The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-02
TEN KILLED
IN ARKANSAS
RACE BATTLES
Three Whites and Seven Ne
groes Among Riot Vic
Tins in Elaine.
500 REGULARS ON WAY
Blacks Attack Posse Seek
ing Murderer of Rail
way Agent.
FIGHT IN CITY'S STREETS
Wounded Taken to Helena
Appeals for Reinforce
ments Made.
FIGHT IN CITY's STREETS

ing In the town of Elaine, near here.
according to telephone messages from
there late this afternoon. The dead
white men are James A. Tappen, a
prominent business man of Helena;
Clinton Lee, also Of Helena, and w. s.
Adkins. A fourth white man, Ira Proc
tor, and number Of negroes are said to
have been wounded. Late messages from
Elaine said that further trouble is ex-
pected and that 500 Federal soldiers
are on their way to the town from
Camp Pike. near Little Rock. They
should reach there by midnight.
The riots, according to advices from
Elaine, grew out of fight between
negroes and members of posse
searching for the persons who last
night fired from ambush and killed w.
d. Adkins, a special agent Of the Mis-
souri, Pacific Railroad. Reports have
been received here and in Little Rock
from ambush within the last two or
three days, but these have not been
verified.
Ambushed mt Church.
Deputy Pratt and Adkins and a negro
trusty were ambushed opposite negro
church at Hoop Spur. two miles north of
Elaine while on their way to arrest
members of the Glenn family, who were
said to be involved in a row among
themselves.
A man named Glenn, alleged bootleg
ger had been reported ION rampage"
in a message to the Sheriff from Elaine
authorities. Glen, 1t was asserted, had
threatened to kill his wife and other
members OF the family. including w. H
Glenn, formerly a contractor of this city,
but now a resident of Elaine. The mes
sage requested that deputies be sent to
arrest members of the family to prevent
further disturbances.
/, The automobile in which Pratt, Ad-
kins and the negro trusty were riding.
1t Is said. was stopped before the Hoop
Spur Church to repair puncture. and
while working on the car the party was
fred upon from the church by unidenti-
fed persons Adkins dropped dead and
Pratt was wounded. The trusty who
escaped unwounded, made his way TO a
nearby railroad station and telephoned a
report of the incident to the Sheriff.
Pratt made his way to Helena this
morning, despite his shattered knee, and
was taken Immediately to the hospital.
The accounts of the deputy and the
negro trusty indicating the attack on the
three men had been made by an organ-
ized band of negroes, posses were hastily
organized by the Sheriff and rushed to
Elaine.
Negroes Halt Posse.
The first posse to arrive was met by
a force of armed negroes and immedi-
ateiy sent back urgent calls for reel-
forcements. declaring the negroes were
assembling in large numbers and had
begun promiscuous firing on white per-
sons. Additional posses were organised
here and at other centres of population
in the county and rushed to the scene.
pitched battle In the streets OF Elaine
between the posses and negroes.
Early reports said between a thou
sand and fifteen hundred negroes had
assembled in the vicinity OF Elaine and
were armed with high powered rifles. A
girl telephone operator, between
screams, told an official here fighting
was in progress In the streets Mes
sages followed In quick succession urg-
ing additional reenfercoments, guns and
ammunition. A message was sent to
the Governor asking his aid in obtain
ing troops from Camp Pike.
In one message Chief Deputy Dalsell. in
charge Of the posse at Elaine, telephoned
! that his force was greatly outnumbered
and that firing had become general
Later II was reported that the negroes
had been driven from Elaine, but that
fRhting was still in progress a mile 20
2 he ho al
to have received reenforcements. Fight
ing In this vicinity continued late in the
afternoon, but died down toward dark
and wearied posse men began to return.
Early tonight, however. negroes were
reported again congregated in the out
skirts of Elaine and Joseph C. Meyers, in
charge of one of the posses, said he ex-
pected another battle to begin at any
moment. An hour later, however, a
message was received saying the situa-
ton had grown no worse.
Negroes All Armed.
The fighting apparently continued
throughout the morning and most Of the
afternoon. as a telephone message from
Elaine shortly before o'clock said that
shots were being exchanged between
whites and blacks In the streets OF the
town.
Joseph Solomon. president OF the
Helena Chamber OF Commerce. said to-
night that two or three wounded white
men, in addition to Proctor, have been
brought to Helena for treatment. City
officials here have also received a mes
sage from Joseph Myers, who was in
command OF. the posse which started
after the murderers OF Adkins. saying
the situation at Elaine was critical and
requesting reinforcements to help keep
order until the arrival of the troops.
More than hundred negroes and
a white man who is alleged to have had
0oRtinIsd on Fourth Po0s.