Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1915-03-16

your hep, they will call for it, and
then you must do as they say.
BE calm, keep cool. Keep watch
ovW your property and your wives
and children, but don't get excited.
Suppose it had been an officer killed
this morning, instead of that poor
| negro? Let us all do everything
possible to continue that we may live
in peace, quiet and harmony, as we
nave in the past. We need the white
men, and the white men need us. We
have never had any trouble before,
and let us strive to follow their ad-
vice. that they may end this present
trouble for us. Do as they say.
Stop your shOOtln. Be careful, stay
at home nights, and don't let ex-
citement get the better of you. The
best white men of the community are
with us, they are represented here to-
night. The pest colored men and
women of Pine Bluff must help them
and | know they will"
There was noticeable Frightening
in the demeanor of the negroes at the
meeting, as result of the talks by
the white men, and frequently there
were bursts of applause. Among the
negroes in the church were dozens
who have been employed in one po-
ston or by one white man or firm,
for very many years, and scores of
the negroes own their own homes, in
the Hoboken section.
Four Houses Destroyed.
Four houses were destroyed in the
, fire which appears to have started
all the excitement Sunday morning.
| The blaze originated in the home of
| Lonnie Whitesides, a negro, at 1921
| East Thirteenth avenue. The house
| at 1923 East Thirteenth, also owned
| by W'hitesides, was also destroyed,
as were the houses 1907 and 1909 East
Thirteenth, the aggregate loss being
estimated at about $1,000 Or $4,000.
The fire had gained great head
way before the department reached
the scene, owing to the fact that the
department., despite continued ef-
forts, could not ascertain the def
mite location of the blaze. In these
efforts the police department and the
operators at the telephone exchange
aided. Finally. the automobile fire
1
Fiveash as a passenger, made the
run. The nearest water plug was
| eight blocks away, however, and the
foreboys could do little except aid
Chief Fiveash in calming the excited
negroes.
Officers Quickly Busy.
County and city peace officers took
up the investigation into the matter
at once. The finding of Epps' body
caused even increased activity OF
their part
That more notices were posted in
that section Saturday night was
ascertained, two of them being
turned over to the sheriff's depart
ment.
Residents of State street remem-
bereu yesterday that about ESQ
O'clock Sunday morning they had
been awakened by clatter of horses
hoofs on the new pavement, but there
was nothing learned which would
connect this noise with the fire
which was much further east, and
the officers attach no Importance to
it. t.. u
1t was reported to the sheriff's de-
train was stopped while Oh his way
home about midnight Saturday, by
two men who wore masks and who
asked him if, he wanted in" He re-
piled he wanted nothing to do with
them, and made off, on his way
home No reliance is placed in this
report by the officers.
No Cause for Worry.
That the negroes have no rea
grounds TO" worry or anxiety, is the
: outspokpn comment of scores of the
=, most prominent men of Pine Bluff
The fact that these warnings have
been posted in the Hoboken section
only, while other negro sections have
net been molested, was pointed to al
an indication that there is friction
among the negro residents of Hobo
+ ken. and the negroes themselves are
to blame for the warnings.
"The situation is serious only be
cause the negroes are frightened,
said Mayor Bloom. "They have nj
= reason to be alarmed and if they viii
calm down and keep cool, the entir'
, trouble will be wiped out by the Of
ficers.'
There is absolutely no reason Il
, believe that the fire Sunday morning
was of incendiary origin. Had there
been no delay in sending in the alarm
!. to fire headquarters, the loss woult
have been lighter, despite the DIS
lance to water plug.
Hundreds of white residents of tn
= city, men and women, visited the Ho