Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-07-07
MA|vY ARE KILLED A|V[!
INJURED IN RACE RIOT
n MASSACRE AT EAST ST. LOUIS
Murder Of Detective Sergeant by Riot
crs Started TroubI c-Womcn Take
Part in Bloody Work.

cFS started roublC-Wo | axe
Part in Bloody Work.
Five persons were killed, over n
score wounded and many houses occu-
pied Ivy negroes burned in II race riot
ut East ST. Louis, Ill.
TWO negroes were taken from Il
street car, one was shot and one
was beaten to death. \ white man,
Ctanding IN front Of his store, was
Killed. by a stray bullet. So far four
negroes am a white man have boon
killed and twcnty.six badly hurt.
The work of dragging negroes off
the street cars began when crowd
surrounded an Edwartlsvillc car which
goes through the heart OF East ST.
Louis and pulled the trolley from the
wire. Immediately white mon board
ed tho car and took off the negro pas
scngcrS. One negro was kicked and
beaten by the crowd IN the street and
then was shot. lie died In an ambu-
lance later.
Whilo this riot was going on. n Bel
leVillc car appeared. White men and
white women boarded il. White wo-
men ana white girls seized negro wo-
men, and when they were landed IN
the street The mob struck and kicked
thcm. The colorcd women fed scream.
Ing. The men who had been dragged
OIL the cars VS. nmdcd and at.
tackled by ,itns. a. ~,
>lN""r" l.. with T., ... .:t...
b,ic!:. y" IT. IN IN nmhu'.,~cc.
More cars were attacked. Finally,
national guarGsmcn arrived and began
to clear the streets at this spot.
Rifles were taken from sixteen
guardsmcn by members OF tho mob
who would approach soldier, and
saying: "l'rr" boy, Let me look at that
gun, Won might hurt some one" would
take the weapon from him.
The race rioting hcCAn when Dctcc-
tive Sergeant Samuel CoppcdGc wa
killed. three other officers wore wound.
cd, one Of them so seriously he may
die, and two citizens were shot.
After the killing Of the officer the
negroes dispersed.
The police were armed with riot
guns and patrollcd the streets all night
and six companies Of Illinois national
guard were ordered 10 East st. Louis
by Governor Lowdcn.
The trouble began when q mob OF
negroes, estimated at 900. each one
armed with some sort of weapon, As.
sembled at n church In response 10 the
ringing Of bell, and began marching
down tho street.
When word was received at police
headquarters that mob had formed
four patrolmcn were sent to the scene
in ar automobile. AS the car turned
corner the headlights showed the
mob had maSscd In the street. march,
Ing toward the machine many carry
ing cubs in addition to rifles or revol-
yers.
Sergeant Coppcdgo asked the nc.
groos where they we're going and was
met With a curt reply and and an order
to "drive on" He told them that he
and his party were officers and had
come to see that order was maintain
ed.
"Go on about your business" was
the reply, accompanied Ivy a volley Of
shots. Coppcdgc was killed instantly
and tho other three officers wounded.
When word of tho killing of Cop
pedgc reached police hcalouar; crs
Chief Of Police Hickey ordered every
available patrolman on duty and asked
for the services OF 200 soldiers Of the
Sixth Illinois infantrv. under Major
CaVanatCh. \ cor'ion was thrown
around the negro hC't and soldiers and
patrolmcn went through every house
searching Wen and women for wcaD.
ons. All firearms found were confs-