RACE RIOT FEARED; TROOPS ON GUARD
Trouble Follows the Lynching of a Negro at Monroe, La.
Monroe, La., April 25.—Company D of the Louisiana national guard, stationed at Monroe, left here at 9 o'clock this morning for Delhi, 30 miles east, where serious trouble with negroes developed last night. One negro was lynched and further trouble was anticipated.
The military company is in command of Captain Philip Gayle.
The trouble which resulted in the lynching is attributed to the surliness and impudence of negro flood refugees, many of whom have refused to work since the government began distributing free rations amongst them. Yesterday several negroes were playing a slot machine in a store at Delhi when an officer stepped up and put a penny in the machine.
With an oath a negro is alleged to have stepped up and tried to put the officer out, declaring "I'se playing dat machine."
After the white man had given the negro a good beating the latter is said to have threatened violence to white people in Delhi.
During the night a crowd gathered, caught the negro and lynched him.
At noon Delhi was reported quiet.
Another article can be found in The Monroe Star News (Monroe, Louisiana) dated April 25, 1912:
EXAGGERATED RUMORS
SQUAD OF COMPANY D SENT TO DELHI TODAY.
One Negro Lynched by Citizens of That Section—No Occasion for Exaggerated Reports of Riot.
A report, circulated on the streets this morning to the effect that the Ouachita Guards had been ordered to Delhi to suppress an impending race riot, created considerable excitement. Upon investigation it is found the report was well founded, in so far as the order to the Guards was concerned, Capt. P. M. Gayle having received the order from the governor some time after midnight.
Further reports were circulated that six or sixty negroes had been strung up. These exaggerated rumors were, however, allayed by the arrival of the morning train when the passengers and train crew denied the story. However, Capt. Gayle, obeying orders, left on the 9:30 Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific train this morning for the scene of the supposed trouble, taking with him eighteen men and necessary equipment.
At noon today the News-Star was in communication with Delhi and this is about the version of the affair given by a reliable citizen of that town:
Yesterday afternoon, over some trivial matter, a negro, one of the several hundred high water refugees, became involved in a difficulty with a white citizen of the town. The negro, on account of his impudence, was severely whipped. This incident led another negro, more bold, and who was feeling his keeping on the free government rations dished out to him, to express his displeasure and also to threaten to make trouble for the "white folks." These threats were reported to the citizens and the negro was locked in the town bastile [sic] last night.
Some time during the night a vigilance committee, composed of who, no one probably will ever know, went to the jail and mobbed the negro. This and the excitement attending it led the mayir [sic] of the town to call upon the governor for the malitia [sic] to take charge of the situation.
A later report from Delhi, after the Guards arrived, stated there was absolutely no excitement and no alarm felt among the citizens; that the negroes would not attempt to resent the occurrence of yesterday and last night.
A list of the men composing the squad who went to Delhi this morning follows:
Captain, P. M. Gayle; sergeants, Roddy, Utley and Lemle; privates, Petty, Cason, D. Seligman, W. Seligman, Sublett, Johnson, Hendry, Parks, -olleigh, Sellers,Waldorf, Barr, Trousdale, Wall and Renaud.
Thank you for joining me and as always, i hope I leave you with something to ponder.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.