USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. I > Part 53
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"At 3:45 o'clock, Umpire Marcum sent the Club to the field and the Elks began batting all over the Club's pitcher scoring five runs in the first inning. The Club was not so lucky in the first inning scor- ing only one run. However, a bad beginning does not mean a bad ending, and after the first inning things began to look serious for the Elks until the fourth, when Baker was put in the box for the Elks and Smith was sent to the field. This ehanged matters somewhat and Roy Caulkins' megaphone again came into evidence, the purple and white taking on a more lustrons sheen meanwhile, for Baker was hold- ing the Club down. However, the latter raised themselves gradually and at the close of the seventh inning, the score was 18 to 13 in favor of the Club. But there were two more innings and in the eighth the Elks took advantage of every opportunity and succeeded in bring- ing up the score to 18 and 18. This made the matter more serious than ever, as the Elks had had their last bat and it was up to the Club in the last half of the last inning to decide the game. The winning run was scored, pandemonium reigned, the crowd departed and all was over."
JOPLIN CLUB
A. B. R. H. P. O. A. E.
Quinby c. f.
3
3
2
1
0
0
Walden s. s. r. f.
6
3
2
1
1
1
Jones r. f. 2 l. h.
5
3
2
1
1
1
Rummel l. f.
6
2
3
1
0
0
Maher p.
6
2
2
1
3
1
Chestnut 1 b. s. s.
6
3
4
4
1
1
Shepherd 3 h.
4
0
1
3
0
2
Campbell 2 h. 2 ]. h.
5
1
2
1
1
0
King c.
5
2
2
14
3
2
Totals
46
19
20
27
10
7
495
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
ELKS
A. B. R. H. P. O. A. E.
Smith p.
5
2
3
0
1 0
Howard s. s.
6
3
4
2
4
1
Baker 3 b.
4
1
1
1
0
1
Bayless e.
5
4
4
8
3
0
Simons r. f. 2 b. l. b.
6
2
2
2
1
0
Craig 1. b. 2 b.
6
1
1
8
1
1
Young 2 b.
3
1
2
2
0
5
3
2
0
1
1 0
Kirkpatrick l. f. j. 3 h.
4
0
0
2
0 0
o Lane r. f.
2
1
0
0
0
0
x Kingsbury r. f.
1
0
0
0
0
0
Totals
47 18
19
25
11
4
Shepherd c. f.
Summary : Earned runs-Joplin Club 4, Elks 6; two base hits- Quinby, Walden, Jones, Rummel, Bayless, 2 Craig, Shepherd; three base hits-Quimby, Chestnut, Shepherd; home run-Layne; struck out -by Smith, 6; by Maher, 11; bases on balls, h. b. p .- Smith, 1; Maher, 1; o-substitute for Baker; x-substitute for Layne. Time: two hours. Umpire : Marcum.
This was the beginning of a series of entertainments-balls, lawn socials, festivals, ete .- all of which added to the hospital fund. The hospital was built in 1902 and formally opened to the public. It has proven such a popular institution and has been so generally used that it became necessary, in 1910, to enlarge the building.
CHAPTER XLIV
THE NEGRO LYNCHING AND THE RIOT
MURDER OF POLICEMAN LESLIE-CAPTURE OF THE MURDERER-THE JAIL BATTERED IN -- AWFUL LYNCHING OF GILYARD-CLEARING OUT THE NEGRO QUARTERS-LAW AND ORDER IN CONTROL-FINAL RESULT.
From April 14 to 16, 1903, Joplin witnessed a seene of wildest ex- eitement and great disorder, which was brought on by the murder of Polieeman Theo Leslie while attempting to arrest Thomas Gilyard and a band of lawless negro tramps. Offieer Leslie was the third member of the Joplin poliee foree to be killed while in the discharge of his duty during the administration that was just drawing to a elose.
A short time before the ineident a negro ravisher at Pieree City had been lynehed-and the irate citizens of both Pierce City and Monnett had driven the colored people of those two plaees out of the eity and the reeolleetion of this unfortunate ineident was still fresh in the minds of the people of Joplin and no doubt influeneed some of the people and helped bring about the ineidents that followed.
On the night of April 13 the hardware store of Bulloek & Pieree had been burglarized and a number of revolvers and a quantity of ammunition stolen. This was one of a number of small depredations that had been committed during the spring and indieated the opera- tion of a gang of petty thieves whom the police were determined to suppress.
