The Atlanta Georgian. (Atlanta, GA.) 1906-1907, September 25, 1906, Image 1
ATLANTA
population 130,000
]l?mea 26,000
V-*!t’i'hnn»»B 15,000
M.-.!n lines of railroads Seven
Miles of street railways........ 150
Banking: capital >22.000,000
The Atlanta Georgian.
OCOSGU
Topnlatlon .. 2.600.W0
Milos of steam railroads 6.500
Milos of electric railways 400
Cotton factories 130. spindles.. 1.600.000
Hales cotton consumed In 1905. 500.000
Value of 190f» cotton crop $100,000,000
VOL. 1. NO. 130.
ATLANTA GA-, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 25 19,06.
'D’PTTlT?. On Trains FIVE CENTS.
jrXCHJiii: in Atlanta TWO CENTS.
MILITARY AND CIVIL AUTHORITIES ARREST, DISARM AND DISPERSE
SEVERAL HUNDRED NEGROES IN RIOTOUS SUBURBAN SETTLEMENTS,
RESTORING PEACE, ORDER AND CONFIDENCE THROUGHOUT ATLANTA
NEGRO TOWN IS CLEARED
BY THE STATE TROOPS
AFTER TROUBLE OF NIGHT
Militia Arrest and Dis
arm Two Hundred
and Fifty-Seven.
BROWNSVILLE NOW
IN ENTIRE QUIET
Serious Trouble Averted by
Troops After Killing
of Head.
L. J. Price, po.tma.ter and proprle*
tor of the store at the junction of the
Joneaboro and McDonough roads, was
arrested Tuesday morning on the
charge of furnishing negroes with wea
pons and ammunition. The store was
closed by the state militia after search-
Ing the stock In trade. Powder was
found concealed In oil cans and other
place..
At daybreak Tuesday morning, 257
negroes were arrested In South At
lanta by companies A, B and C of the
Fifth regiment of Georgia and the Gov
ernor's Horse Guard, troop L. Two
cars, containing 75 of the negroes, were
sent Into the city and were placed In
the Tower, where they will await trial.
The .-ematntng negroes wsre allowed to
go back to their homes after being
searched. , The negroes sent Into the
city were those on whom wsre found
concealed weapons, those who showed
signs of skirmish and witnesses. .
As soon as word reached the city
that there was a riot of serious nature
In Brownqvllle Monday evening the
militiamen were ordered to the scene.
Company B, under command of Cap
tain E. B. Dlshman, waa the first to ar
rive at the Juncture of the Jonesboro
and the McDonough roads. The com
pany then marched up the Jonesboro
road toward Lifkewood Heights. Every
thing was quiet. There was not a ne
gro In sight until the company had
marched a half mile up the road.
The negro houses ut this point are
closely built together, and It was here
that the light between the county of
ficers and negro rioters occurred one
hour before.
Although the cabins and cottages
were as dark as the road up which the
. t. .J tl, n
BATTLESHIPS
Secretary Feels That
Cuban Situation Is
Dangerous.
450 OF NAVY MEN
ARE TO BE SENT
Orders Reach Washington
From Oyster Bay
For Quick
Action.
aoldlers had marched, the muffled
movements of the occupante could be
heard. The exact locality of the skir
mish waa ascertained and a squad of
the men made their way between the
dwellings to the spot where the body of
J. L. Heard was still lying.
Silence Prevailed.
To reach the body It was necessary
to go down an alley, which would not
permit more than two men to walk
abreast. The silence of the negroes up
until this time anil the fact that every
light In the houaes was out gave rise to
the belief that another ambuscade was
awaiting those who attempted to take
the body.
Out of the fifty odd men In the com
pany there waa not a one who waa not
anxious to take the risk. A squad was
decided upon, and led by the captain
and first lieutenant.
The body waa captured without In
cident.
Shortly after the arrival of company
B, company F appeared on the scene.
It was then that sentinels were placed
around Clark University. Brownsville,
the settlement at the Jonesboro and
McDonough crossroads, and other sub
urbs In South Atlanta.
