McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1919-08-08
Washingto letter.
Editor Of the Independent:


Most of your readers. perhaps,
have read or heard something Of the
race riots that have taken place in
Washington recently, but those who
have not read about them would,
perhaps, like to know of them by
first handed information from one in
akthe midst of the real thing.
There have been repeated attacks
recently, made by negroes on white
women. On the night of July Is, !
think it was, two negroes attacked
the wife of one of the marines, as
she was coming from her work as
member Of the night shift at the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing,
The police in this case as in many
others, were unable to run down the
guilty negroes and bring them to
Justice, SO on last Sunday night some
sailors, soldiers and citizens proceed
ed to give some negroes beating.
thinking perhaps that it would have
a wholesome effect Oh the Others
But instead, the negroes made raid
on the gunshops, Monday and bought
several hundred guns, ammunition,
etc. Monday night thew got in auto
mobiles and dashed two and fro shoot
ing at any white person, man or wo-
man they saw. They also shot from
their doors and windows at people
passing.
This of course caused quick action
on the part Of the police, soldiers and
citizens, and BY l::30 o'clock Monday
night some fierce battles were fought
in which scores and scores of both
whites and negroes were killed and
wounded.
The fiercest battle began within
one-half block OK my house. Three
automobiles loaded with negroes
came up N street crossing Sixth
street near nv home. They began
firing at police who were on duty in
that vicinity. A truck load Of white
soldiers came just in front Of my
house and opened fire pursuing the
negroes and encountering other me-
groes as they advanced. Perhaps
five hundred shots were fred and no
one knows how many were hurt, sew
eral being killed. As the shooting
died away it was appalling to hear
the screaming negroes.
Some negroes in an automobile
shot at a cavalrgman and hit his
horse. The horse rose into the air
on bis hind feet and fell. The caval-
ryman jumped from the horse, killed
two negsoes in the car and wounded
another in the street Other riots
OF q smaller nature occurred Tuesday
and Wednesday nights, being started
by negroes firing from hiding places,
and automobiles. They at last found
out that our soldiers shoot to kill
and Washington seems quiet again.
The negroes are in this country at
the instance Of the white man and
unquestionable responsibility resting
upon us is to not, simply to suggest,
but to force a mode Of training that
will cultivate the negro race up to a
higher standard of virtue. honesty
and self respect. Ministers, County
Superintendents should organize to
encourage more effective training
in the colored schools. The negro
should be taught to understand that
the white man is bis best friend and
that he will defend them when they
stay in their places. That when q
privilege is granted to them that
they should not at once become
drunk on it.
In their schools they should be
supplied with good reading matter,
not fairy tale stuff out of which, if
perchance they get thought, its
likely to be of revenge as of reward.
Yours truly,