Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-07-05
PROBES
FOR RACE RIOTS
East st. Louis Spends Dreary
Fourth While Soldiers
Guard Homes.
THOUSANDS ARE HOMELESS
Governor Promises Chamber of
Commerce Action of Guards
Will Be Quizzed.

EAST ST. LOUIS, July A federal
investigation OF Mondays race riots
here in which S3 negroes and four
whites were killed and approximately
80 negro homes were burned. was
begun today by Col. George II. Hunter.
chief quartermaster OF the central di-
vision of the United States army.
Colonel Hunter is under instructions
to make full report OF the trouble
to MAJ. Gen. Thomas H. Barry at
Chicago. commandant of the central
department
For the first time since the rioting
began Sunday midnight this city was
absolutely quiet today No trouble of
any description was reported and the
fire department. which was kept busy
constantly Monday night and all day
yesterday fighting fires in the negro
districts, did not receive any new
alarms.
Spend Drcary Fourth.
Residents of the city spent a dreary
Fourth Of July, for the most part re-
naming In their homes. More than
two thousand Illinois national guards
men. including new companies from
0iiiNaNof opllHElltlu anu AllOll, pa
trolled the streets In every section of
the city armed with riot ammunition
and under strict orders to fire II
necessary.
The city's Fourth of July celebra-
tion. which was to have been neld
in City Hall park. was called off and
all saloons and theaters remained
closed. Militiamen prevented citizens
from coneregating in any section of
the city. Strong detachments of sol
diers guarded the stock yards and
large manufacturing plants.
The only excitement Of the day was
the finding of three negro bodies,
badly mutilated in Cahokia creek.
Civil authorities began the work of
collecting and preparing evidence to
be presented to the St Clair county
grand jury when 1t convenes July ..
Only two of the 81 men arrested Mon
day night on changes of melting 10
riot are being held. The others were
released yesterday on the ground that
there was insufficient evidence
against them. The authorities of
the city say that the ring leaders
ton will be taken against them at the
proper time. The state fire marshal
and his assistants are continuing their
investigation of the numerous fires in
the negro section.
II became known today that Gov.
Frank. o. Lowden, who was on
the scene last night and early today,
has promised the chamber of COM
merce that he would investigate fully
charges of inefficiency lack of discip-
line and laxness against the militia
men. who were here during the
fight of the rioting Monday night.
The governor and Adjt. Gen. Frank
s. Dickson, who is in personal cont
mand of the troops, requested the
chamber to gather facts.
Both Adjutant-General Dickson and
the local authorities were confident
that there would be no further out
breaks. II was stated that with the
situation apparently well in hand no
additional troops would be called.
Estimates were made by the au-
thorities today that more than half of
the ctty's negro population has de-
parted. Many negroes escaped over
the bridges into st. Louis. more dur
ing Monday nights severe rioting and
thousands were escorted out of the
city by the military authorities yes
terday. Scores Of homes in the negro
sections are deserted. Many left to-
day. 1t Is estimated that before the
riotins more than twenty thousand
negroes lived in East St Louis. Ne
groes remaining in town today went
about their business as usual and were
Cnmolested.
Hundreds of visitors from st. Louis.
Mo, across the river, came today to
look over the acres OF charred debris
which formerly was BLACK Valley"