Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-07-29
SEVEN NEGROES
SLAIN IN RIOT
Four White and Eleven Ccl-
ored Are Wounded in
Disturbance.
4 GRAVE SITUATION
Trouble Originated in Negrcss Throw
ing Stone at White Boy in Orchard
Where They Were Working.

Rome, Ga, July 20.-With seven
negroes dead and eleven negroes and
four white men wounded as the result
Of a clash near Plainvllle, small
town north Of here, advices To-Day in
dicated the possibility of a general
race war which will necessitate the
calling out of troops.
The negroes far out-number the
whites in the vicinity and it was stat
ed in a dispatch received here today
that they are arming and threatening
vengeance.
Among tn white men wounded are
Sheriff Owens of Calhoun; Ernest
johnson of Calhoun and Dr. Miller Of
Plainville The trouble originated in
the whipping of negro by white
man. The negro resented his chastise-
ment with a revolver and others of
his race came to his assistance. The
negroes were finally driven away and
took refuge in a railroad section house
in the outskirts of Plainville.
The townspeople attacked them and
a pitched battle followed in which a
number of the negroes in the building
were killed and others were badly
wounded.
The infuriated whites finally rush
ed the building and captured a num-
ber of the wounded negroes. 1t IS
alleged that two of them were tied to
the railroad track where they were
later run over by train. This report
however, is not confirmed
Meanwhile word had been sent to
Sheriff Owens and he rushed to the
scene with posse hastily assembled.
He took a number of negroes who were
held prisoners by the mob under his
protection and locked them in barn
which he hurriedly turned into Jail.
Other negroes tried to rescue the men
and in the fight which followed the
sheriff was wounded.
Plainville is in the midst of farm
ing section where hundreds Of negroes
are employed and it is feared that
many of them will join in race war
if it is started.
Telephone messages today said
prompt patrolling of the streets by the
authorities had resulted in quieting
the infuriated whites and blacks. Dep
uties are keeping the negroes in their
homes, fearing resumption OF the
race war.
The eleven negroes captured during
the riot Yesterday were today heavily
guarded at the Calhoun Jail. a num-
ber of citizens have volunteered as
guards, the fear being either that the
blacks will attempt rescue, or the
residents near Plainville may try a
lynching party.
Nine of the prisoners are wounded.
Shprln owens anu IIlc lNo uSPe''N"
who were wounded in the pitched bat
tie in which the negroes were captured
will probably recover.
The whole affair resulted in ne
press throwing a stone at white boy
in an orchard where they were Doth
working. A white man whipped the
negress, whereupon her male compan-
ion drew his revolver, shooting at the
whites who had come to see the WHIP
ping. A general melee followed. Inc
negroes retreated to a house, barrl-
caded the doors, and withstood an at
tack by practically the whole wnlte
population. Sheriff Dunehoo, OF Rome
hurried to the town with a score OF
deputies, to aid Sheriff Owens, DIS
persed the whites, and after an hours
siege finally captured the negroes IN
the house.