simultaneously a negro woman
made an insulting remark to a white
man on an adjoining street, and he
administered what he considered due
punishment.
From this start the mob began is
work Of destruction. Five thousand
men and boys thronged the downtown
streets looking for negroes. News that
riot had started brought thousands
more from their homes In the suburbs
and residence districts until fully TO-
600 men thronged the downtown sec
lions. They made attacks on the in
coming street cars. Each car was
scanned for negroes The trolleys were
pulled from the wires, and In the semi
darkness Of the unlighted cars negroes
were beaten, cut and stamped upon in
an unreasoning, mad frenzy.
II negro ventured resistance or
demonstrated II meant practically sure
death. one car half filed with negroes
approached from an outside run. The
mob dashed for the car. Resistance
was made by the negroes. who had not
been appraised OF the trouble. Three
negroes lay dead on the floor Of the
car when II was permitted to move
on. and two more were seriously beat
EN- and unconscious.
Negro men and women riding to their
homes after the work Of the day were
torn from the cars or attacked IN the
streets. In few cases negroes re-
taiated in the early part of the night
but after 10 o'clock they were scarce
in public places.
The fire department was called out
To dispense the mob in Decatur street.
street most frequented by negroes,
and for time seemed TO hold the
crowd mt bay. The police reserves
were called ont and will hold the sit
uation until the troops can be m0billZ-
| ed. The mob seemed to lack leader
ship. and this doubtless prevented
| great slaughter
Many reports are being received from
the outskirts of the town Of rioting
and negroes being killed and driven
| from their homes Rumors have il
| that at least twenty-five to thirty or
more negroes have been killed but it is
impossible to confirm these reports.
A meeting of citizens bankers and
business and professional men, repre-
senting the best element Of Atlanta
citizenship. was held here to consider
the present emergency. Governor 10
seph NJ. Terrell Mayor James G. Wood
ward. Colonel Robert Lowrey. Colonel
James English and others to the mum
Der of 300 were present. Speeches
were made and warmly applauded, in
which the killing of half score of In
nocent negroes and the wOundlng of a
score or more of whites and blacks
were condemned as a reflection on the
best spirit of the city, the state and the
south
The heralding of recent assaults on
white women by negroes in flaming
headlines in the extras of local papers
was condemned in unmeasured terms
and the earnest request was made that
hereafter no special editions covering
these topics be issued. Such "infam-
matory headlines were declared to
have been the direct Indictment to the
outrages.
Resolutions were adopted urging
upon the city council the enactment of
laws closing low negro dives, In which
II was declared, much Of the crime
among the negro classes has its origin.
Although urgently requested from
many sources to declare martial law
Governor Terrell has so far declined to
do so. Mayor Woodward urged that
the city and county police, with the
militia. are amply able to handle the
situation. The entire city Is being pa
troled, both in the center and In the
residence districts
Mayor Woodward has issued re
quest that all citizens, white and black
remain off the streets at night. He an
nounced that he will order all saloons
closed all day If necessary. The force
of militia on duty is something more
than thousand mon besides q battery