MURDER OF POLICEMAN LESLIE
On the afternoon of the 14th in searching through the Kansas City Southern Railway yards Policeman Leslie discovered a gang of negro tramps oeeupying a box ear in an out-of-the-way place in the north end of the yards in the Kansas City Bottoms. As he approached the car one of the inmates of the box-ear house eame out and Policeman Leslie, ordering him to halt, began to search him. At this a negro named Thomas Gilyard opened fire on Leslie from the rear and the offieer, turning on this assailant, returned the fire. Several shots were exchanged, one of which killed the offieer, and he fell dead, a vietim of the bullet of the negro leader of the gang.
A number of eitizens witnessed the shooting and ran to the as- sistance of the unfortunate policeman, and Clarenee Shortless, like Clark and others took after the negro, who had been wounded in the
496
497
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
leg by a shot from the officer's gun. Examination of the box-car showed that it had been the shelter of the gang, as it contained bed clothing, a few eooking ntensils and a quantity of plunder which had been taken on the numerous pilfering trips during the mouth previous.
The news of the officer's murder spread like wildfire and the great- est excitement existed. From all over the city people flocked to the police station and thence to the morgue of the Joplin Undertaking Company, where the body of the officer lay cold in death. City Mar- shal Marquiss, of Webb City, was telephoned for and came over with his bloodhounds. The dogs were placed on the scent, which they fol- lowed north on the railroad for some three miles, when the chase was given up. The men in charge of the dogs stated that they were ex- hausted and had no means of following the dogs except on foot. Armed posses of citizens from Joplin, Galena, Carl Junction, Asbury and all the other towns in the district scoured the country in search of the murderer.
Never, perhaps, in the history of Joplin, were such seenes witnessed as those which accompanied the capture and hanging of the negro Gilyard. All that day excitement ran high and groups of men stood on every corner talking about the murder of Policeman Leslie. In every hamlet and village in the surrounding country the news was flashed from Joplin to watch for the murderer. In every locality for a radius of twenty-five miles men were scouring hill and dale with set faces and stern purpose. The wildest rumors came thick and fast stating that the murderer had been caught in this place or that and with each new report still another band of armed citizens would start on double quick to investigate the story. It would seem that he whom the publie sought could not possibly escape and as the day lengthened into the evening the tense nerves of the people never relaxed. "Ile will, he must be found" seemed 1 .e universal verdict.
CAPTURE OF THE MURDERER
Lee Fullerton, an employee of the Baner Brothers' butcher shop and M. R. Bullock, living near Castle Rock, captured the murderer. Fullerton first discovered the man on the afternoon of April 15th at 3 o'clock. lle had gone to the company's slaughter pen on Turkey Creek between Castle Rock and the Frisco block and was just entering the yards when he saw a negro limping up the hill. The man carried a large gun and Fullerton thought at once that the man before him was probably the one who killed officer Leslie.
"Where are you going?" he asked. The negro at first made no answer but finally after sitting down and leaning against the fence he replied, "Come here a minute, I want to tell you something."
"Tell me from where you are," said Fullerton.
"Well, boss, it's dis way. I got in a shootin' scrape in town last night and I got shot in de leg. { wants to stay here till I gets well."
Vol. I-32
498
IHISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
At this stage of the proceeding Bullock appeared and the two men retreated into the slaughter house near by. When they returned Ful- lerton carried a large butcher knife. To the negro he said, "I guess it will be all right for you to stay here;" and Fullerton busied himself cutting tallow within a couple of feet of the negro.
Suddenly he leaped in front of the negro and placing the knife in front of the fellow's throat, he said "Make one movement and I'll cut your throat."
The negro was disarmed and then the two men took charge of their prisoner.
Just at 4:15 o'clock the same day a shout went up from somewhere nobody perhaps knew where. But that shout echoed far and wide. "They have the murderer" was the cry and from every street and alley, from every point and suburb, men and women and children came flocking to the jail.
On all sides, in front and even on top of the old structure, a sea of surging humanity fought and struggled to get nearer the cell in which the shivering cowed black man lay. Every moment swelled the crowd, until thousands surrounded the prison and cries of "kill him !" "Lynch the nigger!" and "bring a rope!" rose on every side.
"Break the jail down!" shouted frenzied men, and from somewhere came willing hands bringing a heavy timber. Only a moment did the crowd hesitate. Strong hands seized the battering ram, there was a crash and the side door of the old jail was in splinters. Into the cor- ridor poured the raging, tossing mob, carrying down the eordon of police who vainly sought to stem the terrible tide.
