The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1923-09-07
KLANSMEN
RESCUED FROM
MOB BY OFFICERS
MANY HURT WHEN ATTACK is
MADE ON MEETING PLACE
AUTOS CARRYING MASKED
MEN ARE UPSET.

Perth Amboy, N. j., Sept. A.
Battling between Ku KluX Klansmen
and naobs was resumed on the streets
Of Perth Amboy this morning as mem
bers of the order tried to escape from
Odd Fellows hall where they had
sought refuge during an attack on a
Khan meeting last night in which more
than 100 persons are reported to have
been injured
3D. A hundred men armed with clubs
and stones attacked 80 Klansmen who
dashed from the hall this morning.
The Klansmen were severely beaten
before they escaped their pursuers.
Many Injured
1t vas impossible, early today, to
ascertain the number of persons on
both sides who had been more or less
severely injured in last nights fight
ing. Every physician in the city had
treated one or more case while a con-
siderable number of injured had been
attended 10 in hospitals.
Battling started shortly before mid
night when a crowd estimated at more
than 5000 men broke. up a widely-ad-
vertised Khan meeting in the Odd Eel
lows hall. The entire police force OF
rs, with drawn guns and clubs, and
reinforced by the entire fire depart
ment, made a desperate effort to pro-
tect the Klansmen whose meeting had
been surrounded by the clamOring mob
Tear bombs and we'll directed
streams from fire hose dispersed the
surging thousands after first attack,
but, returning with renewed fury, they
swept the force aside, hacked the
hoses to pieces and charged into the
meeting hall. Klansmen withstood
the onslaught until greatly Outnum-
bered, when many of them fought
their way to doors, windows and fire
escapes only to be engulfed in the
crowd below. Those who had not the
foresight to remove their khan regalia
were easily distinguishable, and re-
ceived rough treatment before they
escaped into the woods bordering the
city. -r
Bricks and Stones Fly
A small contingent of Klansmen
was unable to leave the hall, which
the police succeeded in clearing of the
attackers. These joined their COM
panions on the outside, who lombard
ed the building with bricks and stones
defying both policemen and Klansmen
to come out.
Police Chief Tonneson had sum-
mOned q detachment of state troopers
whose arrival was greeted by renewed
activities Of the nuttering mob. Aid
ed by the state troopers, the police be-
gan the removal of the imprisoned
Klansmep. Several of them were
| loaded into three automobiles which
the crowd Immediately overturned, adj
ministering severe beatings to the oc-
cupants. A patrol wagon load of res
cued received similar treatment. The
crowd intercepted a number of escap-
ing Klansmen who were being led to
safety over adjoining roofs. They al
so were beaten.
By>2 o'clock all the klansmen had
fled, leaving behind them the threat
that they would return with a force
of 10000. This calledd for the ans
wer that they would be met with 20
/ 900. Remnants of the crowd remained
on the streets throughout the night
until dawn but no more disturbances
occurred.
No One Killed
In the general confusion it was i'm
possible to ascertain the nights cas-
ualities. Although the police used
their guns, discharging them into the
air, no one was killed. 1t is believed
however, that number of combatants
on both sides were severely injured.
Several injured klansmen were
treated at hospitals and later sent to
their homes.
The police said that the majority
of the klansmen who assembled to
hold the meeting were from other New
Jersey cities and towns.
The city settled back to normal con-
ditions during the forenoon and police
said they anticipated no further trou-
bic.
SAYS OIL INTERESTS