Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1910-02-10
White and Black Employees at
Lock at Hale's Bar
Clash.
WHISKEY is A FACTOR
Marion County Authorities
Are Aided by Chattanooga
Policemen.

Two negro laborers, W. H. Baker and
Ed Sloan, were killed as the result of
race riot at Hale's Bar lock and dam
soon after midnight this morning, and
it is reported that another negro was
also killed. Bad feeling has been
brewing for some days between the
white and black employees of the lock
and dam contractors, and an assault
upon one of the negro laborers by a
number of white men yesterday, coup
led with liberal distribution of bad
whiskey and guns among tue negroes,
brought the trouble to a climax,
After an exchange of shots between
force of five policemen sent from
Chattanooga, under direction of Capt.
W. M Burke, Sheriff Westmoreland
of Marion county, who had sworn in a
number of special deputies. and the
negroes, the trouble was quelled. None
of the white men were killed or
wounded in the rioting. The negroes,
who had taken the most active part in
the trouble-making. retreated up the
Tennessee river, and the sheriff Of
Marion county is trying to apprehend
them.
Charles Lee, negro laborer, who
was recently sent to the lock and dam
from Alexandria, Va, was set upon by
a party of white laborers yesterday af-
ternoon and badly beaten. The enmity
of the white men towards the negro
arose from a rumor that the negro was
to be placed in charge Of certain pump
work, which is usually looked after by
white macbinists The contractors
made it clear that no such move was
anticipated as placing the negro in
prominent position or where he would
have control over any white man, but
the report had gained wide circulation
and it was impossible to entirely Grad
icate the impression that had gone
abroad. The contractors sent the negro
into this city late yesterday for medi.
cal treatment and to avoid further
trouble.
dam had quit work yesterday whiskey
began to circulate freely and they a
dopted an obstreperous attitude toward
the whites. AS the blacks outnumber-
ed the whites two to one, the white
employees and their families became
alarmed over the prospective trouble
and notified the Marion county author
titles. Sheriff Westmoreland was in
Chattanooga at the time, but his
brother, deputy sheriff, took charge
of the situation while an attempt was
being made to locate the sheriff.
In the meantime the attitude of the
negro laborers became more alarming
and it was anticipated that an attempt
would be made to ''shoot up the
camp. A large number of men were
deputized by Deputy Sheriff Westmore
land, but as only small number of
guns were available, it was realized
that they would be of little use unless
arms could be secured. Chief of Police
Mcmahon, of the Chattanooga police
department was communicated with
by telephone shortly after midnight,
the situation was explained to him and
he was asked to send supply of guns
and ammunition to the scene for the
use of the sheriff's men. Chief McMa-
hon told the Marion county authorities
that, while he had no jurisdiction in
the matter. he realized the urgent ne
cessity of the occasion and would do
whatever possible to relieve the situa-
tion.
An automobile was secured and
twenty riot guns and 900 rounds of
ammunition placed in the conveyance.
AS it was realized that an attack
might be made by the negroes to hold
up the party and obtain possession of
the arms, force of five policemen in
charge of Capt. Burke was detailed to
convey the weapons to the officers Of
Hale's Bar.
The party of officers left Chattanooga
about 80 a. IN. and reached the scene
of the outbreak about o'clock. Fir
ing was in progress when the Chatta-
nooga officers reached the lock and
dam.
Sheriff Westmoreland, of Marion
county, had been located in Chatta-
nooga by the local police authorities
and received his first intimation of the
trouble. He accompanied the local
men to the scene, and realizing the Sc
robustness of the uprising, he at once
deputized the Chattanooga officers to
aid in quelling the trouble. The ne
groes were firing from the shelter of
their shacks in all directions. The Off
GERS returned the fire and closed in up
on the the negro settlement, clearing
the shacks of men. A band of the me-
groes retreated up the river toward
the mountains. This party, about
thirty in number, seemed to be the
principal trouble makers. In their
fight they carried with them large
number of repeating rifles and revolt
yers