Rosewood Florida: The Town That Was, Then Wasn't

 

Jan. 5, 1923, Rosewood, Florida was destroyed on this day based on the accusation of a white woman that a Black man had assaulted her. The small town was home to about 20 Black families before a mob of White men decided they were shielding a criminal.

Rosewood was in central Florida not far from the city of Gainesville where there had been a KKK rally on New Year’s. There also had been accusations that the people of Rosewood had somehow been involved in the murder of a White school teacher from the town of Perry. After the woman, Fannie Taylor reported that she had been raped a group of 30 White men took off for Rosewood looking for Jesse Hunter who Sheriff Elias Ramsay had pinpointed as a prime suspect because he was an escapee of a regional chain gang, Taylor had not identified as her rapist. First, the mob found a local man named Sam Carter who was believed to be an associate of Hunter, when he would not lead them to Hunter, they shot him to death. The mob then focused on the home of Sylvester Carrier because they had already arrested Aaron Carrier. Riding up to the home they shot the family dog and when the elderly Sarah came out to see who was shooting, they killed her, a gunfight ensued and two White men in the mob were killed. The mob retreated and returned the next morning with 200 members who set about burning the settlement to the ground starting with the Carrier home, Sylvester Carrier and others in the home had escaped into the swamp overnight.

As the larger mob began moving into the town the general store owner sheltered some Blacks in the back of his store while most residents fled into the swamp. As they tried to run away many Blacks were shot and left where they fell or were dumped into the burning buildings. The local train operators, John and William Bryce, also assisted in the evacuation stopping when they could to help survivors escape to Gainesville. Although the governor was contacted about the violence local law enforcement assured him they had the situation under control. As it was by the 7th because all residents were dead or fled the area. At the end of the violence, only Wright’s general store and one home remained standing.

On February 17th a grand jury came to no conclusions and reject any indictments, prosecutor George Decottes stated that witnesses had not presented a strong enough case.

While the local and national newspapers reported on the incident most underplayed it as the normal day-to-day business of the Jim Crow south. Formal reports were of only 6 blacks killed and two Whites.

Many focused their stories on reports of, “Armed negroes barricaded in houses or patrolling the outskirts” in an apparent attempt to validate the violence. The story of the violence quickly disappeared with the only mention as the year went on for pianos made of rosewood. Survivors didn’t share their stories even with family.

In 1982 St, Petersburg Times reporter Gary Moore did a series of articles based on the old stories but with Black survivors who were more forthcoming. This in turn led to deeper historical research and a reparations bill to pass the Florida legislature providing $150,000 to the nine known survivors.

Photos: University of Florida Archives

Sources:

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/rosewood-massacre-1923/

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/03/rosewood-florida-massacre-racial-violence-reparations

https://www.newspapers.com/image/8338810/?terms=Rosewood&match=9

https://www.newspapers.com/image/612443065/?terms=%22Sam%20Carter%22&match=1

Battle To Desegregate Montgomery Airport

 

Jan.4, 1962, The city of Montgomery, Alabama decided to go to great lengths to make sure White travelers and Black Travelers would not intersect after a federal judge’s order to desegregate the city’s municipal airport Dannelly Field.

U.S. District Court Judge Frank M. Johnston issued an order that prohibited the city commissioners and airport restaurant operators from barring anyone of any race from using any airport facilities. Johnston also ordered all the signs declaring race-specific facilities, “Negro Fountain” or “White Restroom,” to be taken down.

In response, city attorney Calvin Whitesell said that obviously, they would appeal to the Appellate Court because segregation was the best option. Also, he ordered all the chairs in waiting rooms would be removed, restrooms locked, and water fountains shut off. He added that the restaurant would be closed rather than desegregated.

While this appealed to the strong segregationist segment of the city the airport had military contracts and the businessmen of Montgomery were already dealing with some ongoing sit-ins so the chamber told Whitehall and the city commissioners that they would not back the move to shut down the airport’s facilities and seating area. Also, the Chamber had led the financing of the two-year-old terminal and felt ownership over the airport

Sources: 

https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/desegregation-airports-american-south

https://casetext.com/case/united-states-v-city-of-montgomery

Christmas Assault Leads To New Year Lynching

Jan.3, 1901 Louis McAdams was witnessed having an argument with White storekeeper J.M. Ray and pulled a knife on the man and slit his neck in front of the store in Wilsonville, Alabama. This act incensed the White people of Shelby County. Ray was badly injured but survived, McAdams whatever the reason for his assault did not.

