New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-02-22
MOB ATTACKS GREEKS
URFCKS THIRTY HOUSES
IN SOUTH OMAHA, NEB.
Three Shot, Dozen Hart sCith Ms
Sles-Riot Gre5o from Murder
Of Policeman.


der Of Patroiman Edward Lowery. who was
shot on Friday night by Greek prisoner. some
three thousand men and boys to-day partly
wrecked thirty buildings in the Greek quarter Of
South Omaha IL the course OF the riot three
BOYS were wounded with birdshot and dozen
other persons were injured with missiles OF va
rious sorts used In smashing buildings occupied
nv Creeks The riot followed mass meeting
at which two state legislators and an attorney
haTang1ed the crowd.
The police were helpless for almost three hours
u disperse the rioters. and Greek residents and
business men, with their wives and children,
fed in panic from the quarter attacked. while
the mob worked havoc on property. The police
gained control Of the violence about 6 O'Clock.
but were unable 10 dispense the crowd which
:hronged the streets in the quarter where the
trouble occurred
The injured boys are Frank Sweeney and Jo-
seph Gamble. who got in the way Of the con-
tents Of z shotgun fired into the crowd by the
Creeks. 1t is said. The other persons injured
were all foreigners, and after their wounds were
dressed they were sent home
While only about nine hundred men attended
the mass meeting and later started the riots
hundreds OF other persons Joined in the work OF
destruction as soon as il was under way. The
onslaught Of The mob the Greeks was MADE
IN three divisions The main attack centred at
ASth and Q streets. the FTincir8i creek quar- 1SL
The naddened crowd began its work Of de-
struction b. throwing stones and bricks through
the windows Of stores and houses known TO be
occupied by Greeks. In short time the fronts
n these places were in ruins. and the stocks
n the stores were quickly destroyed
Two blocks east another crowd smashed the
front OF 3 saloon and several men attempted TO
pTags the interior. A squad OF police charged
the crowd and prevented the mob from getting
the liquor. It was this place that the two
BOYS were snot and the other persons injured
A third crowd rushed to 24th and L street and
attacked a confectionery store kept by Demos
Brothers. The big plate glass windows OF this
place were quickly smashed, the doors were
kicked IN and the stock and showcases de-
Erroved. Mrs. Mary Demos and her aged father.
who we're in the store. narrowly escaped death
81 Tire hands Of the mob.
The three attacks were made almost stimuli
fsneously and the destruction was completed
before Chief Briggs could get his scattered force.
which IS not great at any time, together and
ston the depredations Meantime Sheriff Bradley
vas informed. and collected all the deputies pos
sible and rushed them to South Omaha TO aid
the police The mob assaulted 4nany Italians
ard R11lrlanians who were mistaken for Greeks
The police finally collected in sufficient num-
hers 10 surround every home and business place
az the Greeks, but it was nearly impossible to
keep back the crowds Chief Briggs asked the
Omaha Police Department to send police officers
70 South Omaha. as more serious trouble was
expected tonight After considering the legal
and other phases Of the case It was decided not
70 comply with the request Chief Bradley de-
cided TO swear IN q large number OF deputies to
cooperate with the South Omaha police IN pre-
venting further disturbances
The riot grew out OF the arrest OF a Greek
last Friday night by Policeman LOwery- While
On the way 10 a police station the Greek sud
denly whipped out q revolver and shot Lowery
TO death and escaped A quick and unsuccess-
fuI attempt was made later to lynch the Greek,
and then mass meeting called for this
afternoon 20 take some action with regard 10
Greek residents. The mass meeting was ad-
dressed by State Representatives Jerry How
ard and = ?. Krause, H z. Murphy, lawyer.
and others The tone of the speeches was gen.
orally hostile 10 the Greeks. and Mr.. Murphy,
who was the last speaker, laid especial stress.
Il is said. on what he termed the uRdesirability
81 Greeks.
-T~he blood Of an American is the hands
q these Creeks he is said TO have shouted. IN
closing his speech. and some method should be
sdoDted TO avenge his death and rid the city OF
THIS class Of persons.
The meeting was then dismissed, and half OF
the audience rushed TO the Greek quarter, where
the destruction began. The crowd grew rapidly
and soon became an unruly mob. against which
the few officers at hand were helpless
At O'Clock tonight the mob again began
6epredations and riot calls came in from sew
ersI places At SD and Q streets the mob set
FIRE 10 the house Of Greek. Three men were
taken from the place, After being severely
beaten. two Of them put on passing
streetcar and the other was taken away by
portion Of the mob who intended to put him on
board ali outgoing train. It is not known what
was done with him. The fire department eX-
tInEuished the blaze.
Most OF the rioters are young men and boys
one arrest was made tonight, Edwin Porter,
nineteen wears old said to have been of the
leaders Of the young rioters being lodged in
Jan.