Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1906-09-26
RIOT IN ATLANTA, GA.
NEGROES and WHITES IN A DES.
PERATE fight.
Negroes by the Score Kicked, CIubbed
or Shot by lnfuriated Whites-Num.
Der Of Dead Large-Blacks Are
Torn from Cars and Dragged Out Of
Shops-MiIitia Is Called Out.

Atlanta, Ca. Sept. 24.--In one of the
worst race riots known in Georgia a
number of negroes were killed and
scores badly injured by infuriated
whites Saturday night. Reports of the
number of dead vary. Some place it
as high as 80.
Four attempts at assault on white
women by negroes within or near the
limits of the city wrought white citi.
zens to high pitch of excitement.
The assaults Of the day followed two
others of similar nature, within the
week and at least half dozen others
within the last two months. and
brought matters to a climax.
Governor Terrell has issued an or.
der calling out eight companies of the
Fifth infantry and one battalion Of
light artillery. This order was not is.
sued until three negroes had been kill.
ed and Is taken to the hospitals, five
of whom will die. These comprise
only those cases of which the police
have official information.
The mob began its work early in
the evening. pulling negroes from
street cars and beating them with
clubs. bricks and stones. Negro men
and women, riding to their homes aft
er the work Of the day. we're ruth
lessly torn from the cars or attacked
on the streets. In few cases negroes
retaliated during the early part of the
night, but after 10 o'clock they were
scarce in public places.
The fire department was called out
to disperse the mob on Decatur street.
street most frequented by negroes,
and for time seemed to hold the
crowd at bay. The police reserves
we're called out and will hold the sit
uation until troops can be mobilized.
The mob seemed to lack leadership.
and this doubtless prevented greater
slaughter.
Bitter Race War.
The disturbance here has taken the
form of an active and bitter race war.
The barber shops where negroes
were employed next became objects of
attack. One of the hardest fights of
the night took place about the post
Office. A negro barber shop across
the street was the object of attack.
and in less time than 1t takes to tell
1t the shop was wrecked and the me-
groes were beaten, one to death, the
other proprietors escaping by the aid
of the police.
On Peters street hard fight took
place. This was started by a negro
shooting at the crowd below from a
second story window. A bullet hit
him and he fell back and died in few
moments. One negro who was found
with a pistol in his hand was beaten
to death on the viaduct, in the center
of the city and block from the Asso-
ciated Press office.
Colonel Clifford Anderson, Of the
Fifth Georgia regiment. Is In charge OF
squad Of 100 mllitiamen, patrolling
the center of the city.
All reserve police are on duty. and
are patrolling the streets armed with
rifles. A heavy rain has begun and
this has cleared the streets.
Two White Women Frightened.
Mrs. F. Arnold, in the west part OF
the city. was attacked in the yard be-
hind her home at o'clock last night
and escaped by screaming for help.
The negro escaped. but a negro was
arrested and brought to police head
quarters.
Mrs Chaffin, living near the Sol
diers' Home, was attacked In a simi-
lar manner this afternoon. A posse Is
searching the woods for her assailant
Later Report.
Nearly "a hours have elapsed since
a race war of no mean proportions be
gan in Atlanta. 1t is believed that at
least 16 lives have been sacrificed and
the number Of injured will be 40. sew
eral of whom cannot recover. The
city is controlled by the police, aided