USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people > Part 54
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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.
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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 increas- ing every moment.
As the mob went east on Seventh street, yelling and hooting, the negroes ran out 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 colored 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 houses were soon in flames. The fire department responded and when they had laid two lines of hose it was discovered that both strings had been punctured in many places almost rendering the apparatus useless.
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 scores 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 sec- ond-hand stores had done more purchasing of household articles 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 effect 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
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depredations and to preserve the peace. One thousand citizens re- sponded to the call, among them T. A. Cunningham, mayor-elect, Jno. A. McManany, 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. McManany, city marshal-elect, Lee Shepherd, former lieutenant of Com- pany G and John Malang. The entire posse, numbering eight com- 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 cleared, most of the people realizing that for them to remain on the streets would place them in the attitude of encouraging acts 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.
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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.
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CHAPTER XLV
JOPLIN'S FRATERNITIES
THE RED MAN-THE EAGLES THE ELKS-KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS- -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 KODOSH-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 various fraternities and could not, therefore, do the sub- ject 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 city, at Blendville and Chitwood. The Red Men is a semi-patriotic and semi-fraternal society, being organized for the two-fold purpose of keeping alive the glorious achievements and historic 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.
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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 public demonstrations were largely at- tended. In 1903 the local 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 com- modious and well appointed club room.
THE ELKS
Joplin Lodge, B. P. O. E., has been a great factor in the social life of Joplin. In 1904 the lodge built, at the corner of Fourth and Pearl streets, a magnificent club house. As a nucleus to the building fund for this lodge home, a number of entertainments were given, among them three successful street fairs in 1900, 1901 and 1902; the dramatic entertainment "The Girl I Left Behind Me," which was seven times presented to crowded houses, and the never-to-be-forgotten Elks min- strels. 1
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'clock at the Elks new club 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 public 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 club 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- geous decorations. These handsome booths were fitted with many ar- ticles of value and beauty.
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"There were many attractions of many kinds at the fair, all for the small admission price 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.
"The vaudeville shown in the basement was one of the greatest things in the show. Torleton and Torleton, comedy-musical artists, gave an almost continuous performance of high class musical entertainment. Mitchell, a special comedy artist engaged for the occasion was assisted by Miss Mitchell, a vocalist. Thirty minutes of vaudeville turns of unusual quality held the attention of a large audience.
"Certificates of deposit upon the Bank of Joplin are dispensed at the Elks' bank in charge of Mrs. A. H. Waite, cashier, assisted by a corp of tellers in white dresses. A $25 deposit was awarded to E. H. Moore who was the holder of the lucky number, 219 at the close of the first evening. Mrs. Waite was assisted by Mrs. J. A. Cragin, Mrs. E. G. Nix, Mrs. T. W. Osterloh, Mrs. Frank Church, Mrs. Millie Porter, Mrs. J. H. Spencer, Mrs. J. H. Taylor, Mrs. F. H. Spring, Mrs. Finke, Mrs. Dugan, Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. Evans.
"The gypsy booth, with its beautiful red lights and artistically gowned women, is another of the popular places. Mrs. D. C. Hoover, with her corps of assistants, undertook the management of the booth, reading any hand for ten cents.
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"The 'Mike the Duck' game of chance, in which the chancer al- ways got some, was quite amusing. Five cents was put in the bird's pipe and then he ducked his head and brought up a small gift in his beak. These were always satisfactory. This booth was in charge of Mrs. C. N. Stark and her assistants were Mrs. J. B. Serage, Mrs. C. Jones, Mrs. C. Foster, Mrs. D. Bolton, Mrs. Chas. Hart, Miss Buchanan and the Misses Deiter.
"Some of the other booths were the handkerchief booth, the colonial booth, the souvenir booth, the flower booth, the lemonade booth and the bon-bon booth.
"The auction booth was one where all kinds of valuables were knocked down to the lowest bidder. The ceaseless hum of the Elks "buggy" wheel enlivened one of the cozy nooks of the building and the number which the pointer indicated determined to whom went the valuable prizes. These prizes consisted of donations made by public spirited members of the Elks and their friends and were of considerable value.
