Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-05-27
Report of Invasion and At
tack by Washington
Negroes Cause
PATROL TILL DAYLIGHT
No Trouble Of Any Kind and Report
Proves to he UnfGunded-all En-
frances to City Guarded.

Fearing that an armed band OF
negroes were coming from Washing
i toni last night to retal:ate as a result
ma de on the part of AleXandrlans
4 Monday night to lynch William H.
Garner, colored, slayer of Thomas
Morgan Moore, Of this city and who
a so attempted to assault Miss Pearl
ark, of Washington secretary to
! Representative Fred Britten OF H.
yiionis, the city was under strong mill
tary guard and remained 50 until day
ahceak today.
1t was tense night for the resi-
dents Of the city, all Of whom were
armed to the teeth and had any mob
come as was reported they would have
met with warm reception.
Every avenue leading to the city
was guarded by u volunteer military
company while state troops patrol'ed
certain streets. The majority Of the
STATE. troops, however, made their
headquarters at the rooms Of the
Chamber Of Commerce directly across
from police headquarters and were
ready at moments notice to respond
to any call that might be made on
them.
The streets were cleared of most
person about II o'clock and by mid
night Alexandria was normal and no
un.oward event occurred. It is need
,toasav brtetlrfa %as no sign of
any mob coming over from Washing
ston.
Alarmed by the reports circulating
in Alexandra that q mCb of negroes
from that city were to make DC
cent on Alexandria fully a 1000 resi-
dents between Arlington and Del
Raw armed with pistols and shot guns
stood guard along the main highways
until nearly daybreak this morning.
Every passing vehicle was stopped by
the guards posted along the different
roads from Washington and the pas
sengers were carefully scrutlz:ed. The
volunteer militia also kepa close
watch and its members searched two
steam trains for members of the sup
posed band.
Yesterday afternoon word was re-
ceived here from the six precinct
Washington pcl:ce that it had been
reported to them that an armed band
of negroes contcmpted coming over
to Alexandria to "Shoot up the city.
Mayor Thomas A. Fisher received
the report through Chief Goods Il
first being given Sergt. W. j. Wi!k!r-
son and he Immediately got into com
munication with Adjutant General w.
w. Sale, CT the state militia. Rich
mond and requested that troops be
sent here following a phone call to
Gov. Davis. The adjutant general d.
rected the Colonial States Rifles OF
Falls Church. Fairfax county, TO at
once proceed to Alexandria. They
came on a special electric train ar
irving here few minutes after S
o'clock and at once proceeded to po-
lice headquarters They were III COM
mand Of Capt. ]. +. Bethune and
Lieut. A. E. Piggott. There were fifty
members Of the company.
A call for volunteers was next IS
sued by Capt. Louis n. Duffey. who
served overseas. ar 1T $50 O'Clock
as he stood at the corner Of King
and Royal streets, and made an ap-
peal for as many eX-sevice men and
in two minutes the company was o.
ganized. These men formed quickly
being in command Of Capt Daffey ant
Sergt Eugene Simpson. They proceed
ed to police headquarters and mex
rifles were furnished them, which be
long to The Alexandria High SchoG
Cadets through Capt. W. II. Sweeney
superintendent of schools. There wer'
only seventy-four rifles at hand an
10000 rounds of ammunition. Capt
Duffey afterward stated he woul
have been able to chtain dauble IN
number of men if he had rifles.
The guns were brought in the pc
lice patrol from the High School t
police headquarters and given 'th
mea. Each nan in the company ha
one krag-Jcreenson rifle and wa
furnished with fifteen rounds of am
munition and Capt. Duffey ordere