Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-12-25
Whites and Blacks in
Several Towns on
Warpath.
MILITIA Is CALLED OUT
CtIored Population Armed and
In Camp at Wahalah,
Miss.

Meridian, Miss. Dec. 25.-Early to-
day it was reported body of negroes
had fortified themselves two miles
from Wahalak and announced they
would resist any effort to disiodge
them. They threatened to burn the
little town and white people are
alarmed
Whites all around the country armed
themselves. One party of 80 armed
persons arrived there from Columbus
Miss Two negroes, Tom and Jim
Simpson. have been reported killed by
white people yesterday afternoon be-
fore the arrival of troops under COM
mand of Colonel Samuel McCants.
Firing in Town.
At $3.50 this morning firing was
heard in the center of town. but after
a few scattering shots quiet was re-
stored. No explanation has been forth
coming. Leland Sparkman. a white
man. was wounded by the accidental
discharge of a pistol about the time of
the other shooting Colonel McCants
announces we will place Calling gun
in position and use it if necessary.
A special TO the Morning Dispatch
at an early hour today says:
zone company of infantry and bat
terry of artillery are in charge. Two
negroes have been killed by citizens.
Troops are now guarding the town. A
body of negroes said TO be armed, are
fortified two miles from town.
whites Threatened.
WahaIak is 25 miles south of Neri- |
dian on the Mobile & Ohio railroad and
was the scene Sunday of a desperate
fight on a train in which two men
were killed and another seriously /
wounded. 1t is reported the town had
been full of negroes who threatened TO
kill the whites When appealed TO for
aid. Governor Vardaman dispatched
two companies of militia to Wahalak.
Parade Streets.
Meridian, Miss, Dec. 25.-According
to reports received here the negroes
for miles around have congregated in
the town of Wahalak, 40 miles north
of this city. and have paraded the
streets threatening vengeance to the
whites. The negro gathering is the
result of the killing of one negro and
the wounding of another by a. conduc-
tor while the latter was attempting TO
quelI a disturbance aboard his train
At Wahalak scarcely more than %
white persons reside, and in response
to plea for protection. Battery l and
Company d of state militia stationed i'll
this city were ordered to proceed to
the scene with all dispatch.
Rumor of Clash Not Verified.
from, Gonnba first 4
station south of the scene of the trou-
bic, stated that a clash had occurred
between the races. with the result that
two white men were killed. This re-
port, however, is not verified.
The trouble originated while a pas
senger train was between Wahalak and
Scooba in a fight between two negroes.
Conductor Cooper attempted TO separ-
ate the combatants, when he was at
tackled by a negro known as Spencer.
After receiving several dangerous knife
wounds, Cooper fired on his assailant, l
wounding him and killing an {
unknown negro.
Birmingham Crime Ridden.
Birmingham, Ala, Dec. 25.-The As
hours preceding Christmas have been {
iHdThtu ny Ilu4llDCl VI
ally frightful tragedies in Birmingham :
and vicinity The list includes seven
murders, two suicides, one assault
which may result fatally, one death by
train and one accidental shooting which
will be fatal.
Atlanta saloons Closed.
Atlanta. Ga, Dec I25.-To avoid the
possibility of any repetition of the re-
cent race rioting in this city, Mayor
Woodward issued a peremptory order
closing all saloons in the city at
o'clock yesterday afternoon to remain
closed until tomorrow morning. For
several weeks Indefinite rumors havei
been heard that Christmas was to bel
made the occasion of an attack upon |
the negroes at Atlanta. No such ru- c
NOR could be traced TO an authoritative {
source. but the effect has been to drive v
many negroes from the city. The may c
prs move is precautionary. f
Negro Troops Tear. j
Leavenworth, Kan, Dec 25-Sev- e
sraI members of a squadron of the \
9TH cavalry (colored). stationed at Fort e
TeayenWorth while intoxicated Great b