Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-07-05
NEGROES FLEE
EAST ST. LOUIS ]
i FOLLOWING RIOTS
TWenty-Seven Bodies Recovered
in Illinois City.
U. S WAR DEPARTMENT ACTS
Washington Instructs Gen. Barry to
Take Such Action as May Be Re-
quested of Him by Governor to
Stop Race War.

East 81. Louis, Ill, july fl Tres,
which were started by rioters in three
negro quarters at noon were famed
by a high wind and spread rapidly, get
ting beyond control. A general fire
alarm has been sounded and all fire
fighting apparatus in the city has hur-
ried to the scene.
Troops and police have hurried to
the scene of the fires, where crowds
of rioters also are assembled. Five or
six negro shacks are on fire and the
flames are spreading rapidly. The fires
are at Fourth and Trembly streets,
and Market streets.
A survey of the casualties in the RI
citing taken showed 27 bodies recOv-
cred, including three whites and 70
wounded negroes.
Estimates of the number of dead run
as high as 250.
Further shooting was reported by
the police, but without details, as the
day wore on. Ambulunces were sour
rying hither and thither. Chief of Po
lice Ransom Payne hearing that a
number of tOughs from the Missouri
side of the river were coming over,
each to get a negro" appealed to
Chief of Police Young of st. Louis to
close the bridges. They had been
closed last night, but were opened
again this morning.
Refugees Cross to Missouri
1t was decided to remove the home
less, who could not be cared for here,
to the Missouri side The first bunch,
numbering So men, women and chill
dren, presented a sad spectacle as
they started across the free bridge I'M
der military guard.
Policemen tried to prevent the tax
Ing Of photographs of fire ruins and
bodies still lying In the streets.
IT'S the chiefs ORDERS" said one po-
liceman. East st. Louis doesn't wish
that kind of Advertising" Other po-
licemen made similar explanations to
photographers, but nevertheless many
photographs were obtained.
Five negro quarters In East st.
Louis have been burned and 80 dwell
ings, mostly negro shacks, have been
destroyed. This loss is estimated at
100000. Five fires ragged simultane-
Ously during the night.
The rioting, which was the culmina-
ton of O series of disturbances which
began with the killing of a police Off
Ger and the WOunding of three police
men and two civilians by colored riot
ers, was different from most race trOu-
bles in that many women and girls
took part in the turmoil. This element
first manifested itself in the afternoon,
but when the disorder was at it's
height white women took part in the
Outrages.
800 Guards on Duty.
The IL companies of the Illinois Ma
tional Guard, numbering about 1900
men, patrOlled the streets with orders
TO prevent any lettering at corners and
any assembly of people on the streets.
Adjutant General Dickson said that
military rule had not been established
and probably would not be. Mayor
Mollman of East st. Louis, said the
adjutant general, asked for q declara-
ton of military rule and this fact gave
rise to the statement that military rule
actually had been declared. The ad-
jutant general said that the transfer Of
military cases to civil courts involved
so much trouble that reluctance to de-
clare military rule was shown.
Fire Causes 100000 Loss.
The total property loss in the riot
ing was heavy because the warehouse
Of the Southern railway and between
100 and 100 freight cars were de-
strOyed by the flames The loss will
probably exceed $5OO,OOO The Broad
way theater, valued at 100000, also
was destroyed.
Thousands of colored men are with
out homes.
The work of searching the ruins for
bodies began and it was reported that
eight bodies had been found
Hundreds of colOred persons, many
OF them women carrying babies,
crossed into st. Louis.
Washington Takes Action.
Washington, July 4.-The war de.
partment has instructed Gen. Thomas
81. Barry at Chicago to take such ac-
ton as may be requested of him by
Governor Lowden in connection with
the race riots at East st. Louis,
Whether troops in the federal com.
mand will be asked for is not known
to the department and no information
has been received on the situation.
Lowden to Maintain Peace.
Springfield, H., July 4-Illinols will
maintain peace in East st. Louis al
any cost, according to a statement Is
sued by Governor Lowden The state.
ment followed a lengthy conversation
with Adjt. Gen. Frank s. Dickson over
the long-distance telephone. General
Dickson reported that there are q
known dead and many injured. The
governor will not declare martial law
at this time.
kk0MIE OHM NAVTee