The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-07-18
Fourteen Greek Joints in
Roanoke, Va, Smashed.
FIVE CENTS STARTED ROW
While Riot Was in Progress Mayor
and Other City Officials Were
Stoned-Greeks Will Appeal
to Their Government.

ROANOKE, Fd., was QuleL Ouuudy, cIi-
ter four hours of rioting Saturday
night, when a mob wrecked nine Greek
restaurants, three Greek shoe shine
parlors, and two Syrian shops. The
riot was caused by dispute about
cents between Greek employed in
the Belmont Greek restaurant, on Sa-
lem avenue, and an American, who
went there to buy a sandwich.
Nine places were wrecked on Sa-
lem avenue, three on Jefferson street,
one on Nelson street and one on Rail-
road avenue. Five men have been ar
rested and lodged in Jail and one Of
them has been released on $3.50 bail
for his appearance at the hearing OF
the case in the police court next Thurs.
day. None Of the Greeks are under ar
rest.
At all of the wrecked places the
proprietors set to work Sunday morn
ing cleaning out the debris so as to
be ready to resume business. The
Greeks have employed counsel to look
after their interests, and have called
the attention of the Greek consulate
in this country to the affair.
While the disturbance was in prog
ress Mayor Joel H. Cutchin, who was
in the street begging the crowds to
disperse, was struck on the legs and
severely bruised by rocks thrown by
unknown parties. Flying stones also
struck Police Justice J. R. Bryan, Po-
lice Sergeant Overstreet and Police
man Manning, King and Evans, and
Chief Engineer John Waggoner Of the
Central fire department. Waggoner is
now on crutches. The fire department
was called out to throw water on the
crowd, and when the hose was un-
wound there were cries of "cut the
hose" and "shoot him.
The mayor ordered the police to
guard the hardware stores to prevent
the mob from raiding those places in
search of firearms. The larger restau-
rants. which were elaborately furnish
ed with mirrors, had their interiors
demolished. The only Greek places not
wrecked were two large confectionery
stores run by men not identified with
the restaurant, business.
United States District Attorney
Thomas L. Moore, when asked if he
would take any action in the matter
Of the rioting, said that the case is
not covered by the federal statutes,
as no conspiracy is charged. The pro-
cedure would be for the benefit OF the
offended Greeks to appeal to their gov
ernment, which would then apply to
the United States for proper protec-
ton, and the Washington government
would refer the matter to the govern
ment of Virginia. James D. Johnston,
counsel for the Greeks, made the fol-
lowing statement:
The Greeks have confidence in the
sense of fairness and justice of the
people of Roanoke and believe they
will be reimbursed for the damage
they have sustained
In an official statement Mayor Joel
H. Cutchin says the "regretable oc-
casion of Saturday night, when nine
Greek restaurants and three Greek
shoe shine parlors, and one Or two
Syrian shops were attacked and wreck
ed by a mob of several hundred peo-
pie, has brought the blush of shame
10 every good citizen of Roanoke"
The mayor says the riot occurred
soon after midnight, when the city
was in semi-darkness, the police force
of seven men scattered over the city
without any facility for concentrating
them at the scene and that the three
officers nearest the point Of attack
were unable to cope with the crowd"