The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-05-14
STREET RIOTS IN
CHARLESTON SATURDAY
Two Bluetnckets and Four Negroes
reported Killed In Il Serious Clash
Last Night.

Reported Killed In Il Serious ClasI,
Last Night.
Charleston, S. c., May 10.-Begin-
ming after a negro was accused of
shooting down bluejacket at Market
and Beaufain streets, in pool room,
serious race rioting, in which blue
Jackets. assisted by some civilians, ap-
parently, attacked many negroes, oc-
CURED here late last night and early
this morning. Two bluejackets and
four negroes are reported to have been
killed and more than eight men
Wounded severely, the Roper HOS
ptal being overwhelmed for time.
Police were unable to stop the blue
Jackets, from the naval training camp,
and naval officers dispatched addi-
tional provost guards by motor car,
while detachment Of marines were
hurried into town to serve as a patrol.
little after midnight, because of the
seriousness of the situation, police
men and marines instructed all per-
sons in the streets to get home and
stay there. Rear Admiral BENJAMIN
{. Bryan, commandant OF the navy
yard, Kept In as close touch as pos
siblc with the rioting and gave orders
that as rapidly as possible all the blue.
Jackets be sent by motor trucks back
to the navy yard and the naval train
ing camp.
Soon after the beginning Of the
trouble in Bcaufain street, blucjackcts
are accused Of raiding two shooting
galleries. They arc reported to have
used the small calibrc reprcating rifles
indiscriminatcly on negroes The
bluciackcts, steadily swelling in num-
Der until midnight, proceeded up town
and as they went up King street
wrecked a colorcd barber shop An
army officer and naval officer who
happened along. took an active hand
here and compelled the blue Jackets
to leave.
\ Broad street motorman refused TO
stop his car at Marion Square and
blucjackcts. it is charged. icrkcd off
the trolley. They entered the car, took
a negro out, beat him and then shot
him down. Another negro was taken
from a car on King street, near Mark ct
and shot down. Persons in a fashion
able restaurant were unwilling spccta-
tors Of this.
While the several thousand blue
Jackets were in charge OF the town,
excitement ran high and wild reports
circulated swiftly.
At one o'clock this morning. it was
still impossible to get accurate figures
with respect to the casualties Police
and hospital authorities were CON
tinuing their efforts to locate wound
cd men. 1t was believed that some
home by friends and that these cases
will not be known for day or So
Bluciackcts sent as additional pro-
vOst guards were armed with riot guns
by the city police department and be-
gan their duty just about midnight.
1t was then that the marines also be-
gan service as parolmcn. In the ear
lier stages OF the rioting, Lieutenant
John r. Petersen, Jr., Lieutenant John
r. Sanford, and Lieut.. John G. NickleS
strove to break up the rioters and, at
considerable risk to themselves, forced
many bluciackcts into line. Other naval
officers later arriving also took a hand
All witnesses agree that the blue
Jackets were after negroes only, as no
white civilians were mOlcstcd The
marines doing patrol duty were in
structcd to search every person i'm the
streets this morning. Every prccau-
tion is being taken to pccvcnt re-
currcncc Of the riOtng.