The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-09-24
MILITIA IN ATLANTA
Soldiers Rule Georgia's Capital
City After Mobs Kill and
Iniure Negroes.
RIOTS CAUSED BY ASSAULTS
White Mon Inflamed by Numerous At
ta0ks on Women - Mayor Defends
Action of Crowd In Dealing With
"Blaok 5rutes"-LeadIng Citizens De-
plore Innocent Victims Hurts.

ptore innocent Victims Hurts.
Atlanta, Ca, Sept. 24.-The orderly
tread of the militia and the quiet or
ders sending detachments here and
there have taken the place of the mad
rush of mobs bent on killing negroes
In revenge for assaults on white wo-
men and the shrieks of the injured and
dying that made this city lawless one
for several hours. Despite this, hun
dreds of negroes are leaving the city.
It seems probable that the exact
number Of victims of the mob attacks
on the negroes will never be known.
Six deaths are all that have as yet
been fully Authenticated, but it is
known that many bodies have been
spirited out of the city by relatives.
There Is long list of wounded, COM
prising both whites and blacks
Negroes Talk of Race War.
Some of the more desperate charac-
ters among the ,segroes are urging
their fellows to a war of retaliation.
Many Of the negroes, it is known, are
armed. There are about 10000 negroes
and 10000 whites In the city.
Governor Terrell, in quick response
to the cry that mobs had taken pos
session and killed and injured every
negro seen in the streets, rushed seven
companies of the state militia into this
city. The thousand and more soldiers
went on guard the moment they tum-
bled from the trains, 1t being deemed
best In the present fever possessing
Atlanta not to have any of the local
companies continue on immediate ac-
tive duty in suppressing the race riots.
In addition to the militia already on
guard the governor has ordered a bat
terry of light artillery to be prepared
for instant action. This is in fear of
an attack on the Jail, filed with color
ed prisoners, or a rush of the mob to
the dense negro quarter
OWL Law Not Suspended.
Although urgently requested from
many sources to declare martial law.
Governor Terrell has so far declined
to do so.
Mayor Woodward, speaking of the
riots, said:
"As to the duty of the hour in re-
pressing race riots 1t is difficult prob
lem. Each outbreak and its magni-
tude demands its own solution. The
best way to prevent a race riot de
pends entirely upon the cause. As to
the present trouble in Atlanta, l would
say the only remedy is to remove the
cause. So long as black brutes at
tempt assaults upon our white women
just so long will they be unceremoni-
ously dealt with"
A meeting Of law abiding citizens, In
cluding bankers, business and profes-
sional men, representing the best ele-
ment Of Atlanta, was held here to con-
slider the present emergency. Speeches
were made and warmly applauded in
which the killing of innocent negroes
was condemned as a reflection on the
best spirit of the city, the state and the
south. The heralding of recent attacks
on white women by negroes in flaming
headlines In the extras" Of local pa
pers was condemned
The race war came as the result of
numerous attacks upon white women
by negroes. The list of an even dozen
of such attacks within the limits of
Fulton county within the last nine
weeks came when four such attacks
were made In one day. Flaring head
lines In the special editions wrought
the gathering crowds to a high pitch
of excitement There was no leader
and no overt act until late in the even
ing, when negro showed a white wom-
an from the sidewalk in Whitehall
street, In the center of the town. Al
most at the same moment negro wo-
man made an insulting remark to a
white man in an adjoining street, and
he administered what he considered
cue punishment. From this start the
Aob began it's work of destruction in
the negro quarters and elsewhere.
II negro ventured resistance or re-
monstrated it meant practically sure
death. One car half filed with negroes
approached from an outside run. The
mob dashed for the car. Resistance
was made by the negroes, who had not
been apprised of the trouble. Three
negroes lay dead on the floor of the
car when it was permitted to move on,
and two more were unconscious and
dying.
Firemen Disperse Mob.
When the crowd seemed to be getting
beyond control Mayor Woodward.
after appealing for order, turned In a
general fire alarm, calling the entire
department to the scene. To Chief
Joyner he gave the laconic order.
s'Clear the streetsp'
In the fighting negro women were
the most warlike, urging resistance to
the mob and themselves fighting like
aInazons. In the residence districts
great anxiety was felt. The police
force was centered downtown, prac-
tically leaving the residence districts
without protection.