Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-02
TROOPS ORDERED OUT
TO QUELL NEGRO RIOT.
Police Sergeant Killed, Three 0acers
Wounded, in Race War at East
St. Louis.
By the Associated Press.

| BY the Associated Press.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. July Six
companies of the Illinois National
Guard were ordered out early today by
Gov. Lowden. in response to a tele-
gram from the mayor OF East St. Louis,
ILL.,, to Quell rioting Of negroes there
Guardsmen Patrol East st. Louis.
EAST ST. LOUIS, III. July 2-Illi-
nois guardsmen at noon patrolled the
streets of East st. Louis with fixed
| bayonets as result Of the renewal OF
the race disturbances.
The trouble broke out anew when a
negro appeared at street car transfer
point whore a crowd Of white men had
assembled
A white man struck the negro in the
face and others knocked him down and
| kicked him. Five shots were fired at
the negro as he lay PROSTATE. wound
| ing him in the arm and leg. The crowd
drew back, thinking the negro had been
killed. but he jumped up and ran away.
| Later a white man fired at a negro
ana the bullet hit another white man.
The armed man was arrested but at the
demand Of crowd OF white men the
police released him.
sefgt. Samuel coppedse was killed.
three other ofhcors were wounded, one
Of them so seriously he may die, and
two citizens were shot here early today
by negro mob in recurrence Of race
rioting. After the killing OF the Off
GERS the negroes dispersed.
The police were armed with riot
guns and patrolled the street all night.
and six companies Of Illinois National
Guard were ordered to East st. Louis
| by Gov. Lowden.
The trouble began when a mob of
negroes. estimated at 200. each armed
with some sort Of weapon. assembled
at church in response to the ringing
| Of bell. and began marching down the
street. When word was received at
police headquarters that a mob ha6
formed, four patrolmen were sent to
the scene in an automobile AS the
car turned a corner, the headlights
showed the mob massed in the street.
| marching toward the machine, many
carrying clubs in addition to rifles or
revolvers.
Is Told to "Drive On"
sergt. coppedge asked the negroes
where they were going. and was met
with curt reply and an order to
drive on" He told them that he and
his party were officers and had come
! to see that order was maintained.
GO on about your business" was the
reply, accompanied by a volley Of shots
Coppedge was killed instantly and the
other three officers wounded. When
| word Of the killing of Coppedge reached
ponce headquarters CHIEF OF Police
Hickey ordered every available patrol
| man on duty and asked for the services
of 200 soldiers OF the 9Th Illinois In
antry. stantioned here under Maj Cav
anaugh. A Gordon: was thrown around
the negro belt and soldiers and pa
trolmen went through every house.
searching men and women for weapons
All firearms found were confscated
and about fifty blacks were locked up
Race rioting in East St. Louis first
broke out May % last. when the robbery
of two white men by negroes precipitated
violence which resulted in injury Of
about two score negroes and a dozen
white men in four days. One negro home
was burned and large number Of them
left the city. Saloons and places Of
amusement were ordered closed and
of the streets. The trouble grew out Of
| the importation of negro laborers from
| the south.
Negroes Inspired by Revenge.
| The trouble this morning, in the
opinion of the police, was caused by a
desire on the part OF the negroes to get
revenge.
The police guarded both ends Of the
Eads and Free bridges today and no
negroes were permitted to cross without
being searched.
CHICAGO. July 1.-The racial dis
turbances In East St. Louis month ago
| were Investigated by the Illinois state
council of defense, which only last
Saturday returned q report urging that
| migrption of southern negroes DO dis