Down to the cell where Gilyard lay in an agony of fear surged the mob. Someone raised a heavy sledge hammer aloft. Crash after crash came the hammer on the lock and louder yelled and stormed the wild crowd behind. As the blows fell the fastenings gave way, the door opened and into the cell like devouring wolves the avengers surged.
Thomas Gilyard, from the floor where he lay, looked at those who came after him with a face from which hope had fled. Big and pow- erful as an ox, he was tossed about like a feather in the sea of human- ity of which he was now the center. Ont into the open air and bright sunlight, Thomas Gilyard was dragged to his doom. Westward on Second street to Wall pushed the multitude and louder and still louder roared the awful concourse which demanded the prisoner's life. The crowd was by this time swelled to thousands. Like a terrible vortex of raging billows the mob swayed and struggled and fought to reach the object of its wrath. A handful of bold determined men fought manfully to save the negro in the interest of law and order. Back and forth with the strength of desperation, these men struggled to hold the avengers back. Ravening hands seized the negro only to have their fingers torn loose from his quivering flesh. Long and faith- fully those who wished the law to take its course battled with the mob and each moment the frenzy of the mob grew stronger. Attorney
499
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
Perl Decker was hoisted to the shoulders of the crowd and made a powerful plea in behalf of the law. Time and again he was pulled to the earth and each time he clambered back above the howling multi- tude; but his efforts were in vain.
Dr. F. E. Rohan struggled with might and main to hold the crowd in check and Mayor-elect Cunninghan was hurriedly driven to the scene in a buggy. Urging his horse as far as possible into the densely packed crowd he stood up and commanded the attention of the crowd. But no human voice could make itself heard above that awful roar.
Louder and fiercer grew the cries for the negro's death. It now became a struggle for mastery. Men fought like demons to reach the black man, who looked about him with staring, horror-stricken eyes. Slowly but surely the negro and his would-be rescuers were borne across the street toward a telephone pole. From somewhere a rope was whirled across the heads of the crowd. As its serpentine length flew through the air one end fell on the negro's shoulder.
Those who saw Thomas Gilyard's face at that moment will never forget the sight.
AWFUL LYNCHING OF GILYARD
Somebody in the crowd cut the rope. "Kill the next man who does that!" roared many voices.
Around the doomed man's neck was placed the fatal noose. "Oh God, don't!" was all he said.
Clinging to the pole in mid-air were two determined men. Silently they watched the scene below. Each man was holding forth his hand. Up came the loose end of the rope and the outstretched hands seized it.
The crowd grew frantic.
"Up with him," shrieked the crowd now beside itself.
, Slowly the rope was torn from the hands of those who sought to prevent the lynching.
On Thomas Gilyard's face appeared a demonical grin.
The rope tightened.
Then up into the air the black half nude body was drawn.
Up, up, slowly, with dreadful deliberation, the body rose. An iron spike in the telephone pole gouged the side of the negro's head.
There was a convulsive movement of the negro's arm, as if he would seize the rope which closed about his throat. High above the specta- tors the body hung; the features sullen, the eyes closed, the heavy jaws set.
A life had paid the penalty for Theodore Leslie's murder.
Thomas Gilyard was dead.
After the body of Gilyard had been cut down and removed to the morgue, great crowds congregated about town and discussed the af- fair. There was considerable excitement and the streets were crowded with rapidly increasing throngs.
500
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
CLEARING OUT THE NEGRO QUARTERS
About eight o'clock that evening an uproar was heard on North Main street and as the crowds rushed to the middle of the street to ascertain the cause a huge body of men were seen approaching. On they came until it looked as if thousands must be in the multitude. "Out with the niggers" was the battle cry. South on Main until Seventh street was reached marched the throng, their numbers inereas- ing every moment.
As the mob went east on Seventh street, yelling and hooting, the negroes ran ont of the alleys like rats in their fright and determina- tion to get away.
The mob yelled :
"White folks get in line."
"White folks keep your lights burning."
"Negroes must move," etc.
Everywhere the crackling of glasses in negro houses could be heard and the rip, rip of boards as they were being torn from the shanties.
When the mob had concluded its work on Seventh street the march was begun toward the north end. When the army reached this local- ity, not a eolored person was to be found. The evacuation was com- plete.
Then the work of destruction began. Windows were smashed in and doors torn from their hinges. Finally the torch was applied and three honses were soon in flames. The fire department responded and when they had laid two lines of hose it was discovered that hoth strings had been punctured in many places almost rendering the apparatus nseless.
