RACE RIOTS IN ATLANTA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8276, 1 November 1906, Page 6

RACE RIOTS IN ATLANTA.

NEGROES BEATEN TO DEATH. (Per Mail Steamer Sonoma). ATLANTA, September 23. Bloody race riots took place here last night and early tbis morning. Reports are now being received from the outskirts of the town of fierce rioting. Negroes are being killed and driven from their homes. Rumours have it that at least 25 to 30 or more negroes have been killed here to-nigbt, bat it is impossible at tbis time to confirm these reports. Shots are beard frequently. The Constitution is authority for the statement that 15 negroes have been killed. tour attempts at assault on white women by negcoes -within, or near, the limits of the city to day wrought the white citizens here to a Jjigh pitch of excitement to-n'ght, and bloody xlots took place. The assaults of the day followed two others of a similar nature within the week, and at least half-a-dozen others within the last two months. At midnight Governor Terrell issued an order calling out eight companies of the Fifth Infantry, and one battery of light artillery. The order was not issued until three negroes had been killed and 15 taken to the hospitals, five of whom will die. .These include only those cases of which the police have official knowledge. The local newspaper men say the number of dead is larger. The mob began its work early in the evening, pulling negro men and women from the street cars, and beating them with clubs, bricks and stones. In a few oases the negroes retaliated in the early part of the night, font after ten o'clock they were •scarce in public places. The £ ire Department was called ou': to dis perse the mob on Decatur Street, a street most frequented by negroes, and for a time soemei to hold the crowd at bay. The police reserves were called out to bold the situation until troops could bo mobilised. The mob seemed to lack leadership, and this doubtless pievented greater slaughter. A neero •walking along Whitehall Street, the principal shopping section, wa« attacked about seven o'clock, beaten, and escaped with few clothes. The news of tbis attack spread rapidly, and within a few moments the appearanoe of a negro was the signal for a riot, The negroes scattered from the streets, going to their homes by back alleys or Hooked to Decatur Street, the homo or part of the negro elemout. Soon street cars were attacked, and negroes going to their homes were taken from the cars and beaten, stamped upon, aud in several oases .fatally hurt. The barber shops where negroes were employed next became the object for attack. One of the hardest figbta of the night took

place about the post ofB«e. A negro ] baroer shop across the street was the object of attack, and in less time than it takes to tell it, the Bhop was wreoked, and the negroes were beateu, one to death, the other proprietors escaping by the aid of the police. In Peters Street a bard fight took place. This was started by a nergo shooting at the orowd below from a second storey window. A bullet hit bim, and he fell bftok and died in a few minutes. One negro, who was found with a pistol in his hand, was beaten to death n the viaduct in the centre of the city. At midnight the down-towu streets were quiet.