The north Mississippi herald. (Water Valley, Yalobusha Co., Miss.) 1888-1929, 1919-10-03
Clash Precipitated When Dep
uty Sheriffs Attempted to
Arrest a Notorious Negro
Bootlegger - Negroes Fired
Upon the Officers Without
Warning, Then Whole Ne
gro Section Took Up Fight.

| Helena, Ark, Oct. 1.-Ten are
dead, three whites and seven negi oes
three more white men have been
wounded, 100 negroes are said to be
under arrest and 500 federal troops
may be rushed to Elaine. "a miles
south of here, as the result of the
ambushing of a party of white Of
fcers last night and race war that
has been carried on all day between
posses of citizens from all over Phil
lips County and armed bands of
| blacks.
Five hundred federal troops from
Camp Pike, requested by Gov. Brough
from the War Department, armed
with rifles and machine guns, were
orderd to be ready tonight to go to
Elaine, while the clans from all over
Phillips and surrounding counties are
sending armed white men to quell the
disorder. Gov. Brough accompanied
the troops.
| Helena, the largest city in this part
of Arkansas, is tonight an armed
camp, with all streets being patrolled
by citizens hastily deputized by Sher-
| iff Kitchens
Reports from MARVEL and other
towns of this section where large
numbers of returned negro soldiers
reside; declare ominous rumblings are
| in the air. Tonight women and chill
dren of Elaine were taken from the
town in train composed of gon-
dolas, only to be fired upon from am
bush.
Eif+oa,, oaoroos o,,d ~ ,,,b;+o ,,.;s
| oner arrived in Helena from Elaine
tonight under heavy guard. The
white man is said to have beenl the
leader of the negroes engaged in op-
posing the officers and citizens in the
| fighting today. The Jail here is very
strongly guarded, yet feeling is above
fever heat.
Adkins, special agent for the Mis-
souri, Pacific Railway, was killed from
ambush at Hoop Spur, two miles
north of Elaine, early last night.
Lee, of Helena, ex-world war sol
|ydier, member of Richard L. Kitchens
Post, American Legion and member
of sheriff's posse sent to Elaine to
quell disorders breaking out last
night, is reported to have been shot
accidentally.
Tappan, former lieutenant and
soldier in the world war, member of
the local post, American Legion, was
shot in fighting around Elaine this
morning.
Pratt was wounded in the knee
when his party was fired. on from
ambush last night.
Ira Proctor of Helena, former sol
der in the world war, member of the
local post, American Legion, and
member of sheriff's posse sent from
Helena to Elaine this morning.
Went After Glenn.
Early last night a message from
Elaine stated that a notorious boot
logger named Glenn had 'gone on a
rampage" and was threatening to
kill his wife. Other members of the
same family of Elaine were implicatl
ed sin the row. The message con-
tanned request for officers to arrest
the Glenn family and prevent further
disturbance. Sheriff Kitchens, who
has been i'll for several days and un-
able to attend to his duties personally,
sent a posse, composed of Adkins,
Pratt, deputy sheriff, and a negro
trusty to arrest the disorderly citizens
and stop their activities. The posse
left Helena in an automobile. When
opposite negro church at Hoop Spur
stopped to fix puncture or some
thing which happened to the car.
While engaged in this they were fired
upon by unknown persons, presuma-
bly, negroes concealed in the church.
Adkins was killed outright, Pratt was
wounded in the knee, and the negro
trusty escaped without injury. The
trusty crept away from the scene and
made his way to a nearby railroad
station, where he telephoned the facts
to the sheriff at Helena Pratt, who
at first could not be found, arrived at
Helena this morning at IL 80 and was
taken Immediately to the hospital,
where he is now, suffering with a
! shattered knee.