It was estimated that over one hundred negro families had moved out of the city. Next morning a News-Herald reporter visited the local- ities and found seores of colored families packing their belongings preparatory to taking the first train out of the city. Express wagons were driving hither and thither hauling away furniture, boxes and all manner of household goods.
All the next day there was a marked migratory movement on the part of the colored population of the city. It was said that the see- ond-hand stores had done more purchasing of honsehold artieles that day than they had during all the rest of that month. The negroes were thoroughly frightened. They firmly believed that something desperate was to be done that night. Later in the day there were wild rumors on the street, to the effeet that at night the mob would reassemble and finish the work of the night before. It was also reported that sym- pathizers from neighboring towns would come and help drive out the negroes who still remained in the city.
LAW AND ORDER IN CONTROL
Mayor Trigg issued a call for a mass meeting at the courthouse for the purpose of organizing a law and order posse to prevent further
501
IHISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
depredations and to preserve the peace. One thousand citizens re- sponded to the call, among them T. A. Cunningham, mayor-elect, Jno. A. MeManany, city marshal-elect, and many business and professional men.
On calling the meeting to order Mayor Trigg said that he greatly regretted not only the lynching of Gilyard, but the destruction of the property of the colored people. many of whom had been good citizens and long residents of Joplin. After the passing of resolutions pledging the support of the citizens in maintaining law and order, a citizens' committee of five hundred was organized. Post Commander Jones, of the G. A. R., tendered the services of O. P. Morton Post. No. 14; Capt. Robt. Robyn, for the Knight of Pythias, tendered the services of Joplin County, No. 40, U. R. K. P .; Canton Lincoln, of the I. O. O. F .; Washington Camp, Uniform Rank Red Men, and other semi-military societies enlisted; and, in addition to these, three companies of citizen volunteers, were quickly organized and were commanded by Jno. A. MeManany, eity marshal-elect, Lee Shepherd, former lieutenant of Com- pany G and John Malang. The entire posse, numbering eight eom- panies were placed in command of Col. Joel T. Livingston, of the gov- ernor's military staff, and after marching from the courthouse down Main street to the mayor's office (as an object lesson), the companies were dismissed and retired to the several places which had been selected as company headquarters to wait developments.
That night the streets were packed and, as a precautionary mat- ter, the Mayor ordered the saloons closed. It should be stated here, however, that the vast throng which filled the streets was for the most part made up of good citizens who had come to town, not for the pur- pose of encouraging or participating in any lawless acts, but simply to see the excitement and, as one spectator happily put it. "to be Johnnie on the spot and see anything of an exciting nature that was pulled off." Mayor Trigg made a speech to the crowd at Fourth and Main streets, then packed so thickly that travel was impossible, and requested the people to go to their homes. Some few people complied with his request, but the great majority stayed to see if anything else would happen. Mayor Trigg then ordered the police force and posse to clear the streets and the volunteer force, five hundred strong, moved down Fourth street and into Main, marching in solid column sixteen abreast. There was at first some resistance, however, but in half an hour the streets were eleared, most of the people realizing that for them to remain on the streets would place them in the attitude of encouraging aets of lawlessness. By nine o'clock all excitement had subsided and the volnteers were dismissed to reassemble at the sound of the brewery whistle, which was agreed upon as a riot alarm.
After quiet was restored, the colored people began to return, and in a few weeks the event was treated as a closed incident. While most of the colored families returned, some of them never came back to the city and some others, feeling that the event had been a great humiliation to their race, moved away.
502
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
FINAL RESULT
The rowdy element among the colored population who had previ- ously lived in the Kansas City Bottom either gave Joplin a wide berth or, on returning, became "like little Willie the week before Christmas," just as good as could be. As an aftermath to the mob scenes, the col- ored people of Jasper county met at Carthage, April 28, organized a law and order league and pledged their cooperation with the officers to drive from the state all bad characters.
.
CHAPTER XLV
JOPLIN'S FRATERNITIES
THE RED MAN-THE EAGLES-THE ELKS-KNIGHTS OF PYTIIIAS- -RATHBONE SISTERS-EL PLOMO TEMPLE, No. 126, D. O. K. K .- THE SCOTTISH RITE MASONS JOPLIN CHAPTER ROSE CROIX, NO. 3- JOPLIN COUNCIL, No. 3, KNIGHTS OF KODOSHI-THE CONSISTORY- GRAND CHAPTER, ROYAL ARCH MASONS-W. O. W. LOG ROLLING- GRAND LODGE, KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS-GRAND COMMANDERY, KNIGHTS TEMPLAR-BALL IN A MINE-STATE ENCAMPMENT, UNITED CON- FEDERATE VETERANS-GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC MATTERS- COMPANY F, SECOND REGIMENT, M. N. G.