More Troopa Arrive.
Company A later was sent to South
Atlanta and relieved company B. Com
pany B was then sent to headquarters,
where more ammunition was secured
and the company returned Immediately.
Throughout the night there was no
other disturbance after the arrival of
the soldiers. The Governor's Horse
Guard patrolled the euburbs while the
other companies did sentinel duty.
At dawn the work of arresting the
negroes nnd searching the houses was
commenced.
The companies already on the
grounds were etrengthened by company
M and the Marietta company.
Houses Searched.
The companies were divided Into
squads and sent out under the officers.
The work of going through the houses
"as done with the dispatch and care-
Contlnued on Paso Two.
Washington, Sept.- JS.-'-Seerfetary of
War Taft has requested that addition
al war vessels with as many addition-
al marines as possible be sent to Cu
ban waters without delay. A telegram
waa received by the navy department
today from the president at Oyster
Bay, In which the department wae or
dered to send to Cuba as soon as possi
ble all the marines aboard the battle
ships of the North Atlantic fleet, a to
tal of 450 men. Six hundred more ma
rines, which will be taken from the
naval stations on the Atlantic coast,
will follow within a few days' time.
It Is evident that Secretary Taft con
siders the situation In Cuba rather
worse than better. While no definite
details of the contents of his dispatch
to Oyster Bay could be obtained at
either the state or the navy depart
ments today. It was learned that Its
general tone was decidedly pessimis
tic.
It was announced at the navy de
partment this afternoon that the bat
tleship Texas, In addition to the cruis
ers Brooklyn and Prairie, has been
selected for duty In Cuba!) waters. The
Texas la now at Norfolk. It Is proba
ble that the cruiser Columbia will also
be sent after her return from Panama
with Secretary Root.
It la said that the president takes
the view that there le necessity, or will
be, for more American shlpa In Cuban
waters.
It Is believed that orders will b« also
received to rush preparations for the
sending of an army of occupation to
Cuba. There was great activity at the
department this morning, but officials
there, like those at the state nnd navy
departments, displayed extreme reti
cence with regard to th Cuban matter.
That orders of a definite character
were received from Oyater Bay, how
ever, there Is no doubt.
Havana, Sept. 25.—Secretary Taft Is
greatly discouraged over the outlook
for reaching a settlement of the Cuban
trouble owing to the reported refusal
of President Palma to agree to the
terms which Mr. Taft arranged yester
day with the liberals.
FAMOUS DIPLOMAT GIVES
VIEW8 ON INTERVENTION
Washington, Sept. 25.—A suggestive
glance .down the vista of Immense con
sequences that could be expected to
ensue upon the Intervention of the
United States In Cuba was afforded by
John A. Hasson, dean of American
diplomacy, In a lltle Interview.
Among the probable consequences
which Mr. Hasson suggests are the
opening of a new and pressing phase
of the tariff question; a struggle be
tween the president and the senate
over the terms on which Cuba shall at
last be made a part of the American
union and the forcing of a most mo-
mentus determination ns to the pol
icy of this nation toward Its colonial
possession. m
WORST HASBEEN PASSED,
AUTHORITIES ALL AGREE;
NO RELAXATION OF VIGIL
At 2:30 o’clock Tuesday afternoon, it can be stated, without any attempt to minimize, that
everything indicates the presence of the most peaceful condition Atlanta has known since Saturday
night. '
The center of the city is more serene and, quiet than normally; the suburbs are .under tho
strictest guard, and the effective manner in which the police and militia handled the Brownsville
district has put a quietus on any possibility of negro uprising.
This patrol of the militia and police will be continued with even more vigilance Tuesday
night, and from the military headquarters at the Elkin-Watson Drug Company a guard of troops .
can be projected to any point in the city or immediate suburbs in less than 30 minutes. Automobiles
are kept in readiness.
Should there be any developments of menacing nature the city can be put under control of
the United States Regulars from Fort McPherson in a few hours’ time.
Governor Terrell, Col. Clifford L. Anderson, in charge of the militia; Sheriff Nelms, and Mayorj
Woodward express confidence that the worst is over.
