Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-09-24

IN Atlanta last Saturday. In that per:od
at least ten persons have been killed and
the number of injured will be at least
40, several of whom cannot recover. AT
10 O'Clock last night the city was con-
trolled by the police, aided ~ nearly
], 900 Of the State militia. Every part
of the town is patrolled BY the soldiers,
and the authorities seem to have the
situation well in hand.
Numerous and persistent rumorS were
reaching the city last night OF negroes
attacking white persons and stonlng
street cars 10 the suburbs and outskirts
of the city and several streets cars ar
irving in Atlanta from their runs show
broken windows, while their crews we're
refusing to 90 out last night.
The larger part of the militia was con-
centrated in the downtown streets last
night Marietta snd Decatur streets,
both frequented by negroes, were crowd
ed with white men. The troops are
marching through the crowds constantly
trying to enforce the order OF the Mayor
that the streets shall be cleared. Ibe
efforts to clear the streets, however, met
with only fair success. Very few OF the
better class OF citizens, who are not call
ed out by necessity. were or the streets
last night.
Throughout Saturday night the race
war ragged with varying vigor, and when
morning dawned it found the downtown
streets 10 possession of eight companies
of the Fifth Georgia Infantry, with
battery of light artillery in reserve.
Throughout yesterday little Of impor-
lance occurred.
This condition came as the result OF
numerous and repeated assaults or at
tempted assaults upon white women by
negroes. The list of an even dozen OF
such assaults within the limits Of Fulton
county within the last nine weeks came
Saturday, when four attempts al assault
we're reported Special editions of after.
noon papers wrought the populsce to
high pitch of excitement. The usual
Saturday night crowds we're largely in
creased 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 Oh Whitehall street, in the GEN.
ter of town. Almost simultaneously
negro woman made an insulting remark
to a white man on an adjoining street
and he administered what he considered
due punishment. From this staff the
mob began its work Of destruction. FIVE
thousand men and boys thronged the
downtown streets looking for negroes.
News that a riot had started bIolght
thousands more from their homes in the
suburbs and residence districts, until
July 10000 men thronged the down
Town section.
They made attacks on the incoming
street cars. Each car was scanned for
negroes. The trolleys were pulled from
the wires and in the sem-dsrkness ofthe
uDlighted cars negroes we're beaten, cut
and stamped upon In an unreasbning,
mad frenzy. II negro ventured resis-
lance, or demonstrated, it meant practi-
cslly death. One car, half filled
with negroes, approached from an out
side run. The mob dashed for the car.
Resistance was made. by the negroes,
who had not 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 seriously beaten
and unconscious.
When the crowd seemed to te getting
beyond control, at about 10 O'Clock.
Mayor Woodward mounted car plat
form on Peachtree and Marietta streets
and urged the crowd to disperse, declar.
ing that the assaiants OF the white wo'
men would be adequately and promptly |
punished by due process of law.
Mayor Woodward Was given a re-
spectful hearing, but when he finished
the work of destruction was resumed. |
He made another appeal a few mo-
ments later, but without result. Then
be turned in a general fire alarm,
calling the entire department to The |
scene. To Chief Joyner, he gave
the laconic order "Clear the streets. "
The result was to stop the mob 10 It's
work in that i'm mediate section and ~
drive il to other streets. The situation
became so threatening at ! o'clock tina!
Governor Terrell WAS appealed to to or
der out the State troops. Although no
request had come from the Sheriff, Gov
ernor Terrell gave the order mobilizing
eight local infantry companies at oncr.
Previously a police riot call had been
sounded summoning all police reserves
headquarters With the decision to call
out the troops the big fire bell sounded
once more, this time the call for every
member of the militia to report forth
with at his armory. Ii was almost
O'Clock yesterday morning before th
first squad appeared on the streets and at
5 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.
The postofice officials had much difficulty
in delivering special letters; ice deliveries
have been scarce to private homes; in
some restaurants service has been re-
stricted by the absence of regular walters.
Throughout the day hundreds of negroes
have been fleeing the city. By trsin
and wagon and on foot they have hur-
ried from the city, fearing the possibili-
ties Of trouble 10 the immediate future.
Ia the fighting negro women we're the
most warlike, urging resistance to the
mob and themselves fighting like ANA
zous. In the residence district great