Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-07-02
RACE RIOTSSTART
IN EAST ST. LOUIS
SEVERAL KILLED
Negro Mob FIRES On Police
Squad Killing OGced
In Charge
MILITIA CALLED OUT
BUT PROVE POWERLESS
One Other White Man and
Three Negroes Killed
More Troops On Way

East st. Louis, ILL.,, July 2,-East st.
Louis was under mob law late today.
Five are known dead, scores are in,
jured, some seriously, and armed mobs
are patroliing the streets defying four
companies of Illinois national guards
and the entire city police force. Addi-
tional guardsmen are being rushed to
the scene, but it is feared they will be
unable to keep order tonight. This aft
ernoon Mayor Mollman ordered all sa-
looms closed. Unless the mob estimated
at from 5000 to 6,OO0 persons, is dis.
persed, the city may be placed under
martial law soon.
The dead:
Samuel Coppedge, detective sergeant
William Keyser, hardware mer-
chant.
Three unidentified negroes.
The wounded:
Frank Wodley, detective sergeant
shot through abdomen, may die.
Gus Masserang, former patrolman
shot through leg.
J. Long, patrolman, shot through
leg.
Harry l.. Walker, patrolman, shot
through leg.
Louis Hoague, shot in groin.
Oscar Hobbs, patrolman, shot through
arm.
Many unidentified negroes.
Three additional companies of mill
tia are EN- route and are expected to de
train at 6 O. CLOCK tonight.
Beyond All Control
East st. Louis, ILL.,, July 2.-Rioting
was beyond control of police and mill
tia shortly before 3 p. M. In the heart
of the city three negroes were killed
within Is minutes. Sixteen militia.
men were disarmed by the mob and
hooted.
All saloons were closed by order of
Mayor Mollman.
William Keyser, a white merchant
was shot and died soon after, as he
stood in front of his store.
Keyser was killed by stray bullet
from the mob.
Three companies of Illinois national
guard are patrolling the streets with
fixed bayonets. Three other companies
are en- route.
Governor Lowden has sent Colonel S.
O. Tripp from Springfield as his per
sonal representative.
Companies A, Shelbyville; I, Van
dalia, and H of Effingham, are on
guard. The three other companies are
expected to arrive at o'clock tomor-
row night. Lieutenant Clayton is in
command.
When Trouble Started.
st. Louis, Mo-, July 2.-More than
fifty negroes are under arrest follow.
ing resumption of race rioting in
East st. Louis, ILL.,, today. Detective
Sergeant Samuel Coppedgc was killed
and five other men wounded when a
mob of 1000 blacks fired upon their
automobile. Six hundred guardsmcu
have been ordered from Springfield TO
East St. Louis.
The negroes assembled at 1915
clock at a pre-arranged signal--the
tolling of church bell James Reddy,
grocer, telephoned the police and an
automobile was hurried to the scene.
Patroirlan William Hutter, acting as
-hauffe1F. stopped the ear where thu
blacks had eongregated.
''what's doing boys" coppedge
called to leaders.
4" None Of your damned business" a
big negro replied. "Driye on"
I" We re officers, here to protect You
as well as white men, Coppedge said.
The reply was yolley which riddled
his body and wounded Patrolmen Oscar
Hobbs. Gus Massrang, Harry l. Walk
er, and Detective Frank Woodley and
Jay Long. private citizen. Hutter
rushed the injured men to hospital
-,.n.t,..- .al,a, ce,fa;n .bo Droblem of