The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-07-03
MUCH OF THE CITY
CONSUMED IN FLAMES
Hundreds of Negro Women
and Children Flee to
St. Louis.
BLOODTHIRSTY MOBS
STRING UP VICTIMS
Illinois National Guardsmen
on the Scene, but Can
Do Little.

EAST ST. LOUIS. Ills. July 2.
At least fifteen negroes we're
shot and killed by nobs here
tonight. as they fed from, their
burning homes which had been
set on fire by white mobs. The
exact number who perished in
the burning houses is unknown
and will not be ascertained until
morning when the ruins are
searched, but States Attorney
Schaumloeffel Of st. Clair county,
who drove through the riot swept
district tonight with Police In
spector Walsh of ST. Louis, Mo-.
estimated that the dead negroes
would number $50 All estimates.
however, are conjcctural.
Military rule was proclaimed at
o'clock tonight. and at the same
time 800 white men were arrested
and locked up at police head
quarters. Negro quarters in Yari-
Gus parts Of the city are on fire
and the flames reach the very
edge Of the business district.
Estimates of the number OF ne
groes who perished in the FIRE
ran as high as ESQ but there was
nothing authentic on which to
base these estimates. except that
hundreds OF whites stood around
the edges Of the burning districts
and fred a. the negroes as they
fed from their homes.
At nine O'Clock the Mayor OF
East 81. Louis sent for Fire Chief
Swigley of st. Louis. Mo, to as
sist in fighting the tlancas which
threatened to destroy large part
Of the city. A company Of the
St. Louis fire department started
70 East ST. Louis. but was ordered
back by Chief Swlgley.
Vast clouds Of smoke rolled
across the sky tonight from the
burning district. Flames made
some OF the down. town streets as
light as day, and now and then
yelling mob rushed. down a
street in pursuit Of negro or
in search of new victims. Nation
Al euardsmen In auto trucks
dashed at he mob. The shouting
died down occasionally as bnwild
cred people walked MP and won
the streets wondering where the
last outbreak occurred.
The fires started about six
o'clock this evening and spread
RAPIDLY. Soon f-mes visible. for
miles were shooting into the sky.
Hundreds of negro women. most
of them carrying bundles that
held their most precious belong
inss. and leading small children.
fed across the bridge TO shelter
and safety with friends on the
Missouri side.
Telephone wires were cut early
in the evening. AS telegraph and
telephone poles caught fire o her
wires went down.
The mobs in East ST. Louis
were swelled by hundreds Of peo-
pie who early in the evening
crossed the river from st. Louis.
Mo. This added such a menace
to the situation that at $3.50
o'clock the bridges were closed.
This forced hundreds of res de nts
of suburban towns to stay In St.
Louis for the night.
As soon as street car trafr1c'
ended at S n. nl.. crowds walked
across the bridge into East Sa
Louis by the thousands.
The mobs rot into lynchinE
mood tonight. One aged negro
was strung up to a pole. but was
rescued just in time to save his
life. Soldiers rescued still anoth.
or negro who was being dragged
through the streets.
Terrible Scenes Enacted.
After military rule had been pr
Iaimed the soldiers put more vigt
ITO their methods to Quell the mo
twenty-five white men attacked q n
ro In front of drug store dow
,vn and shot him twice. attemptt
, DRAG him 10 pole. beating him
Continued on Page Ten.)