Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-03-05
RACE WAR RACES
IN GREEK QUARTER

Omaha, Neb., Feb. 24.-From mid
afternoon until far into the night South
Omaha, this city's big suburb. was the
scene OF rioting, murderous assaults
and pillage. More han 80 buildings
have been burned, wrecked or badly
damaged, and probably a score OF per-
SON injured, half thar number serious
ly. BY heroic work the police pre-
vented actual loss Of life, n at mid
night II was the generally expressed
opinion that the worst OF the affair for
tho night at least was over.
The immediate cause OF the trouble
was the killing on Friday night of Po-
liceman Edward Lowery by John
Masuredes, a Greek, whom the officer
had placed under arrest. Masuredes
was brought to the Douglas county jail
here at once. and for fear an attempt
might be made to lynch him he was
taken Saturday afternoon to Lincoln
and placed in the penltentiary to await
his preliminary hearing.
Petition Starts Trouble.
On Saturday a petition was circu-
lated in South Omaha and signed by
hundreds of citizens setting forth hat
a large number of Greek residents OF
the place were OF the undesirable class
n calling a mass meeting at the city
nall for Sunday afternoon to discuss
methods OF Kidding the city of them.
More than 1000 men attended the
meeting, which was addressed by men
of prominence, including w members
of the state legislature. Some of the
speeches were calculated to infiame the
passions of h more excitable. and
when the meeting ended a large por-
ton of the crowd started out with the
intention Of carrying out the sugges-
ton of the speakers in the most sum
mary manner.
ri C-.4l 49, - LII .-~ l. -
large, but Ii responded v~aliantly to the
demands upon it's ~esources. Sheriff
Bradley, of Douglas county, vas called
upon and went to the scene with a
number OF deputies, but their combined
efforts were insufficient for many hours
TO prevent the destruction of property
of the Greeks and assaults upon Its
owners. In but few instances was there
any show of resistance.
Early In the evening a call was made
upon the police of this city for aid. but
after consideration the department de-
cided not to send policemen TO the
scene of the trouble. Governor Shall
enberger was consulted n expressed
a willingness to call out troops IL neces-
sary. No such demand was made last
night however.
Fifteen arrests were made I'm connec-
ton with the riots up to midnight last
night.
Attack the Greeks.
Following the mass meeting at the
city hall, the crowd OF 800 to 1000 men
started for the Greek quarter to avenge
the death OF Patrolman Lowery, who
was shot and killed Friday night by a
Greek whom he had placed under ar
rest. Before their thirst for blood had
been satisfied two boys were shot and
at least eight persons injured by heavy
missiles which the crowd used as weap-
ons, and not less than 80 buildings were
partially demolished The injured boys
are Frank Sweeney and Joseph Gamble,
each about 10 years OF age, who re-
ceived part OF the contents of a shot
gun fired into the crowd by the mad
dened Greeks. The other persons in
jured were all foreigners. and after
their wounds were dressed they were
sent to their homes.
A crowd of perhaps 5000 or 1000
quickly gathered to augment the size
of the mob, and q general assault was
begun on the homes and business
places of the Greeks. This attack was
conferred at Twenty sixth and O.
streets, where Is located the principal
Greek quarter. The maddened crowd
began its work of destruction by
throwing stones n bricks through the
windows Of stores n houses known
to be occupied by the Greeks. In a
very short time havoc was mad with
the fronts of these places, and the
stocks of h stores were quickly laid
waste.
Crash Into Saloon.
Two blocks east anothe crowd
smashed the front OF a saloon and sew
eral daring spirits attempted to pillage
the interior, when a squad OF police
men charged the crowd and prevented
the mob from securing the liquor. 1t
was at this place that the two boys J