Mob Rule in New Orleans: Robert Charles and His Fight to Death, the Story of His Life, Burning Human Beings Alive, Other Lynching StatisticsWells-Barnett, Ida B.
History
Mob Rule in New Orleans: Robert Charles and His Fight to Death, the Story of His Life, Burning Human Beings Alive, Other Lynching Statistics
Wells-Barnett, Ida B.
Lynching
Alex. Ruffin, who is quite seriously injured, is a Pullman car porter, a
native of Chicago. He reached New Orleans at 9:20 o'clock last night,
and after finishing his work, boarded a Henry Clay Avenue car to go to
Delachaise Street, where he has a sick son.
"I hadn't ridden any way," said he, "when I saw a lot of white folks.
They were shouting to 'Get the Niggers.' I didn't know they were after
every colored man they saw, and sat still. Two or three men jumped on
the car and started at me. One of them hit me over the head with a
slungshot, and they started to shooting at me. I jumped out of the car
and ran, although I had done nothing. They shot me in the arm and in the
leg. I would certainly have been killed had not some gentleman taken my
part. If I had known New Orleans was so excited I would never have left
my car."
George Morris is the name of a Negro who was badly injured by a mob
which went through the Poydras Market. Morris is employed as watchman
there. He heard the noise of the passing crowd and looked out to see
what the matter was. As soon as the mob saw him its members started
after him.
"One man hit me over the head with a club," said George, after his
wounds had been dressed, "and somebody cut me in the back. I didn't
hardly think what was the matter at first, but when I saw they were
after me I ran for my life. I ran to the coffee stand, where I work, for
protection, but they were right after me, and somebody shot me in the
back. At last the police got me away from the crowd. Just before I was
hit a friend of mine, who was in the crowd, said, 'You had better go
home, Nigger; they're after your kind.' I didn't know then what he
meant. I found out pretty quick."
Morris is at the hospital. He is a perfect wreck, and while he will
probably get well, he will have had a close call.
Esther Fields is a Negro washerwoman who lives at South Claiborne and
Toledano Streets. She was at home when she heard a big noise and went
out to investigate. She ran into the arms of the mob, and was beaten
into insensibility in less time than it takes to tell it. Esther is
being treated at the charity hospital, and should be able to get about
in a few days. The majority of her bruises are about the head.
T.P. Sanders fell at the hands of the Jackson Avenue mob. He lives at
1927 Jackson Avenue, and was sitting in front of his home when he saw
the crowd marching out the street. He stayed to see what the excitement
was all about, and was shot in the knee and thorax and horribly beaten
about the head before the mob came to the conclusion that he had been
done for, and passed on. The ambulance was called and he was picked up
and carried to the charity hospital, where his wounds were dressed and
pronounced serious.
Oswald McMahon is nothing more than a boy. He was shot in the leg and
afterward carried to the hospital. His injuries are very slight.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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