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Among the prizes were a 40-acre farm donated by John D. Cameron, in southwest Missouri; a city lot in Schifferdecker's addition to Joplin by Schifferdecker; a fine automobile by John Wise; a $150 cut glass punch bowl and cups, many carloads of coal, sacks of ore, articles of furniture and household goods of every description. In addition to these were several $25 cash prizes and one prize of $50 in gold. Also the Elks were presented with two large elegant vases, a Japanese tea set and a Japanese chocolate set from Count Kogora Takahira, the Japanese minister. The secretary of the Japanese legation wrote the committee, in behalf of the minister, conveying his pleasure in being able to contribute to the Joplin Elks.
"Among the things to be raffled was an annual pass on the South- west Missouri Electric Railway donated by President Rogers, a $1,000 life insurance policy in the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany donated by Franklin M. Smith, and an old Dutch mission clock donated by the C. M. Spring Drug Company.
"The 40-acre farm was won by George Layne, the city lot was sold at auction and bought by Arthur Bendelari, Charles W. Bartlett won the cut glass punch bowl and set, and John Worth, Sidney Wilkins, John R. Holmes and Mrs. Albert Newman each won a carload of coal donated by different coal companies. The purse containing $50 in gold, donated by a prominent Elk, was won by O. B. Chaney. The old mission clock was won by R. R. Campbell, commercial agent for the Katy railroad. Mrs. C. E. Baker was the winner of the silk dress pattern given by P. A. Christman to the Elks' fair management.
"The bon-bon booth, with its arches of green cedar lighted by myriads of red shaded electric lights to represent cherries, was very popular. A great feature of this booth was the large candle stick, thirty- eight inches tall and two and a half inches in diameter. A candle waa burned in this each night and therein lay the money-making powers of the candlestick, for guesses as to how long it would take to burn it down were sold at five cents apiece. This was donated by Mrs. Louie Reinhimer and Mr. Reinhimer gave a handsome cut glass dish.
"The flower booth in the center was the most beautiful of all, draped in white with a row of electric lights running around the top. Chief among its many beautiful plants was a handsome Boston fern, homegrown, by Mrs. McKee, the chairman. This fern was perhaps the largest in Joplin at that time, many fronds measuring two yards in length. This was donated by the chairman and chances taken on it at ten cents each. Arthur Spencer won this beautiful fern.
"A new feature was introduced the last two days of the fair-a baby show, conducted by T. C. Malloy and C. W. McAbee.
"The babies were held on the stage by their mothers, where they were viewed and reviewed by the admiring visitors and voted on at five cents a vote. Every baby was tagged with a number, while a bal- lot box of the same number stood by. The first prize of $5 was won by No. 2; second prize, $3 in cash by a chocolate colored baby, and the third, $2 in cash, went to a very dark baby."
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THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS
In 1903 the Missouri State Independent Order of Odd Fellows conclave was held in Joplin and, although the convention proper was a small gathering-the representatives being selected by legislation dis- tricts (one delegate for each)-it brought together the membership of the three linked fraternities in Joplin. At the date of the grand meet- ing, the seven Odd Fellows' lodges of Joplin had a combined mem- bership of 1,200 and over 1,000 of these, headed by the ever-popular Canton Lincoln, escorted the delegates through the streets of the city to the place of meeting, the High School auditorium.
As mentioned in our Chapter of the seventies, the Odd Fellows was the first fraternal society to be established in Joplin, and will soon celebrate the fortieth anniversary of its organization.
If a full and complete history of Odd Fellowship in Joplin were written it would make a large volume and the book would be filled with innumerable acts of kindness, the doing of which has made life more worth living, and the recollection of which brings sweet memories to the men who have exemplified the tenets of friendships, love and truth.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS
Joplin Lodge, No. 40, Knights of Pythias, during the past ten years has had an eventful history, having not only conducted a number of most successful social functions, among them the entertainment of the Grand Lodge of the state, but has, on account of its many activities, gained a state-wide reputation. Two of its members have been called to state positions of honor. Col. Joel T. Livingston, of the Third Regi- ment, U. R. K. P., having been elected in 1903, brigadier general com- manding the Missouri brigade, U. R. K. P. which position he held for four years, and Horace Merritt having in 1910 attained the highest office in the gift of the Grand Lodge, being chosen grand chancellor and serving with distinction.
