The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-05-31
NEGROES FLEE
FROM ST. LOUIS
THEY FEAR A REPETITION OF
LAST NIGHTS RACE RIOTS.
WHITE MODS WRECK RESORTS
Rioting Follows a Meeting of Protest
Against Importation and Employ
ment of Blacks by Packing
Plants of City.

East st. Louis, May 29.-Hundreds
of negroes today fled, fearing repe-
! tition of last nights rioting which
resulted in the injuring of score of
blacks.
Mobs of white men and boys
wrecked negro saloons, restaurants,
and other places the blacks frequent
ed and beat up negroes encountered.
Street cars were stopped and the
negroes were dragged off and slug
ged. Five negroes are said to be
fatally injured.
The rioting followed a meeting of
protest against the importation of
blacks to work in local packing
houses and in the munition plants.
Reports say that negro had insult
ed white lady and the mob started
in this way.
5000 in the Mob.
A mob estimated at 5000 persons,
determined, as they shouted to rid
the city of negroes imported to work
in factories and munition plants,
swept through the streets last night
and early this morning, attacking
and beating negroes wherever found.
Several negroes have been injured
so severely they probably will die.
The mob stopped street cars and
interurban cars in its search and at
one o'clock was threatening to storm
the Jail, where at least score of ne
groes had been taken for safe keep
ing. Ambulances made the rounds
of the streets where the mob had
travelled to pick up unconscious and
injured blacks and take them to hos
pitfalls and temporary shelters.
The police were helpless against
the numbers of the mob. Mayor
Fred Mollman appealed to Major R.
w. Cavanaugh, in charge of two
companies of the Sixth Illinois in
fantry quartered in the town, for aid.
Major Cayanaugh, heading detail
of 125 men, helped to fight back the
mob while several negroes were res
cued, but it soon became evident that
this small force of soldiers was in
adequate.
Mayor Mollman then telegraphed
Governor Lowden to send additional
troops.
The beginning of the riot resulted
from a delegation of sixty members
of the East st. Louis Trades and La
Dor union visiting the regular meet
ing of the city council to protest
against the importation of negroes
from Mississippi to fill positions in
the various factories of the city.
An hour before the meeting was to
have started, huge crowd had gath
cred in front of the city hall, seeking
admission.
Mayor Moolman advised modera-
ton and declared that within a few
days some method of controlling the
importation of negroes would be
found. 1t was estimated that 5000
blacks had been brought into the city
since January l.
The downtown section was over
run. Repeated riot calls brought
out every available policeman. Many
in the mob were armed, as shots
were fired frequently.
At one-thirty the mob had broken
up somewhat, but the police fear that
they have only formed gangs in or
der to work more quietly.
Negroes Rush to ST. Louis.
st. Louis, May 29.-Hundreds of
negroes from East st. Louis began
pouring over the bridge early this
morning, carrying suit-cases, trunks
and bundles. Many of them were
bruised severely. One of the most
seriously injured was VIM. Taylor,
who was found near the st. Louis
end of the bridge with bullet in his
head and several rios fractured.
Troops Ordered to Scene.
Springfield, ILL.,, May 29.-Five
companies of state militia were to-
day ordered by Governor Lowden to
proceed TO East st. Louis where
mobs of whites attacked negroes last
night. The troops were requested
by the mayor of East st. Louis and
the sheriff OF that county,