Another Account of the Rioting in Winston-Salem, 1918

From The Daily Times, Wilson, N.C., Nov. 19, 1918. The newest report from the riot in Winston-Salem is actually dated Nov. 17 and offers a clearer story of the events.

Troops Called to Suppress Riot at Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem, Nov. 17—A mob is assembled in front of the City hall here tonight intent upon lynching the negro who shot J.E. Childress, attacked his wife and shot Sheriff G.F. Flynt.

The city tonight is in the hands of a mob, at least three citizens have been shot and excitement runs high. About 5 o’clock a mob of several thousand people stormed the jail and are said to have shot to death the negro charged with having committed an assault last night on a white woman.

After some difficulty the police succeeded in clearing the crowd out of the building and then the mayor called out the Home Guards. Quiet reigned for a time, but later the report went around that the negro shot was not the man that had been sought. By nightfall, the mob re-enforce and started marching to the jail, which was surrounded by Home Guards.

Broke Into Hardware Stores

Hardware stores were broken into and revolvers, shot guns and other weapons and ammunition were taken. As the mob marched, it increased in size and when its objective was reached it numbered several thousand. The mayor sought to address the crowd, but could not be heard. In the meantime fire companies had arrived and when the mob broke for the jail, the firemen turned water on them.

Mob Overpowered Guards

Firing immediately followed and Young was shot dead. A bullet hit Miss Levi, who was watching near by. The Home Guards answered the volley but the mob quickly overpowered them and went into the jail. Two members of the Guard were badly hurt by being thrown bodily down a stairway which they were guarding.

Apparently the mob did not find the negro it sought, for no more of the prisoners were fired upon. After an hour or more the mob left the jail and started marching through the business section of the town. Gradually it broke into groups and for a time it was feared that there would be a race riot, as some of the groups headed for the negro quarter. Late tonight, however, there had been no clash between the whites and blacks.

Guard Troops at Scene

The Greensboro Home Guards were called upon tonight to help suppress the disorder in Winston-Salem and at 10 o’clock the Guards left its armory for the station to go by special train to the scene of the trouble.

In response to request by telephone from the mayor of Winston-Salem, through the Charlotte police department, 150 troopers from Camp Greene were ordered by the camp authorities tonight to depart on a special train about midnight for Winston-Salem to aid in quelling the disturbance there.

Two hundred and fifty tank soldiers left Raleigh on a special train that carried Governor Bickett to Winston-Salem to take charge of the situation there. Shortly after the first news of the rioting had been received over press wires, an appeal reached the Governor from Winston authorities and a few minutes afterward he had arranged with the camp authorities for a company of men to go to the scene of the trouble.

Rioting Ceases With Arrival of Troops

According to Monday’s Associated dispatch the rioting ceased with the arrival of 175 troops from Camp Greene and 250 from Camp Polk. “Monkey Bottom,” the negro settlement, was searched without any trouble and every man, white or black, on the streets was halted and searched. More than 100, the majority being negroes, were found with firearms or gin in their possession and were sent to jail. Today the jail is heavily guarded, all crowds dispersed and Winston-Salem is under strict martial law. The soldiers are policing the city and the trouble is believed to be over.

Four Dead

The death list includes three white people and one colored man. The whites are:

C.J. White, construction foreman for the Southern Public Utilities company, who was held up and robbed in East Winston about 10 o’clock last night while returning with a helper in an automobile from repairing an electric wire.

Robert Young, naval reserve volunteer, awaiting orders to report for duty, was handling one of the hose when the fire department turned water on the mob with the purpose of dispersing it, when he was shot by someone in the street, death resulting in a few minutes.

Miss Rachael Levy, aged 13, who was killed in her home on Main street by a stray bullet.

George Johnson was the colored man who lost his life by being hit with a pistol ball.

There are eight persons, two colored, who are being treated at the city hospital. The condition of these is not serious. No further trouble is apprehended by the officers.