The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-09-28
SOLDIERS Pa
troll ATLANTA
SUNDAY PASSED QUIETLY. NO
DISTURBANCE OCCURRING.
"A NEGRO STARTED THE RIOT
BY SHOWING A WHITE WOMAN
FROM THE SIDEWALK.
People Had Been Infamed Previously
by Numerous Criminal Assaults by
slaeks-Mob's Reckless Vengeance
on Innocent Negroes.

n Ian n, O0pl. AO.-A race war
OF alarming proportions began here
last night. Through the night it rag
ed with varying vigor and when morn
ing dawned today it found the down
town streets in possession of eight
companies of the Fifth Georgia Infan-
try with a battery of light artillery
in reserve.
Through the day little of Importance
has occurred. The police claimed, with
the aid of the military, to have the
situation under control.
This condition came as result of
numerous and repeated assaults or
attempted assaults upon white women
by the negroes. The list of an even
dozen of such assaults within the lin
its of Fulton County in the last nine
weeks came yesterday, when four at
tempts at assault were reported. FLAIR
ing headlines in the special editions
of afternoon papers wrought the pop
ulace to high pitch of excitement
The usual Saturday night crowds were
largely increased by men and boys,
who thronged the downtown streets.
Start of Trouble.
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. Almost
simultaneously a negro made an in
sulting remark to white man on an
adjoining street and he administered
what he considered due punishment.
From this start the excited crowd,
which had become a mob, began its
work of destruction. Five thousand
men and boys thronged the downtown
streets looking for negroes. News that
riot had started brought thous-
ands more from their homes in the
suburbs and residence districts, until
fully 10000 men thronged the down.
town section. They made attacks on
the incoming street cars. Each car
was scanned for negroes. The troll
leys were pulled from the wires and
in the semi-darkness of the unlight-
ed car negroes were beaten and
stamped upon in an unreasoning, mad
frenzy If negro ventured resistance
or demonstrated, it meant practically
sure death. One car half filled with
negroes approached from an outside
run. The mob dashed for the car.
Resistance was made by the negroes,
who had been apprised of trouble.
Three negroes lay dead on the floor
of the car when it was permitted to
move on, and two more were serious
ly beaten and unconscious.
Appeals by Mayor.
When the crowd seemed to be get
ting beyond control at about 10
o'clock Mayor Woodward mounted a
car platform on Peachtree and Mari
eta streets and urged the crowd to
dispense, declaring that the assailants
of the white women would be ade-
quately punished by due process of
law Mayor Woodward was given a
respectful hearing, but when he fin
ished the work of destruction was re-
sumed. He made another appeal a
few moments later, but without re-
suit. Then he turned in general fire
alarm, calling the entire department to
the scene. To Chief Joyner he gave
the laconie order, Clear the streets"
The result was to stop the mob in its
work in that immediate section and
to drive IT to other streets.
The situation became SO threaten
ing at II o'clock that Gov. Terrell was
appealed to to order out the State
troops. Although no request had come
from the Sheriff, Gov. Terrell gave the
order mobolizing the eight local infan.
try companies at once. Previously
police riot call had been sounded, sum-
moning all police reserves to head.
quarters. With the decision to call
out the troops, the big fire bell sound
ed once more, this time the call for
every member of the militia to- report |
forthwith at his armcry 1t was al
most 2 O'clock this morning before the
first squad appeared on the Streets
and at five six companies were under1
arms.
Negroes Disappear.
The attacks on negroes had the ef-
feet of clearing the streets Of blacks:
Street hacks were abandoned at curb
ings, drivers on baggage wagons van
Ished, and their places were taken by
white men. This fear of trouble has
affected several public conventions to
lay The postofice officials had much
difficulty in delivering special letters,
ce deliveries have been scarce to pri-
rate houses, In some restaurants SER
vice has been restricted by the alb