THE RATHBONE SISTERS
In the Pythian life in Joplin no part of it has been more prominent or deserves more comment than the ladies' auxiliary, the Rathbone Sisters, and more recently called the Pythian Sisters.
This organization was brought about through the appointment of a committee by the Knights of Pythias to formulate plans for the found- ing of a Rathbone temple. The committee consisted of Mrs. L. C. McCarty, Mrs. Frank Myers, Mrs. L. A. Hunter and Mrs. Lenora H. Livingston. The Rathbone temple has participated in every social function of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and has been a most helpful auxiliary, sharing, with the Knights, the pleasures that attended their successes and, with tender hands and loving hearts, extending the broad hand of Pythian charity.
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Joplin Temple, No. 78, Rathbone Sisters, was organized in 1902, Mrs. S. J. McKee being its first presiding officer and, on account of her very excellent rendition of the principal part of the degree work of the annual convention of the Rathbone Sisters, arose by rapid promo- tions to the position of grand chief of the state, and, at the 1908 con- vention, being elected one of Missouri's delegates to the Supreme Lodge. The first affair of the Pythian Sisters, of which the temple was the hostess, was the entertainment of the eleventh district Rathbone con- vention of Joplin, in March, 1903. The Joplin Daily Globe gives the following mention of the convention: "The Third district convention of the Rathbone Sisters of Missouri was held Monday at Pythian hall, No. 413 Main street with an afternoon and evening session. It is spoken of by all who were in attendance as a most successful convention. The hall was a picture of beauty in the colors of the lodge, which are blue, yellow and red, and the arrangement of the decorations reflect great credit upon the ladies of the Joplin temple.
"The convention was graciously and efficiently presided over by Mrs. Joel T. Livingston, deputy grand chief of state. Mrs. S. J. McKee gave the address of welcome and her remarks captivated all who heard them, and were a real bouquet of lovely expressions of wel- come.
"A feature which charmed all who heard it was the piano playing of Mrs. A. L. DeArmond, of Carthage. Her first number was the 'March from Tannhauser,' by Vagner Liszt. She was vociferously encored, and responded with 'Tarrentelle,' by Mills. Still her hearers were not satisfied, and a third time she seated herself at the instrument, playing the 'Cradle Song,' by Chopin.
"By this time a superb bouquet of choice roses appeared and were presented to the talented pianiste, who played to the still further de- light of all present a composition of her own, which was an arrange- ment of patriotic airs, or rather airs of the different states of the union. In another number Mrs. DeArmond and Miss Georgie Fitzer, also of Carthage, rendered a duet, 'Boute En Traine,' by Ketterer, and to the inevitable encore Miss Fitzer responded with an arrangement of 'Nearer My God to Thee.'
"The election of officers resulted as follows: Mrs. Eva Rich, of Webb City, grand senior; Mrs. Laura Jackson, of Carthage, grand junior; Miss Davies, of Monett, manager; Miss DeEtta Whitwell, of Joplin, mistress of finance; Miss Grace, of Carterville, protector, and Mrs. L. C. McCarty, of Joplin, guard.
"During the evening there was a contest between the different lodges in the district in ritualistic work, the prize being a loving cup, and was awarded to Mrs. Tina Oliver, of Carterville. The musical features of the evening session were furnished by Mrs. DeArmond, who played 'Il Trovatore' and an arrangement of 'Home Sweet Home,' played with the left hand. Refreshments of ice cream and cake were served by the ladies of the Joplin temple, and the guests were heard to say that the day and evening were delightful to them."
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EL PLOMO TEMPLE, No. 126, D. O. K. K.
El Plomo Temple, No. 126, Dramatic Order Knights of the Khorassan, was instituted in Joplin, February 24, 1905, and was the Mecca around which the Pythians' social life of Jasper county revolved for the next four years. The D. O. K. K. is to the Knights of Pythias what the Shriners' degree is to Masonry and, while it is no part of the Knights of Pythias proper, its membership is confined to that order. El Plomo temple was not a Joplin society, but was composed of members of the order from all over Jasper county and from Galena, Columbus, Weir City and Pittsburg, in Kansas.
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