McAdams was arrested in the town of Childersburg on Jan. 2nd for the attempted murder and when the sheriff’s deputies were transporting him back to Wilsonville was intercepted by a mob of 100 White men all brandishing weapons. The threat was too much for the two deputies who immediately surrendered their suspect. About four miles from Wilsonville the mob hung McAdams in a tree and unloaded 50 guns into the body.

The deputies went on to Wilsonville and the sheriff and coroner were notified of the lynching. It was reported that the mob all wore masks and so no one could be identified. There was no further report on J.M. Ray in the Alabama newspapers either, he apparently survived or after the hanging, no one cared. The papers of Alabama held the mob as quiet and dignified adding that they dispersed quickly after justice was served.

 Sources: 

https://www.newspapers.com/image/882782733/?terms=%22J.M%20Ray%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/55228334/?clipping_id=115760383

George Reed A Victim of A Mob's Blood Lust In Georgia

 

Jan 3, 1901, Even when there was no evidence sufficient to hold someone and the court had released them, there was a good chance a Black person could die from any accusation. Such was the case with George Reed in Rome, Georgia.

Mr. Reed was arrested for assaulting the wife of white court bailiff J. M Locklear leaving her near death. Another man Joe Wilson was also arrested, both men proclaimed their innocence when arrested. After the arrests a mob of 150 came to the jail and demanded Reed, alone, be released to them so they could take him to Mrs. Locklear so she could identify him, the mob promised to return him. The only person at the jail at this time was the Turnkey Officer named Lemasters who was fired upon, so he turned over the keys. The mob took Reed to see Mrs. Locklear, but she would not identify him as one of her attackers, stating, “no he is not the man.” Amazingly the mob then returned Reed to the jail and custody of the sheriff. Reed might have believed he was safe, but the blood lust of the mob had been aroused. When District Judge W.M. Henry released Reed for lack of evidence. Reed went to a girlfriend’s house after his release and at approximately 10 PM another mob of 150 men gathered and kidnapped Reed from the home of his girlfriend, Lila Glover, and took him from town. Lila tried to get help and eventually told the sheriff and a deputy to look for Reed, however, according to reports the mob scared them off. They then hung Reed from a tree and emptied over 50 guns into his hanging body. The body was found the next morning and the coroner took possession. Although the mob twice took Reed while unmasked and Georgia  Gov. Allen Candler offered a $15,000 no one was ever arrested or charged with his murder.

This was the 2nd lynching in two weeks in or near Rome and in Floyd County a third would happen in April. After Reed was lynched Georgia House of Representatives member Seaborn Wright wrote in the Rome News Tribune, “Is any man fool enough to think he can limit the action of the mob? Today perhaps in righteous indignation it allays the ravisher of women, but understand, tomorrow, it murders men for sport.” Wright was neither a Democrat nor Republican but a third-party supporter of prohibition and clean government. Wright called on readers of the Rome News-Tribune to “think of its hellish influence upon the minds of the young. The children parading the streets today with chips of the tree upon which the negro hung in their pockets, with pieces of his horribly mutilated body in their hands.”

Image photographer C.W. Orr, Vanishing Georgis Collection, Georgia Archives

 

Sources:

https://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/rome/news/local/lynching-reports-recount-gruesome-mob-rule-history-of-lynching-in-floyd-county-part-two/article_29e9b444-fd86-11e6-b03a-9376cc47dabb.html

https://www.newspapers.com/image/275471807/?terms=%22George%20Reed%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/26949508/?terms=%22Joe%20Wilson%22&match=1

1923: White Terror Causes Mass Exodus Of African Americans From Their Homes

 Dec. 30, 1923, the assault, and murder of a white woman in the community of Catcher, Crawford County in Arkansas ignited a race riot. The riot was spread out over a few days, but the ramifications are still felt nearly 100 years later

On Dec. 28, Effie Latimer was shot in the back and hit over the head with the gun. Latimer, a 25-year-old white woman, was found unconscious on the ground when a friend came to visit her that afternoon. She gained consciousness long enough to tell a doctor that she recognized her shooter as Son Bettis, a local African American farmer, adding two other men were present, though she was not able to identify them.

According to several newspaper accounts, it was in fact the doctor who gave the identity of the supposed “Negro” attacker, and he was the last to see Latimer alive. The prime suspect a Black farmer named Son Bettis stated he was innocent and picking cotton on his land near Van Buren 4 miles south. There is reason to believe Bettis had nothing to do with the assault as Mrs. Latimer’s husband had left her the week before and had taken half of their belongings. It was known they had a troubled marriage.

Bettis was arrested that afternoon and two more men were arrested. Charles Spurgeon Rucks Jr., 26, and John Henry Clay, 14, the next day. At this time Deputy Sheriff W. A. Bushmaier Jr. said he received a confession from Rucks, but Rucks stated Bushmaier lied while in court. Bushmaier did have the sense to have the men taken to Fort Smith and then Little Rock.

