Page:The Negro a menace to American civilization.djvu/153

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THE NEGRO
133

another reside within the same region. Indeed, matters have come to such a pass in these respects that no white woman, no white girl, and, in fact, no white child can, with any safety at all, venture out alone in those districts and places where negroes have more or less full sway. For, if not directly accosted, they may be subjected to all manner of glances from the negro men, or to insinuating remarks, or, if the opportunity be still more favorable, to direct assault and violence. Such assaults may occur anywhere and at any time: city or country, night or day. Personally, I know of a case that took place many years ago on "L" street in Washington, D. C, during the early part of the afternoon, in broad daylight. The child was a little girl not more than twelve or thirteen years of age, and her father was an officer in the military service of the United States. Her mother had sent her upon a little errand up the street, and, upon her way back, a great burly black negro accosted her, and said that he had just been talking to her mother at the house, and that she had said if he met her to take her to a candy-store before she came home and buy her some candy. The child believed the story, and followed him a few squares to where they crossed one of the city bridges (the Georgetown Tubular Bridge) in the very heart of the town. Here he suddenly seized her in his arms, and making a leap, was instantly in some shrubbery that grew beneath the bridge. Out came his great clasp-knife, at which the child screamed fearfully, and some men overhead hearing her cries landed by her on the jump, not however, before the negro had ripped up her clothing in front with his knife, severely choked her and then