The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-22

Five hundred whites and blacks fought
with stones, bats, and bare fists on the
baseball diamond yesterday afternoon at
Seventeenth and c streets southeast. in
racial dispute for possession OF the
grounds, and Harry Smithson. eighteen
years old. Of 1880 Pennsylvania avenue.
was taken from the scene unconscious.
Many others were injured. and the police
arrested eight
A riot call at the Fifth precinct station
house about $3.50 o'clock brought out a
squad OF policemen IN fast patrol
wagon. and the officers arrived on the
grounds in the heat Of the battle The
squad rushed into the melee. and for sew
eral minutes there was a triangular
struggle upon which the innocents from
windows and sidewalks looked with hor-
ror and apprehension. The police emerged
victorious. and the ambulance went back
with several bruised and battered men.
all charging the others with fghting and
asserting their innocence
Negroes Claim Priority.
A crowd of negro ball players went TO
the grounds about o'clock and began
peaceful game The grounds were put In
order By the Navy team. and this organi-
zation had been looked upon as the Gus
tOdian The Olympias and the Vigil
antes. white teams Of the neighborhood,
had obtained permission from the Navy
team TO play on a contest yesterday aft
ernoon, and they went to the grounds
with their permit and determined to play.
The blacks refused TO yield. The whites
offered peaceful terms, declaring they
would yield the following open date to
the negroes
I'VE know you got here hrst." said
one OF the white players. hut you have
no right 10 play on this, diamond without
a permit. and we have the permit. We
are entitled TO play There is only one
thing about Il, youn have to go"
Could Not See 1t that Way.
The spokesman for the negro teams
stepped forward.
"Ain't this public property?'' he asked.
Amt we been playing here whenever
we want TO? We got here first. and II
you want 20 play find you a shade and
wait till we get through"
The argument started, and within few
minutes blacks and whites met in battle.
1t was a war at close range. in which
many persons might have been killed but
for the fact that none was armed. Sew
eral long-bladed pocketknives flashed
into view. and stones bounced from head
TO head, fists met faces, and ribs were
bruised, but Smithson was the most seri-
ously injured. He was pitcher for the
Olytnpias and one OF the best amateur
players In Washington. lie has PLAYED
on the invincible Herald team.
Assaiiant Is Identified.
Those booked at the Fifth precinct
station on charges OF disturbing the
peace were Robert Bell. Tom Williams.
Charles White, and Ernest Weidin all
negroes. Bell was Identified as the as
sailant OF SmlthsOn, who was at first
thought to be dying. According 10 those
questioned by the police. the negroes
were the aggressors. and the whites. be-
ing on the defensive, none OF them was
arrested. More than two score wit
nesses have been subpoenaed FOR ihe
hearing. which will be held this morning
SmithSon was removed 10 the Wash
ington Asylum Hospital His condition
last night was pronounced serious. but
not necessarily fatal. He was at first
thought to be suffering from fractured
skull.