The sun., 1919-03-26
WRECK LIBRARY IN
! HARLEM RACE RIOT
Motorman Dragged From Car
by Negro Mob Flees Into
Structure.
DOORS BATTERED DOWN
Women Attendants See White
Victim Stabbed and Police
/, men Hurt in Fight.

m feeling which has been shoulder
negroes in Harlem's ''black belt" burst
Into flame last night, following a row
on a Len9x avenue car. during which
the negroes assert that one of their
number was beaten by the motorman.
The trouble occurred at 135th street,
and the negroes piled out Of the car.
carefully noting down it's number and
vowing vengeance.
Half an>>hour later the identical car
came swirling down the avenue again
James Clinton Of So Bank street-at the
controller. A group of negroes climbed
aboard and made their way forward to
the little box containing the motorman.
Without warning they began beating and
kicking him. Clinton was taken by sur
prise, but he fought his way free and
ran toward the Carnegie Library at 1903
West 135th street pursued by the
negroes. The original party had been
augmented by the arrival OF q couple
OF hundred more by the time Clinton
turned and darted into the building.
Motorman's Dash for life.
The motorman dashed up the stairs TO
the second floor with the mob In full cry
1t his heels. Attendants In the library
were panic stricken at the sudden influx
OF angry blacks and telephoned for aid
TO Capt. William McGrath at the West
1s6th street station. One of the doors
on the second floor yielded to Clinton 8
H. u
him and shoot the bolt before the scream
ing negroes dashed themselves against It.
By this time a crowd Of 1000 blacks
had collected outside the library and
z had commenced throwing rocks AID
other missiles at the windows. nearly all
OF which were shattered. The jangling
glass fell among some of the young wo-
men attendants. who sought safety in
various protected corners. A second call
for help was telephoned the West 135th
street police station and reserves were
ordered out from there and from the
West 125th East 126th and West 123d
street stations as well. About fifty uni
formed men were soon at the library.
and they came none too soon.
Upstairs the Infatuated negroes had
commenced battering down the door of
the room in which Clinton had sought
refuge. Kicks and blows were rained
against the stout panels which at length
gave way and the blacks rushed In.
C1ipton put up a game fight but he was
outmatched twenty to one and he went
down with four or FIVE stab wounds. He
was being kicked and beaten when the
police arrived Swinging their clubs the
police fought their way to where Clinton
lay.
Patrolman IL Attacked.
An iron cuspidor struck Patrolman
Joseph yMahon of the West 135th street
station on the head and he also crumpled
TO the floor. Both he and Clinton were
hurried to the Harlem Hospital, where
the latter's condition was said last night
20 be serious. Patrolman Henry Bos-
hiemer of the West 135th street station
was struck on the head and on the left
arm by rocks, thrown from the roof Of q
negro tenement near the library. He
was given first aid and reported sick.
So hurriedly did the negroes scatter
that the police were unable to locate
any of the leaders OF the mob and no
arrests were made. Reserves were kept
on duty in the vicinity all night and
no groups of negroes were permitted
to congregate. They obeyed police orders
TO dispense sullenly but offered no open
resistance. Whites in the neighborhood
were angered at the attack on the IL
brary and the police said the reserves
were being held In the neighborhood
because a, recurrence OF the trouble was
feared.