The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-07-31
And Fired Several Hundred
Shots Before the Rioters
Were Subdued and Cap
tured As Members of the
Gang - The Troops Had
Clashes with Roughs While
Taking Assignments.

Chicago, July 3l.-The main negro
quarters of Chicago to-day were patrolled
by 5000 soldiers, accoutered as for war
after four nights of race rioting that
caused 30 deaths III negroes and Is
whites, and the injury of more than SOC
persons, 200 of whom were severely hurt
and a dozen of whom may die. No
deaths were reported during the night
but many injuries and fires were record
ed.
Governor Frank o. Lowden ordered the
troops out last night on request of May
or William Fl. Thompson, after darkness
had brought renewed rioting and the
city's 5000 policemen found themselves
exhausted The first, second and third
reserve militia and 10th Illinois infantry
were sent on duty by Adjutant General
Dickinson, while the 9th regiment re-
manned in reserve at the stockyards and
the fourth reserves on the west side.
Fighting kept up after the troops
reached their stations shortly before mid
night, and one squad of soldiers had to
fight crowd of negroes to reach their
station at 4lst street and Wabash ave-
nue., while other soldiers were fred on
from ambush on the way to duty. No
soldier was killed or wounded, and after
the troops had taken their places dis
orders died down within the region pa
trolled
As the soldiers swung with steady gait
into the riot area, the roughs who had
been looking for fights disappeared as if
by magic. Some of the gangs sped to
territory hitherto uninfeeted by terror
ism and resumed their unlawful occupa-
tion, but most of the marauders, as rain
began to fall, retired for the night.
As each regiment reached its headquar-
ters the men were split into patrols of
eight who were sent out under non.
commissioned officers TO see that order
was preserved. Even the truculent ne
groes for the most part refrained from
fighting the soldiers, and by 2 o'clock in
the morning all was quiet in the troop
guarded territory.
200 Policemen Fought Band of Negroes
The most serious riot of the night took
place at SD and State streets, where 200
policemen fought nearly two hours a
crowd of negroes, firing several hundred
shots before the rioters were subdued
and As of them arrested 1t was only
after the patrolmen had chopped their
way into some of the buildings and
seized a dozen snipers with their rifles
and 500 cartridges that the fighting
ceased.
Although many heads were cracked as
the police charged the barricaded negroes
all the rifle fire resulted in the injury OF
only one person, Patrolman Emil John,
son, driver of a patrol wagon. He was
shot as the policemen dashed up to the
scene, and thereafter the bluecoats kept
in the shelter of their vehicles while ap.
preaching the row of houses.
Before the troops had all been as
signed, there were some minor clashes
with roughs, however The first melee
occurred in front of the shop base for
the motor transport corps at 5lst street
and Wabash avenue. Nine negroes
armed with revolvers, drove back and
forth in front of the base firing promis-
cuously, but hitting no one. squad of
soldiers soon came up and gave chase
capturing the negroes, after firing several
shots at them. Ten revolvers and sew.
eral razors were taken from the prison.
ers, who were then turned over to the
police.
Major Macy, in command of six com.
panies of the first reserves, and platoon
of his men were fired on by snipers at
5Sth street and Racine avenue. None OF
the soldiers was hit, and when they scat.
tered and sought their assailants, the
latter disappeared.
The first arrest made by soldiers, how
ever, was that of five white men, whose
automobile was searched because of their
rowdyism and found to contain revol.
yer.
While the soldiers were taking their
stations, crowd of whites surrounded
the home of John Coles, negro police.
man in Englewood, and rained bullets on
him and his wife. The house was severe.
ly damaged before policemen came to the
rescue.
United States Mail Interfered With.
Interference with the United States
mails has carried the riot situation
through official channels to Washington
Federal officials limited to-day that
troops would be asked to surround the
postofice, afFording protection for EN-.
ployes of both races and guaranteeing
delivery of mail.
Failure Of 1000 chauffeurs, carriers