Joplin has some sixty-odd fraternal societies, in addition to the sev- eral trade unions which includes almost every branch of labor in the city. It would be quite impossible, in a work of this character, to give anything like a complete history of these several organizations- first, on account of space and, secondly, for the reason that, although members of several of these bodies, the author had not access to the records of the varions fraternities and could not, therefore, do the sub- jeet justice without consulting the data filed away in the archives of the lodge rooms.
We will, however, endeavor to mention the new societies which be- came identified with the city's history during the past decade, and speak briefly of that portion of their actions which had a general inter- est to the community.
THE RED MEN
In 1900 a lodge of Red Men was organized in Joplin and its formation was quickly followed by issuing of charter to five other tribes of this great order which were established in East Joplin-two in the main part of the eity, at Blendville and Chitwood. The Red Men is a semi-patriotie and semi-fraternal society, being organized for the two-fold purpose of keeping alive the glorious achievements and historie incidents of the Revolutionary war. The Improved Order of Red Men takes its name from the incident of the Boston tea party. and the minute men who, on this memorable occasion, emptied the tea into the Atlantic ocean and perpetuated their deed in history by the organization of this society. It is said that every president of the United States from Washington down to Taft has been a member of the Red Men.
503
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
During the early part of the decade the Red Men's lodges of Joplin were very active, having a combined membership of over six hundred, and their open meetings and publie demonstrations were largely at- tended. In 1903 the loeal tribes entertained the state organization and the parade which was participated in by five hundred Red Men in costume was an imposing spectacle. The Joplin Company of the Red Men's Uniform Rank was the first drill corps formed in the state of Mis- souri. It was known as Washington Camp, No. 1, and was attired in the uniform of the Revolutionary patriots. J. A. Brown was the captain of this splendidly drilled and equipped organization. Three times during the decade the Red Men of the city conducted a largely attended Fourth of July celebration.
THE EAGLES
The Eagles, a fraternal society whose motto is to "make life worth living and do it now," was established in Joplin in 1901 and became very popular, numbering in 1904, over a thousand members in the Joplin aerie. The Eagles have, since organization, maintained a eom- modious and well appointed elub room.
THE ELKS
Joplin Lodge, B. P. O. E., has been a great faetor in the social life of Joplin. In 1904 the lodge built, at the corner of Fourth and Pearl streets, a magnificent elub house. As a nucleus to the building fund for this lodge home, a number of entertainments were given, among them three sneeessful street fairs in 1900, 1901 and 1902; the dramatie entertainment "The Girl I Left Behind Me," which was seven times presented to crowded houses, and the never-to-be-forgotten Elks min- strels.
The Elks club house was opened with an indoor fair, the follow- ing mention of which appeared in the society notes of the News-Herald :
"The Joplin Elk's big fair opened Monday evening, February 27, 1905, at 7 o'eloek at the Elks new elub house, corner of Fourth and Pearl streets. It was the great social event of the season and continued till Tuesday night of the next week. It was not an entertainment for Elks alone, but for everybody who was a friend of the Elks, to the publie generally. All were invited to the big show, or, to speak more correctly, to the series of big shows, for there were many attractions and many things to amuse, interest and entertain.
"The Elks fair was the opening event or housewarming of the elegant new elub house built by the Joplin Elks. It was conducted by the Elks and the ladies of Joplin and was more elaborate than any- thing ever given in this part of the state. The massive building was transformed into many bowers of beauty and pretty pagodas with gor- geons decorations. These handsome booths were fitted with many ar- tieles of value and beauty.
505
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
"There were many attractions of many kinds at the fair, all for the small admission priee of ten cents. There were dancing and many amusements every evening. Lemonade and punch were served by a score of pretty girls at the wells, and tea and coffee was served in the Japanese garden. This Japanese tea garden consisted of pretty pagodas decorated with flags and cherry blossoms.
"Bewitching girls in Oriental costumes served tea, coffee and other refreshments. The entertainment hall had dancing every thirty min- utes ; also pie-eating contests, molasses dips and other amusing features. The Turkish pagoda was one of the grandest exhibits in tapestries and rich rugs outside of the World's Fair. In it was $10,000 worth of handsome Turkish, Persian and Indian rugs, curtains, tapestries and draperies. Rare Smyrna, Antollas and Durris were on exhibition and for sale.
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