Threats of mob violence resulting from the report that the Elk Minstrel show, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday evenings December 13 and 14, might not be presented, forced the officers of the Elks club to reconsider last night an earlier decision to announce that the performances POSITIVELY WILL BE GIVEN on the dates originally set.
Use of Bomb Threatened
Few more sensational events have been recorded in the history of Winston-Salem than the upheaval and demonstration of public sentiment that brought this result. For the first time in many years, mob violence was threatened and the handsome home of the Elks club was in imminent danger of destruction by bombs. Only the forced compliance with the wishes of the mob, it is asserted, prevented the threatened acts.
It was early yesterday afternoon when the disquieting reports first spread. It was reported that the officers of the lodge, after witnessing a rehearsal of the minstrels, had decided that the performance was entirely too good to be allowed in public, especially at the price already agreed upon, and that it should be kept secret for the editication (education??) of present and and future members of the order.
Rumor Spreads Quickly
The rumor spread like the proverbial wildfire. Immediately the newspapers, ??, the police headquarters, the fire department and the Elks were deluged with anxious ??.
Officers of the club , when interviewed, at first gave evasive answers, but finally admitted that the report was true—that it had been decided not to give public performance of the minstrel show.
A pall settled on Winston-Salem.
But under this dark cloud a great force stirred and began to work. Angry citizens gathered on street corners and in alleys and declared that the outrage should not be permitted.
Suddenly this unorganized sentiment began to gather. A group of desperate men, most of whom already had bought tickets for the show, met in the county jail alley and declared that something must be done about it right away. However, it was decided to postpone action until the hours of darkness should provide a convenient veil.
Shortly after 7 o’clock determined looking men appeared on the streets. They were armed with axes, shotguns, rifles, squirt guns, and every other imaginable weapon. Some carried gunny sacks, and in them, it was whispered, were bombs, dynamite bombs.
City Rests in Ignorance
The shadows of the city formed a convenient rendezvous. Hundreds of men gathered with a remarkable small amount of noise. So well had the hurried plans been carried out that most of Winston-Salem was in ignorance of what was on foot.
At a signal the shrill blast of a tin horn—the mob moved.
It moved up Cherry street and gathered in front and at the side of the Elks club.
Then a great shout arose from the mob.
“The show must be given in public,” was the consensus of opinion.
The uproar, heard inside the club, caused a pandemonium of confusion.
Most of the Elks tried to climb out the windows. But they found these ways of escape barred by guardians with evil in their eyes.
Meanwhile, the mob was tantalized by sounds of singing. A private performance of the minstrels was being given in the lodge room. This only whetted their rage.
Mob’s Rage Convinces
The desperate roar that went up dissipated all doubts in the minds of the Elks.
“The game is up,” whispered Henry Masten to Fish Gray.
“Better give in,” Dr. Horton advised Dock Apple.
“I expect we had,” the latter agreed.
A dull roar from the rear interrupted him.
“Somebody dropped a bomb in the alley,” explained Bill Walsh.
“Bombs, huh,” said secretary Beanie Roberts. “You boys had better give in.”
Almost simultaneously Harry Foote, director of the minstrels, appeared at the window facing the street.
“Gentlemen,” he said, “I am authorized to announce that the show will be given Wednesday and Thursday nights, December 13 and 14, as originally announced. The report was a mistake in the first place. Reserve your tickets early.”
“All right,” shouted the leader of the mob. “On agreement, the mob will disperse to our various homes. But no more monkey business, understand?”
When Chief Jim Thomas and a squad of police arrived a few minutes later they found everything quiet and orders that had been issued for the mobilization of the national guard were countermanded.
Later in the evening the officers of the Elks issued an official statement advising everybody to buy tickets early.
From the front page of the Winston-Salem Journal, Dec. 10, 1922> I guess you never knew what to expect when the Elks were in town.
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