The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-02-22
SOUTH OMAHA
SCENE Of RIOT
AND PILlAGE
Frenzied Mob Attempts to
Drive Greeks From Pack
ing House City.
TWO YOUTHS WOUNDED
DURING THE SCRIM MAGE
KILLING OF POLICEMAN FRIDAY
NIGHT RESPONSIBLE FOR DE-
SIRE FOR VENGEANCE.

Omaha, Neb., Feb. 2I.-FouowiuE q
haranyue at a mass meeting at the
city hail in South Omaha this after
noon, at which two members of the
state legislature and an attorney were
the principal speakers, a wild mob Of
500 to 1000 men started for the Greek
quarters to avenge the death of Patrol
man Edward Lowery, who was shot
and killed Friday night by d Greek
whom he had placed under arrest. Be
fore their thirst for blood had been
satisfied two boys were shot and at
least eight persons had been injured
by heavy missiles, which the crowd
used as weapons, and not less than
thirty buildings were partially demOl-
ished. The injured boys are Frank
Sweeney and Joseph Gamble, each
about Is years of age. who received
part of the contents of shotgun fired
into the crowd by the maddened
were all foreigners, and after their
wounds were dressed they were sent to
their homes.
Mob of Thousands.
A crowd of perhaps 1900 OF 1000
quickly gathered to augment the size of
the mob and a general assault was be-
gun on the homes and business places
of the Greeks. This attack was CEN
tered at Twenty-sixth and Q streets,
where is located the principal Greek
quarter. The maddened crowd began
its work of destruction by throwing
stones and brick through the windows
of stores and houses known to be &C.
cupied by the Greeks. In very short
time havoc was made with the fronts
of these places, and the stocks of the
stores were quickly laid waste
Two blocks east another crowd smashed
the front of a saloon, and several daring
spirits attempted to pillage the interior,
when a squad of police charged the crowd
I and prevented the mob from securing the
/ liquor. 1t was at this place that the two
boys were shot and the other persons
| injured.
Doors Kicked In.
A third crowd rushed to Twenty fourth
and L streets and attacked a confectiOn-
| cry store run by Demos Bros The big
plate glass windows were quickly
smashed, the doors kicked in and tins
stock and show cases destroyed. Mrs
Mary Demos and her aged father were in
the store and both narrowly escaped
death at the hands Of the mob.
The three attacks were made almost
simultaneously, and the destruction was
completed before Chief Of Police Briggs
could get his scattered forces together.
Riot Lasted Three Hours.
Meantime Sheriff Brayley vollected all
the deputies poss bic and rushed them to
South Omaha to aid the police. 1t took
some time to get this force organized, and
during the interval Greeks were attacked
on every hand The members of the mob
assaulted many Italians and Roumsnians
who were mistaken for Greeks The law
| lessness lasted for three hours before a
semblanee of quiet could be restored The
police gained control about s O'Clock, but
were unable to dispense the crowd Every
home and business place Of the Greeks
was surrounded by officers, who found Il
well-nigh impossible to keep back the
crowds. At s o'clock Chief Briggs asked
the Omaha city authorities to send all the
available police Officers to South Omaha
as more serious trouble was anticipated
tonight. After considering the legal
phases of the case, it was decided not to
comply with the request for Omaha DO
Iicemen. Sheriff Brayley will swear in a
large number of extra deputies, who will
cooperate with the South Omaha police.
Attempt at lynching.
An unsuccessful attempt was made Fri
day night to lynch the Greek who killed
Patrolman BOwery. and this was followed
by call foE a mass meeting for this aft
ernoon to take some action with regard to
| the Greeks. A thousand persons attended
the mass meeting. which was addressed
! by state Representatives Perry Howard
/ J. 2. Krause, Frank Dolizal, e prominent
| Bohemian, and Attorney H. c. Murphy
/ Attorney Murphy shouted:
THE blood of an American is on the
hands of these Greeks and some method
should be adopted to avenge his death. "
The meeting was then dismissed AMI
\ half the audience rushed to the Greek
quarter where the destruction began.
At Q O'Clock tonight the mob again be
gan depredations and riot calls came in
| from several places. The mob set fire to
| the house of a Greek. Three men were
| taken from the place. After being Sc
vereiy beaten. two of them we're put in q
passing street car while the other was
taken away by portion of the mob who
| intended to put him on board the outgoing
train. 1t is not known what was done
with him. The fire department extin-
guished the blaze.
Charles Nestroyl aged 50, a 4aember Of
the mob which was trying to break into
a building, received a dangerous gunshOt
wound.
! A mob smashed the front OF store and
one of the Greek employees of the place
was badly injured. The police rescued hin
and sent him to a hospital in an auto