My name is W. H. Cooper. I reside at 340 West 41st Street. On the morning of August 15th, about half past nine, I went from the house to the post office station at the southwest corner of 41st Street and 8th Avenue. When I reached that corner I saw a group of white men and boys standing at the corner. When I passed this group at this corner I overheard one of them saying, "We are going to get back at the niggers to-night." One of the others said, "Is that true? Is there going to be a riot to-night?" and the reply was "Yes." When I heard this I went around the corner. There was a bicycle pump there. I went behind the bicycle pump like I was looking in the window. I could overhear everything that was said. One of the fellows said, "Have they buried Thorpe, yet?" "No, we expect to bury Thorpe to-day;" and he says, "We expect to have a hot time to-day when the funeral starts." It was rumored around that he was to be buried on the day of the riot, but he was not buried, however, until the next day. One of the fellows said, "Have they got the nigger Harris, yet?" "Yes," he said, "they caught him down at Washington, and if we can get our hands on him we will tar and feather the bastard;" and I went into the drug store and came out again after mailing my letter. When I came out I stood on the corner and filled my pipe, and I overheard them say, "Have they got the woman yet?" and they said, "Yes, she is locked up;" and the other fellow said, "Well, that is all to-night." I did not move on until one of the fellows said, "There is a coon standing there now; you had better hush." Then I went down home and told the boys at the shop about it. W. H. COOPER. Sworn to before me this 22nd day of August, 1900. JOHN C. BARR, Notary Public, Kings County. Certificate filed in N. Y. County. The Citizens' Protective League was organized in St. Mark's Church, West 53d Street and Eighth Avenue, on Monday morning, September 3, 1900. The object of the League is, first, to afford mutual protection; and, secondly, to prosecute the guilty. The League now numbers about 5,000, with daily increase. The following officers were elected: OFFICERS. Rev. W. H. BROOKS, D.D., President. T. S. P. MILLER, M.D., Vice President. Rev. H. P. MILLER, Secretary. JAMES E. GARNER, Treasurer. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. T. T. FORTUNE, Chairman, W. R. DAVIS, Secretary, C. A. DORSEY, Rev. P. B. TOMPKINS, Rev. J. W. SCOTT, D. M. WEBSTER, Rev. C. T. WALKER, D.D., Rev. W. L. HUBBARD, Rev. GEO. W. BAILEY, L. H. LATIMER, Rev. R. D. WYN, J. F. THOMAS, N. B. DODSON, Rev. G. HUNT, Rev. L. L. CUYLER, Rev. H. C. BISHOP, Rev. W. D. COOK, D.D., MELVIN J. CHISUM. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Story of the Riot, by Various