Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-10-09
J0NG-STANDING NUISANCE

supposed that an excursion or Dali
n,;nus > FIGHT was as Hamlet with
ont Hamlet. Hence many people OF
n1iet natures were 10th 70 mlngle
in such gatherings. Fights were tac
ordinary accompaniment OF pubic
amusements until murders cast Il
chill on common disturbers OF tha
peace, and certain resorts which had
been scenes Of such procedures soon
went into an eclipse. 1t Is rare at
present to hear of disturbances on
excursions or at dances, not that
there are still bellicose individuals
in the world, but they have been
curbed to such an extent that they
s~eeregate themselves in other places
and consort with their WI ilk.
While witnessing the proceedings
Of the Police Court this morning we
looked at a tall young negro man
who had been arrested for dlsor-
derlv conduct and resisting and
fighting officers at a ball at colored
Odd Fellows Hall, on south Column
bus street last night.
While Officers Lell and hewitt
were at the corner of Wolfe n Co
lumbus streets about midnight an Of
fcer >cf. a. colored lodge approaches
and requested them TO enter joe
Fellows Hall wher. a dance was III
nropress. and uuell a disturbance
which had been started. The trouble
had been preeipitated by three ne.
groes, ard when the officers appear
cd two managed to get out OF the
hall and escape. Edward Lee, thc
tall negro referred to above was
rointed out as being one OF the us
orderly individuals, and when the Oh
ficers attempted TO arrest him ne
showed fight, rushing into the street
and throwing stones al the cohSer-
vators Of The peace. lie was over
powered, NOT, ioNeNst, u !"
been knocked down by the officers.
Lee was locked up and was fined I'VE
dollars in the police court this morn
ing.
The colored Odd Fellows Hall on
south Columbus street, has been Inc
scene of disturbances for nearly half
= century, or since the building took
the Mace of a church which at one
time occupied the site. 1t Is seldom
that a gathering OF negroes takes
Mace there ut which a fight Is not
precipitated.
We DO rot mean by this that ali
colored people are disposed to be
disorderly. IN fact, We have no DOUBT
that the large majority gather to
eniov themselves. and that tights
are generally brought OF by diSor-
doriv negroes VINO attend for the
nurnosa OF looking for trouble. \
few nights ago officers were com
nellal to ei,ter the place and maize
arrests. On that occasion 1t Was as
ccr.ain,d that a negro had passed
. knife 20 a woman as the officers
entered. Some Of this diSorderly
element carry pistols into the place
and terrcrtzc others who asSemoIH
fos pleasure.
I, ante war times a white man,
for good reasons. was genera'iy
present at gatherings OF negfoeS
This VAS deemed necessary after tne
Nat Turner insurrcction in the
southeastern section Of the state.
We 10 not urge any such law at
present. bat that something should
be done to curb 4 certain disorder
" element must be apparent to the
LARGER portion Of colored people.
1t is = problem which they should
work out al once. Negroes are So
cial beings. and they should be a.
lowed t. gather without let or him
drarce.
We refer above to conditions
among certain white people after
the close Of the evil war. When
SUCH became unbearahle managers
OF excursions. balls, etc. used to ap-
u~nd the following lines 20 adver-
~ '
tisencnts: NO improper person will:
no allowed on the boat or grounds
THIS the committees OF arrange
r,ents had the power to prevent sus-
n;aiou, characters from minsling,
,-;sl, we;l-=poSed excursionists or
r. 5a1,S. The d~isorderly element
a~ve1-ua.lv Became shashsd and kept