Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-05-14
CHARLESTON HAS RACE RIOT.
Mon from Navy Clash with Negroes
Bringing About Bad Situation.
News and Courier, 11th.)

tNeWS ana courier, lltn.
Beginning after a negro was ac-
cused of shooting down a bluejacket
ut Market and Charles streets, in a
pool room, serious race rioting, in
which bluejackets, assisted by some
civilians, apparently, attacked many
negroes, occurred here late last night
and early this morning Two blue
jackets and four negroes are reported
to have been killed, and more than
the Roper Hospital being overtaxed
for time.
Police were unable to stop the
bluejackets, and from the naval
training camp naval officers dispatch
ed additional provost guards by mo-
tor car, while detachment Of ma
rines was hurried into town to act
as a patrol. A little after midnight,
because Of the seriousness Of the sit
uatton, policemen and marines in
structed all persons in the streets to
get home and stay there. Rear Ad-
miral Benz. G. Bryan, commandant
OF the Navy Yard, kept In as close
touch as possible with the rioting and
gave orders that as rapidly as possi-
bic all the bluejackets be sent by
motor trucks back to the Navy Yard
and the naval training camp.
Soon after the beginning of the
trouble in Beaufain street, bluejack-
cts were accused Of raiding two
shooting galleries. They are report
ed to have used these small calibre
rifles indiscripiinately on negroes
The bluejackets, steadily swelling in
number until midnight, proceeded
uptown, an das they went up King
street, wrecked colored barber
shop. An army officer and a naval
officer who happened along took an
active hand here and compelled the
bluejackets to leave.
A Broad street motorman refused
to permit the bluejackets to board
his car, and the bluejackets, 1t Is
charged. jerked Off the trolley. They
then entered the car and took out
negro, beat him and then shot him
down. Another negro was taken
from car on King street, near Mar
ket, and shot down. Persons in a
fashionable restaurant were unwill-
ing witnesses to this.
While the several thousand blue
Jackets were in charge of the town
excitement ran high, and wild ru-
mors circulated swiftly. At o'clock
this morning it was still impossible
to get accurate figures with regard
to the casualties. Police and hos
rital authorities were continuing
their efforts to locate wounded men.
1t was believed that some of the
wounded negroes were hurried home
by friends, and that these cases will
not be known for a day or two.
BluejacektS sent as additional pro-
vost guards were armed with riot
guns by the city police department
and began their duty just about mid
night. 1t was then that the marines
also began service as patrolmen. In
the earlier stages of the rioting
Lieut.. J. r. Sanford and Lieut.. J. G.
Nicklas strove TO break up the riot
ers, and, at considerable risk to
themselves, forced many bluejack-
cts into line. Other naval officers,
arriving later, also took a hand.
All witnesses agree that the blue
Jackets we're after negroes only, as
no white citizens were molested. The
marines doing patrol duty were in
structed to search every person in
the streets this morning. Every pre-
caution Is being taken to prevent a
recurrence Of the rioting.