THE RACE WAR IN AMERICA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8778, 15 November 1906, Page 2

THE RACE WAR IN AMERICA.

A REIGN OF TERROR IN ATLANTA. i LYNCH LAW AND REPRISALS. NEW YORK, September 23.— The colour problem in the South, which has lately been becoming steadily more and more perilous, suddenly precipitated terrible scenes in Atlanta, Georgia, last night, when maddened mobs of whites wrought indiscriminate vengeance on the negroes, twenty-fire of whom are reported to have been killed in the streets and over a hundred seriously wounded. A series of revolting negro assaults on white women and girls throughout the year — in one recent case an English gir^was the victim — aroused increasing ' excitement, which culminated yesterday, when in the single city of Atlanta, five fresh cases of assaults on white women were reported in quick succession. At eight o'clock, when special editions gavo the details, intense fury seized the crowds which already tilled the (streets. From a crowd waiting in front of the chief newspaper office a fierce shout o% " Kill the negroes!" arose. As if by a preconcerted plan 1 this crowd divided into small sections, which rushed to- different parts of the city simultaneously with flic distribution of the p.aper<s, each section farming the nucleus of a quickly growing mob mad for revenge. The negroes who knew what was coming fled into the streets of thoir quarter, where they were- sufficiently strong to resist unorganised attack. But such as were caught in the streets fell victims to the crowds-, which were mainly composed of boy© and young men. The majority of those killed were arriving by electric cars from the outskirts, not) knowing what was proceeding in the city. "Whenever one was seen he was pulled off the car and beaten with awful ferocity. In Forsythe Street a car with a party of four negroes, two men and two women, was discovered. The car was stopped, the negresses were forced to descend, and the negroes were riddled witii bullets in full view of the editorial offices of the " Atlanta Constitution. Similar tragedies occurred in, the Georgia Avenue and Forest Avenue cans running to the negro quarter. THE POLICE POWERLESS. The police were rendered, powerless by the mob's tactics of splitting up quickly and moving in sections, operating in widely separated localities. By th© time the police arrived juiywhero the tragedy was complete, and a- smashed and riddled black body was lying in. the roadThose killed were going peaceably to town for the Saturday night's mark«tf When the mob's tactics wero recognised an order was issued stopping all cars on the lines running to the negro quarter, and policemen were stationed on the other lines to warn, intending coloured passengers of the danger. NEW YORK, September 24.— A condition of affairs hardly le*s grave than prevails in Cuba continues to exist m Atlanta. When tactful Mr Tait has succeeded in his mission of reconciling the hostile races in the island, he may. with equal usefulness be employed in mediating in the war now being waged in Georgia and other Southern States. THE MILITIA CALLED OUT. The presence of seventeen companies of Militia in the streets of Atlanta today maintains order, but the fact that such a measure is necessary renders it iaip-ceisible to pretend that the race hatred expressed in and embittered by Saturday's and Sunday's rioting is so itoned or subdued. Notwithstanding what amounts to martial law, eo-me attacks on negroes continued to-day, but the more threatening factor in the situation in that some of the blacks are beginning to retaliate. BUCK WOMEN INCITING THEIR MEN. The black women are reported' to bo inciting their men folk by taunts and appeals, and by reciting the example or the negro pugiiiflt Joe dans, victorious in the championship fight at Goldiiolds as a proof that the black is the. superior of the white. There is great excitement in the teeming negro quarters, where many have armed themselves, hoping that a renewal of the white mobs activity will affcrd an excuse and an occasion for vigorous reprisals. In a number of caees negroes have thrown stones and lired at passing tramway-care filled with whites. It its known that a large number of white men were injured: in the riots, although their injuries were not reported m order to conceal the fact that they took part in the rioting. Only one* white death is reported, but it is believed that the number of blacks killed largely exceeds the official >etufns. REPRISALS. NEW YORK, September 25.— Late last night the threatened negro retaliation in the neighbourhood of Atlanta, Georgia, commenced. Armed negroes shot white men in retaliation for the mob violence. This provoked reprisals on the part of the forces responsible for the preservation of law and order, and as a result a number were slain by the police and military. The gaols are filled with prisoners. The situation is one of extreme gravity, as the negro population throughout the country is in a condition of great excitement and indignation. The Northern newspapers denounce the failure of tlte Georgian authorities to restrain the mob violence. This ie deeply resented in the South, where it is i?,aid that the Northerners are either unable to comprehend or are callously indifferent to a state of tilings 1 for the existence of which the Northern Tms> placed sentiment was originally responsible. As a consequence, not only are the whites and blacks in G-eorgia facing one another in open fight, but the Atlanta affair has had the effect of reviving a great deal of the slumbering antagonism between the North and the South.