Yet there is no over-confidence.
The authorities are prepared.
SENTINELS WILL BE POSTED
IN SUBURBS BEFORE NIGHT
- - ■ ■■ I
Colonel Clifford L. Anderson, In command, stated to The Georgian at 2 o’clock Tuesday afternoon:
"We will have the situation better In hand tonight than Monday night. The militia will be posted In tho
suburbs before dark. First, tho woods will be scoured by extended order tactics. Then the men will be placed.
"Monday the sentinels were not placed until aftor the trouble hod started and after It waa too late to get up
loiterers In the woods and out-of-the-way places."
As to the present situation, he aaldi
"The excitement Is quieting down,to eomwextent. We do not apprehend a great deal of trouble tonight.'*
Throughout the morning nnd early afternoon, militia headquarters were over-run with cltltens eeeklng per
mission to buy revolvers and.ammunition. The requests were refused. There will be no more orders for either
ammunition or weapons given out by the militia. *
OFFICER JAMES HEARD
IS SHOT TO DEATH BY
NEGROES FROM AMBUSH
W. L HEARS!
ONJSTVOTE
That’s What His Dem
ocratic Friends De
clare.
A VOICE FOR LAW AND ORDER.
Members of the Chamber of Commerce and all law-abiding citizens are asked
to meet in the County Court House at 4 o’clock this. Tuesday afternoon to lift
our voices in the interest of peace to the end that order and obedience to law may
be re-established in this community.
W. O. COOPER, , SAM D. JONES,
Secretary. President Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.
LATE NEWS OF THE SITUATION .
TOLD IN SHORT PARAGRAPHS
In a talk made to citizens gathered
in front of the court house Tuesday
morning, Mayor Woodward aaid:
"Thar# are twalve companies of mlli
tary on duty in Atlanta now.
“If It becomta necessary, ws can gat
tha Seventeenth regiment of United
8tatea troops from Fort McPherson.
"If ws need them, we will call for
them and will gat them. They will ds
here In an hour after they are called."
No mqre trouble Is expected at South
Atlanta. Before the negroes were sent
Into the city Tuesday morning a prea
was made to Captain Wilson, of the
Governor’s Horse Guard to keep troops
In the negro settlements Tuesday night.
Captain Wllaon repUpd that they
would be protected If they caused no
more trouble. "Men came out here to
protect you," said Captain Wilson, "and
you shot them down. They certainly
did not kill themselves. There are good
negroes among you, and you should
point out tha bad ones. There would
then be no more trouble."
Nearly 400 prisoners are confined In
the city stockade, this being the great
est number ever before held there at
one time.
This record-breaking number of pris
oners Is due to the. rioting In the city.
A total of 71 prisoners were trans
ferred Monday from the police station
to the stockade.
The prison was guarded throughout
Monday night by a number of armed
tnen. There was no trouble of any
kind, although considerable shooting
was heard In the vicinity.
An unknown negro was shot and
killed Tuesday morning about 100 yards
from the Intersection of Bouth Pryor
and Ridge avenue.
No details concerning the killing
have been learned. Much excitement Is
reported In that vicinity.
Another unknown negro was shot
and badly wounded by a crowd of white
HUNDREDS OF NEGROES
ARE LEAVING ATLANTA
The home of J. W. Penn, a well
known negro, who la aald to be a law
abiding citizen, waa searched Tuesday
morning by a party of white men.
Penn lives In South Atlanta, not far
from Brownsville. Every part of hit
home was gone through and all weap
ons and ammunition were taken from
him.
It Is stated that Penn had planned
to leave Atlanta this afternoon for
Lynchburg, Vu, until the disturbance
ends.
Many other well known negroes who
wish to keep out of trouble are reported
as preparing to leave the city. It Is
expected that a general exodus of the
best element of negroes will take place
within the next few days If the mob
violence Is not ended In a short time.
M ’CARREN REFUSES
TO DISCUSS CHANGE
Buffalo, N. Y„ Sept. 25.—When asked
about the bribery charges made by
State Committeeman James C. Bennett
against him, Senator Pat McCarren re
fused to talk, except to say: '
"They are untrue."
