The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-05
War Department Investigates
East st. Louis Riot.
To Determine Whether Guards
men Were Inactive in Crisis.
NEGRO PRISONERS TESTIFY
Admit Organization To Avenge
Former Riot Deaths.
Intended To Launch a "St. Bar
thoIomew' on the 4th.

East St. Louis, Ill, July 5.-The war
department probe of East st. Louis
race riots, resulting in the death of
upwards of 100 negroes and four white
men and the injuring of three white
women is under way today. Col. Geo.
H Hunter chief quartermaster of the
central division, arrived in the city as
ersonal representative of Gen. Thorn
as H. Barry, of Chicago, commander
of the central division, with orders to
make a thoro investigation and re-
port to his chief.
Alleged laxity of militiamen is said
to have prompted the probe. Colonel
Hunters inquiries, it is said, will con-
Germ only the military phase of the
tragedy and probably will cover the
following points:
Whether militiamen watched
without interference the murder of
negroes Monday night.
Whether militiamen fraternized
with the mob.
Whether officers in command of
the troops are to be upheld in their
behavior in the crisis.
City BIames Military.
There is a tendency on the part of
city officials to place the entire blame
for the seriousness of the rioting on
the military, but this meets with little
sympathy from unprecedented observ-
ers. Many of the charges made
against the soldiers are substantiated
by eye witnesses, but because they
were greatly outnumbered by a mob
as we'll armed as themselves there is
little tendency to blame them serious
ly.
Further astonishing revelations
We're brought to light late yesterday at
the coroner's inquests. Testimony by
NEGRO prisoners showed that there was
a well organized plot among negroes
to make yesterday. Independence Day,
a second st. Bartholomew Day. -Four
companies of blacks, all armed, had
been pra cticing for a revenge massa-
ere for the killing of blacks late in
May, which was scheduled for yes
terday When one of these compan-
les was surprised by police last Sun
day night, the negroes fired. killing
Detective Sergeant Coppedge and pre-
cipitating the revenge riot by whites
which probably prevented yesterdays
scheduled onslaught by the blacks.
II Bodies of Negroes Found.
The finding of several negro bodies
in Cahokia creek yesterday and last
night brings the total known number
of bodies found to be seventy-seven.
The police still assert that the dead
are more than one hundrad.
Figures compiled by authorities
who have been constantly in touch
with developments make the total
dead 105.
Three white women were attacked
and seriously injured by blacks. 1t be-
came known today. Mrs. Maude Isom
is so seriously injured she may die.
She was attacked in her home by an
unknown negro and badly beaten.
Two other women, whose names are
withheld by the police for fear of fur
Their rioting, are known to have been
attacked and injured.
Police Estimate of Deaths.
Chief of Police Payne today gave
the following estimate of total dead:
Negroes slain in streets and bodies
found, 81.
Burned at Broadway and Eighth
street, 8.
Found in Cahokia creek, 3.
Burned in Broadway opera house.
rs.
Known dead in BLACK Valley" 80.
-Four white men were killed during
the riot.
Exact figures, he pointed out, are
impossible and only an approximate
total can ever be made.