The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-02-25
SOUTH OMAHA the
SCENE OF BIG RIOT
Angered by Murder of Police
man, Mob Attacks Greek
Quarters.

q Milo, l. ~. ~
began in the Greek quarters OF South
Omaha Sunday afternoon did not sub
side until early this morning. The
roll of casualties includes five persons
suffering with gunshot wounds. ant
II Greeks so badly beaten that they
were taken to the hospitals for treat
ment.
About Is other persons suffered from
ssaults or as a result OF mlsdirecteG
missiles intended for the Greeks. Nc
loss resulting from destruction OF prop
erty by the mob. Not less than five
shops of importance We're almost wholly
wrecked, while 16 smaller one escaped
serious damage only because of theiI
smallneSs.
Leave 1t to the law. That is your
protection" This was the message re
cefved this morning from the Greek
minister to the United States, Coro-
Milas. located at New York city, by N,
j. Mandanis, president Of the Greek
colony, and by the latter read to a
gathering of about 1000 Greeks today
Mandanis made an address in which
%retaliatory acts which would tend &c
aggrayate the situation.
Another meeting Is for
this afternoon at Baright hall. a large
auditorium in the business district OF
Omaha, at which other leaders of the
Greeks will be speakers.
According to Mandanis there are
about 5000 Greeks residing in Omaha
and South Omaha. There has been a
steady exodus of Greeks from Omaha
since tho beginning of the trouble yes
terday. Every train is carrying a large
number away.
Estimated property damage done by
lost rSry1tt, ,r{N%. n ~, %, cog nNn ~
20 or more persons who received per-
sonal injuries, none are reported in 4
serious condition. All is quiet today.
None of the Greeks appeared at the
packing plants where they are en-
ployed.
RACE WAR RACES
IN GREEK QUARTER
Omaha. Ncb., Feb. 24.-From mid
afternoon until far into the night Soutf,
Omaha, this city's big suburb, was the
OF r:oting, murderous assaults
and pillage. More than 30 buildings
have been burned. wrecked or badly
damaged, and probably Il score of per-
sons injured, half thas number serious
ly. By heroic work the police pre-
vented actual loss of life. and at mid
night 1t was the generally expressed
opinion that the worst Of the affair for
the 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 penitentiary 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 that
q large number of Greek residents of
the place were OF the undesirable class
n calling a mass meeting at the city
hall 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 two members
of the state legislature. Some of the
speeches were calculated to inflame the
passions of the 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.
The south Omaha police force is not
large, but 1t responded vatantly to the
mand upOn its resources. Sheriff
Bradley, Of Douglas county, was 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
consideration the department de-
cided not to send policemen to the
scene of the trouble. Governor Shall
enberger was consulted and expressed
a willingness to call out troops If neces-
sary. No such demand was made last
night, however.
Fifteen arrests were made in 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
shot and killed Friday night by q
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
which the crowd used as weap-
ons, and not less than 80 buildings We're
partially demolished. The injured boys
nre Frank Sweeney and Joseph Gamble,
each about 16 years of age, who re-
.ceived part of the contents Of q 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 4 OOn