On Dec. 29 an angry white mob of more than 500 white citizens surrounded the jail at Fort Smith, demanding that the prisoners be handed over to them. Many others were running the Catcher and Van Buren roads threatening black residents, smashing tombstones in the black cemetery, and digging up remains of the deceased and burning them.

On December 30 the situation completely exploded in violence when Rucks's father was shot and killed by Deputy Sheriff Frederick Creekmore. Also, 11 other Black men were arrested for “Night Riding” and threatening whites.

The mob that had been seeking blood spent their time assaulting Black farmers and making threats. At least 40 families left their homes and land in Catcher and made their way to Van Buren and other towns west and east.

The mass exodus seemed to end on the 31st when no Blacks other than those arrested could be found in Catcher.

Son Bettis and Spurgeon Rucks Jr were convicted and sentenced to die in the electric chair, they were executed on June 27, 1924. Clay was sentenced to life in prison; on August 16, 1928, he was found dead from exposure in a field near one of the prison camps at Cummins. 

Catcher quickly became another “Sundown Town” where a Negro found within the city limits after sundown would be arrested, possibly shot. Van Buren has one of the higher African American populations in Arkansas.

Photo: murder victim Effie Latimer, suspects Spurgeon Rucks Jr. and Son Bettis

Sources:

https://www.swtimes.com/story/news/2021/06/18/1923-race-riot-catcher-arkansas-led-exodus-black-families/7626544002/

https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/catcher-race-riot-of-1923-5885/

https://blackthen.com/assault-murder-sparked-catcher-race-riot-1923/

Herbert Simmons: Just Another Georgia Lynching

 

Dec. 29, 1904, the Pike County, Georgia coroner said Herbert Simmons killed J.A. Parks and so the people of the county decided that was sufficient to hang him from a tree and fill him full of bullets, which was the style at the time.

Mr. Parks, a white man, had been brutally murdered and robbed on the evening of Dec. 27^th on his way home. He had been seen in the company of three negros according to newspaper reports. A well-respected man with strong ties to Georgia A & M (Now Georgia Tech) the community reacted with great anger towards Mr. Park's murder. The newspapers of the day do not report how the corner or the men at the inquest decided on Simmons other than he apparently lived not too far from Parks.

The constable of unincorporated Neal Georgia was taking Simmons to the county jail when they were stopped by a white mob Simmons was beaten and then taken and hung from a tree, and the mob in their rage shot him over 100 times as well.

Based on the newspaper reports, or the bias in the reporting, the mob was justified in killing Simmons and no investigation into his murder ever occurred.

Sources:

https://www.newspapers.com/image/71228164/?terms=%22Herbert%20Simmons%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/616590091/?terms=%22Herbert%20Simmons%22&match=1

The Massacre At Wounded Knee: A Final Act Of Genocide

 

Dec. 29, 1890, U.S. Cavalry troops went into the Lakota encampment on Wounded Knee Creek on the Pineridge Reservation in southwestern South Dakota. They were supposedly there to collect weapons and the Lakota were being peaceful when an altercation between an old man named Black Coyote and two troopers broke out and his rifle went off. This sudden weapons fire reportedly caused the frightened soldiers, who were already disturbed by a man named Sits Straight starting to dance the Ghost Dance, to begin randomly firing. When they were done between 150 and 300 Sioux were dead, more than half women, children, and elderly. 25 cavalry troops were also killed, it is believed by friendly fire the way the army had circled the camp and began firing. The Ghost Dance religion had swept the plains natives over the last two years as it contained the promise of removal of the whites from the native land. This and raids on white settlements had made the Bureau of Indian Affairs take a very hard stand against the Lakota. The Lakota themselves were also on edge because of the assignation of the great chief Tatanka Iyotake (Sitting Bull) on December 15th.

The Massacre at Wounded Knee proved to be one of the last incidents in the repression of the First Nations of the Plains. The BIA attempted to portray the devastation at Wounded Knee as a battle, but later investigations and eyewitness accounts clearly established the event as a mass murder. There was no significant armed resistance, because of the weapons confiscation, and the U.S. Army combatants significantly outnumbered the Lakota.

For some reason, 20 Congressional Medals of Honor were awarded for action during the massacre. In June 2019, a bill was proposed by the United States Congress to rescind the medals that were received for this action. In 1990, the United States Congress apologized to the descendants of those killed at Wounded Knee

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/event/Wounded-Knee-Massacre

https://historyguild.org/wounded-knee-shame-or-honour/