Evening star., 1933-11-29

-NSSAAsAAAoSN a SAee AASs . 49,
tossing burning wads Of paper at the
building.
The paper throwing began after the
mob had threatened to burn down the
hotel unless all the press representa-
tiyes inside were delivered to them I'M
mediately. Convinced that the crowd
meant business, hotel officials informed
the reporters and photographers they
would have to leave. Thereafter, they
refused to take in any more newspaper
men. The Philadelphia cameraman
was in the group that sought refuge in
the hotel. When he saw the crowd
gathered outside, however, he sauntered
into the dining room and ordered
breakfast. despite the fact that he had
eaten hearty meal only a short time
before.
Stopped by Gun Wielder.
my hands shook so I couldn't even
put cup of coffee to my mouth with
out spilling it all over myself" he said.
THE mob evidently didn't suspect me
Of being a newspaper man, so I took my
chance and then made a dash for it."
He had not gone far, however, when
he was stopped by a husky individual,
who showed a gun against his ribs and
said: "Ive been delegated to get you.
At least I've been delegated to get q
photographer. and that's what you are,
The cameraman pleaded guilty, but
insisted he had no intention of making
any pictures Of the crowd at the moment.
"All right" the mobster said. "Just
take that damn camera and get out of
town as quick as you can."
On his way to the airport the
cameraman was stopped by q group Of
men, several of them armed, who took
his automobile registration card, drivers
permit and other papers, in addition to
forcing him to>abandon his Photographic
equipment.
Several Severely Beaten.
Other reporters and photographers
were treated in similar fashion. several
OF them being severely beaten before
being chased out. Of the war zone"
Press automobiles were burned, rolled
into the Wicomico River, overturned and
torn apart. A few newspaper men re-
naming in the area had to stay in
strict seclusion. The others made their
way over side roads and through wooded
areas.
Everybody in the Salisbury territory
had not gone berserk, however. 7 kept
in constant communication with sew
eral friends in the city. who did not
consider newspaper workers suitable
candidates for lynching.
Twice, after hiding our press cards,
Photographic equipment and the like,
Chinn and I drove into Salisbury and
back out again. Each time, We were
stopped by men along the roads, who.
seeing that we were strangers, insisted
on searching our automobile in an ef-
fort to determine whether we were "a
couple Of those damn newspaper fel-
lows" A high Maryland license num-
ber differentiating our car from those
used by most Washington, Baltimore
and Philadelphia newspaper men, aided
us immeasrrably.
Even so, it was risky business, and it
grew more so each hour. Once, when
we were in temporary hiding in the
airport. we received word that q mob
was headed there to burn up airplanes
and to get" us.
Fail to Find Haven.
We cleared out almost at once, head
ing for Delmar, just across the Della
ware State line and about seven miles
from Salisbury. We had no sooner
reached there. however. when citizens.
many Of whom evidently had been In
the Salisbury throngs, became suspicious
and BEGAN following uS.
We talked q great deal about duck
hunting in an effort to a1lay their sus-
picious. forgetting in our anxiety that
our clothing belted our words. Half q
dozen or so men stopped us on a street
corner and ,cross-questioned US about
our hunting trip. We answered their
questions as best We could, but our
knowledge Of the geography Of the sur
rounding country was SO scant we did
not s,,cceed In convincing them we were