To all other queries with reference
to bribery charges McCarren would not
make reply.
men In Haygood avenue, near Capitol
avenue, at 7 o'clock Tuesday morning.
Both of his legs are said to have been
literally shot off.
Fifty-one of the negroes arrested In
South Atlanta Tuesday morning by the
militia were brought Into the city and
locked In the Tower, one of the negroes
being accused of, firing the shot that
killed County Policeman James Heard.
Owing to the confusion, the name of
the prisoner has not been learned. He
Is wounded In the leg and Is supposed
to have been shot during the battle be
tween the county police and negroes.
What promised to become a serious
disturbance In East Point Monday
night was averted by the timely ap
pearance of a squad of troopers.
The rumor to the effect that 160 ne
groes were marching on East Point
was telephoned Into the headquarters
of the militia and a squad from Troop
L was tent to the scene. Peace was
restored and throughout the night
there was no more disturbance.
At the Hemphill station of the water
works four troopers were stationed
throughout the night. There was no
movement made either by whites or
blacks which bordered on a riot.
With the departure of the negro men
S eneral exodus of the negro women
children In Brownsville and that
section began. With such goods as
they could pack and carry away by
hand they came to the city In a steady
stream. Many will leave the city.
The rumor which went the rounds
this morning that a mob of negroes had
formed near the comer of Gordon and
Holderness streets and was Inaugurat
ing a reign of terror, proved to be
groundless.
Two score men or more who had
heard the rumor made a dash for that
section of the city, only to find every
thing peaceful.
BUFFALO MEETING
OPENS AT NOON
Convention Adjourns Till 11
O’Clock on Wednesday
Morning.
Buffalo, N. Y., Sept. J6.—Frlenda of
W. It. Hearts declare he will be nomi
nated for governor by the Democratic
state convention, which met here this
afternoon, on the first ballot. After or
ganizing, the convention adjourned till
11 o’clock Wednesday morning.
When the convention was called to
order the stage was crowded and
thousands of spectators clamored for
admission. Outside the hall Virginia
street was blocked with men and wo
men. A band helped keep the great
mass In a good humor. It was 12:40
m. when Cord Meyer walked on the
stage. It was. 12:60 when the conven
tion was called to order and Lewis
Nixon waa named as temporary chair
man. Senator McCarren nnd George
Raines conducted Mr. Nixon to the
chair. ,
Chairman Nixon spoke of the graft
In the Erie canal enlargement made
possible by Republican legislation on
contracts let.
"Parties do not make causes,’’ said
, “but causes make parties. When
the party concludes this convention let
It have under It a platform that will
be nothing- but Democratic In prlncl
plea. Let every feeling be for Demo
cracy and the success of Demorcarcy.”
Buffalo, N. Y„ Sept. 25.—The situa
tion today prior to the opening of the
Democratic convention at noon waa
aummed up as follows:
The demand for the nomination of
William R. Ilearst for governor Is
stronger than ever.
Bourke Cockran la to apeak in favor
of the nomination of Mr. Hearat.
Thomas F. Grady also la to apeak for
Mr. Hearat.
William Travers Jerome la to appear
on the floor as a proxy and nominate
Mayor Adams, of Buffalo. The Jerome
boom is absolutely dead.
Congressman Sutler still has hopes
of Tim Sullivan's support. McClellan
has lost Sullivan’s support. Lewis
Nixon, Murphy’s own selection for tem
porary chairman, Is favorable to
Hearat.
All the Murphy contesting delega
tions, are likely to be seated.
Joseph Casalday, of Queens, Is to
carry his fight to seat his twelve dele
gates to the committee on credentials.
Patrick McCabe, of Albany, Is to de
liver his nine delegates to Murphy In
support of Hearat.
Forty thousand persons are clamor
ing for admission to the convention halt
which holds only 4,000.
Delegates are parading the etreets
headed by brass bands.
