29 May 1909
Page 1
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Newspaper
Atlanta Constitution
Location
Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
Date
May 29, 1909
Page
1
Reports outline a deepening strike on the Georgia railroad with mail trains set to run amid conflicting claims of threats at Lithonia Union Point and Thomson. Engineers report being struck and injuries noted as high tension extends to railroad officials and sheriffs deploying protection while negotiations stall.
Madison Ga May 28 intense excitement grips Thomson and Union Point as trains carrying black firemen are barred. Citizens fear violence against blacks while factions insist on ending the strike without concessions. Reports of unrest in Atlanta fuel alarm as white mobs demand rapid resolution to the conflict.
Washington and Wilkes County citizens meet at court house and unanimously appeal for relief from the strike. They warn grocering and provisions are exhausted and demand immediate supplies or relief trains, pledging committee guarantees under all circumstances.
The Lithonia dispute details a 1908 incident where Georgia Railroad officers, led by General Manager Scott, sought federal and local protection to move perishables from Lithonia to Atlanta. affidavits from John Patterson and Engineer Downing describe a mob at the Lithonia depot, rocks hurled, and officers failing to intervene, prompting rail officials to call on Sheriff Morris for safety and to warn of liability for delays and losses.
A mob of about two hundred men attacked an engine crew in Lithonia as they attempted to move a freight train from a siding. Engineer George E Downing was seriously injured by a rock, and the crew fled toward Atlanta. Superintendent Patterson and others faced threats as crowds forced a halt to operations and demanded no one be allowed to move the train. Local officials pleaded for restraint while Governor and marshal were urged to preserve order amid escalating tension.
The Georgia railroad firemen strike sparked violence at Lithonia with stones hurled at an engine. A negro fireman was rushed to Atlanta as rails block the main line and mail service teeters. Officials warn of possible federal intervention while state leaders discuss arbitration and state receivership to end the disruption. The strike deepens race tensions as communities rally behind workers and fear retaliation.
Local forecast calls for showers Saturday with variable winds and partial clearing later. Expect cooler temperatures and a modest rain chance across the area as the weekend begins.
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