Besieged In His House

BESIEGED IN HIS HOUSE

How a Colored Student Was Kept In at Night

BY MEN OF HIS RACE

Who Wanted to Get Even for a Story Published in the Detroit Papers

There was a scene at once pathetic and tragic enacted at the boarding house of Mrs. Porter Cole on N. University avenue not long ago growing out of a story published by a local correspondent in one of the Detroit papers. A colored student worked his way up here from the south two years ago and this was published, greatly offending the student and his colored brothers. The colored students, Eugene Marshall, who told the correspondent, was called up before the others and asked for an explanation. The student writer was also summoned. When Mr. Marshall was asked to name the man who worked his way from the south to the Athens of the West he pointed out a young man present. This climaxed affairs and a dash was made for a large cane one of the members of the party carried. The offended colored student attempted, it is said, to draw something from his pocket as he rushed on Mr. Marshall, but was prevented from doing so by the others, and a little colored girl who changed to enter the room. The band dispersed, but the young man who has tried to do more for the colored students of the University than any other, Mr. Marshall, remained in the house besieged by these women he has ever tried to help in any difficulty that chanced to arise in their University careers. He has ever championed their cause and yet he had to remain in Mrs. Cole's residence that night knowing that men of his own race and color were patrolling outside waiting for him to come out. All that evening they waited with clubs and the next night brought no relief. He was even afraid to go to his classes in the law department until the matter had blown over. Such is the fate of those who really devote their best energies to the uplifting of a cause.