Duluth Mob Lynches Three Negroes, Frees Three; 5,000 Stormed Jail After Attack on White Girl.
Type of event: Lynchings
Location: Duluth; St. Louis County; Minnesota; United States
Document date:
Document type: Newspaper(s)
Documents: Duluth Mob Lynches Three Negroes, Frees Three; 5,000 Stormed Jail After Attack on White Girl.
Citation:
New York Times, June 16, 1920, page 1.
“Duluth Mob Lynches Three Negroes, Frees Three; 5,000 Stormed Jail After Attack on
White Girl”
Image text
Duluth Mob Lynches Three Negroes, Frees Three; 5,000 Stormed
Jail After Attack on White Girl
DULUTH, Minn., June 15–Three Negroes were lynched here tonight by a
mob estimated at 5,00 persons, which overpower the police, took possession of
Police Headquarters and seized the Negroes, who were held in connection with an
attack on a young white girl . Six Negroes in all were seized, but the mob held
“court” and acquitted three of the suspects.
The first Negro
hanged was taken about two blocks from the police station to the corner of First
Street and Second Avenue, East, where a rope throws over a telephone pole. As
he was pulled into the air the rope broke and he tumbled to the ground. He was
held until another rope was procured, and the hanging proceeded.
Not a shot
was fired in the attack on the Police Station, the members of the mob using
bricks and other missiles, and to the final stages of the first streams of water
from a fire hose taken from the police themselves.
At midnight the mob still
surrounded the Police Station, but there was no indication of further trouble.
The police believed the mob would disperse in a few hours without other
disorder.
The attack on the girl is alleged to have occurred last night at
the circus grounds here. The Negroes, employed with the circus, were rounded up
by the police after the girls story had been told. Four other Negroes, it is
said were arrested several miles from here and were being brought to Duluth
tonight.
ST. PAUL, MINN. June 15–Two companies of the 6th
infantry, Minnesota National Guard, were ordered tonight to proceed at once to
Duluth, and a train due to leave here at 1:35 A.M. was held for the assembling
of the troops.
In the meantime General Rhinow ordered a company of Home
Guards at Duluth mobilized and gave instructions for commandeering of such
ammunition and guns as could be obtained, for use in an effort to quell the
disturbances.