Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-24
YELLOW NEWSPAPERS HELD TO BLAME
Many Negroes Are Leaving City on Train,
and on Foot
LUMBER or DEAD AsO INJURED UNKNOWN
Mob Not only Took vengeance ON
CoIored People, hut wantonIy
Destroyed Property of
whites.

whites.
ATLANTA, Ca. Sept. "a race war
Of alarming proportions began mere last
night Through the night It ragged with
varying vfgor, and when morning dawned
Il found number OF negroes and one
white man dead. a score of both races
wounded and the downtown streets in
possession Of eight companies o. e Fifth
Georgia infantry with a bett 4, light
artillery in reserve Throt> ~ 'sy
little OF Importance occurred. " ". -
claimed, with the aid of the j. r.
to have the situation under control.
This condition came as the result
numerous and repeated assaults or at,
tempted assaults upon white women by
negroes. The last OF an even dozen Of
such assaults within the limits of Fulton
county within the last nine weeks came
yesterday. when four attempts at assault
were reported.
The usual Saturday night crowds were
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 a negro
man showed white woman from the side
walk on whitehall street, in the center of
town. Almost simultaneously a negro
woman made an ineulting remark to a
white man on an adjoining street and he
administered what he considered due pun
ishment
From this start the excited crowd, which
had become a mob, began its work OF de-
struction. Five thousand men and boys
thronged the downtown streets looking
for Legroes. News that a riot had started
brought thousands more from their homes
II e,.htt he nj Aisfr
until fully 1000 men ishronged the down
town section. They made attacks on the
incoming street cars Each car was
scanned for negroes. The trolleys we're
pulled from the wires and in the semi
darkness of the unlishted negroes we're
beaten. cut and stamped upon in an un-
reasoning mad frensy. II negro ventured
resistance or demonstrated II meant prac-
tically 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 not
been apprlsed of the trouble. Three negroes
lay dead ON the iioor OF the car when Il
Was permitted to move on. and two more
were beaten into unconsciousness.
Firemen Clear streets.
When the crowd seemed to be getting be-
yond control, at about 10 o'clock, Mayor
Woodward mounted a car platform on
Psachtree and Marietta streets and urged
sAe crowd TO disperse. declaring that tho
assaults of the white woman would be
adequately and promptly punished by due
process of law. Mayor Woodward was
given a respectful hearing. but when ne
finished the work OF destruction was re-
sumed. He made another appeal few
minutes later but without result. Then he
turned in a general fire alarm, calling the
entire FIRE department to the scene.
To Chief Joyner he gave the laconic
order: Clear the streets" The result was
90 stop the mob in its work in that imme-
diate section and to drive IL to other
streets. The situation became so threaten
ing at II O'Clock that Governor Terrell was
appealed to to order out the state troops
Although no request had come from the
sheriff. Governor Terrell gave the order
mobillzing the eight local infantry COM
panies at once. Previously police riot
call had been sounded summoning all police
ssserves to headquarters. with the de-
cision to call out the troops the big fire
bell sounded once more this time the call
for every member of the militia to report
forthwith at his armory. II was almost
O'Clock this morning before the first
squad appeared on the streets. and at
o'clock six companies were under arms.
The attacks on negroes had the effect Of
clearing the streets OF blacks. Street hacks
were abandoned at curbings. drivers on
baggage wagons vanished and their places
were taken by white men. This fear OF
trouble affeeted several public conyeniences
today. The postoffice officials had much
difnculty In delivering special letters. lee
deliveries have been scarce TO private
homes in some restaurants service has
been restricted by the absence OF regular
walters. Throughout the day hundreds OF
negroes have been fleeing the city by train
and wagon and on foot they hurried away,
fearing the possibilities aof trouble in the
Immediate future.
Women Fight Back.
In the lighting last night negro women
were the most warlike. urging resistance
10 the mob and themselves fighting like
Amazons In the residence district great
anxiety was felt last night The police
force was centered down town. practically
leaving the residence districts without pro-
lection. II was night Of terror to hum
dreds.
The iawless character os the mob last
night was fully demonstrated during the
latter part OF the evening. When negroes
had vanished from the streets the aimless
mob. from pure wantonness. broke windows
and damaged property.
The crowd, after pulling the negro porters
from the PulImans OF Western & Atlantic
railroad train standing ready to start. pro-
ceeded to smash the windows in the day
coaches aud mail and baggage cars. The
membsrs then crossed to the Kimball
house and continued the window smashing
amusenient causing loss OF several hum
dred dollars. Numerous windows In stores
on Peaehtree street today show the fact
that the mob passed that way close
watch was maintained 70 guard against
incendiarism. but fortunately this precsu-
tion was unnecessary and IRE was not
added 10 the horrors OF last night