With the Sullivan faction bolting
from McClellan, and McCarren now re
garded as In the doubtful column,
Tammany leader Charles F. Murphy
started for convention hall confident of
victory. He declared that 105 dele
gates from New York county would
vote for Hearst.
The wise ones from Tammany hall
declare that the convention will last
until Wednesday night and that no
nomination will be made until then.
County Policemen
Attacked from the
Roadside.
FIVE WOUNDED IN
THE FIERCE BATTLE
Officers Had Arrested Ne
groes Holding Incendiary-
Meeting.
Lieutenant Poole found two negroes,
Thomas Wilhite and George Wyatt, In
the woods near Brownsville Tuesday
morning about 10 o'clock and sent them
to the Tower.
He states positively that the two ne
groes were In the gang '"at killed Of
ficer Heard Monday n.qnt. and that
he easily recognized them; the two
were hid In a cabin, but offered no re
sistance When placed under arrest.
A charge of murder has been lodged
against them.
Swift death leaped out of the dark
ness on the Jonesboro road Monday
night at 8 o'clock for brave County
Officer Jim Heard.
It came with such deadly and un
expected suddenness that he perhaps
never knew what struck him, with with
the deadly trolley, fired by negroes from
ambush at short rang*, he reeled and
slipped quietly from his saddle to the
road. j,
In the same death dealing volley
from the negroes, bullets struck Of
ficers Buran, Odom and Eubanks and
Citizen Ernest Smith. A heavy charge
of buckshot entered Eubanks' hip, and
he was carried to Grady hospital. The
others received only slight wounds and
continued on duty.
Shortly before 8 o'clock Monday night
seven county officers and three cltl-
sens, sworn In for service, started
down the Jonesboro road under com
mand of Lieutenant Poole. Disquieting
rumors were astir of negroes organiz
ing In the vicinity of Brownsville.
Found Negroes Meeting.
The party of officers rode toward the
vicinity to look Into the matter. At
Jonesboro crossing they ran Into an
open air meeting of negroes, where In
flammatory speeches were being made.
Some of the negroes were armed, and
six of them were placed under arrssi.
Riding op a short distance further a
crowd of some twtnty-five negroes
were found standing In the road, nnd
as the officers approached they turned
Into a side road, where many negro
houses were clustered.
Eye Witness Tells of Fight.
Events from then on are told graphi
cally by J. E. Hicks, 118 Jones road,
who was Hwom In as a deputy Monday
afternoon and waa of the party:
*"We heard the negroes were gather
ing to raid us. There were ten In our
party, under Lieutenant Poole. As we
came near the negro settlements we
found a party of about 25 negroes In
the road. It was very dark, but the
gleam of weapons qould be seen. As ng
neared them they turned Into a side
street, and we followed. This was In
the midst of negro houses, which were
surrounded on all sides by negroes.
"Then the crowd of negroes stood
sullenly In the road as we ndvnnced
within ten feet of them. Lieutenant
Poole commanded them to hold up
their hands. Instantly the reply came
with a volley of shots from suns and
pistols, which tore up the ground under
our feet. Jim Heard, without a sound.
Slipped from his horse Into the road.
Several Negroes Killed.
“We responded with a volley, which,
I am sure, killed several negroes, for
we shot to kill. The next moment the
whole woods about blazed with shots,
while puffs of flame came from every
cabin.
"Under the murderous fire and real
ising that we wsre far outnumbered,
we retreated down to the Intersection
of the Joneeboro and McDonough roads,
where thdre were white residents. Lieu
tenant Poole made a gallant effort to
recover the body of Oltlcer Heard but
was driven away by the concentrated
fire of the negroes.
"We at once telephoned Sheriff
Nelms, Chief of County Police Turner
and Colonel Clifford L. Anderson, in
about an hour a company of soldiers
Continued on Page Two.
rHE FACTS HAVE ALL BEEN PRINTED—
We hear that some believe the papers are not telling all. This is not the case—you know newspapers sometimes
>rint more than the facts, and it is your duty not to make things worse by imagining conditions that do not exist.
The Georgian gives its word that the truth will be told, nothing more, nothing less.