Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-07-28
One Negro Is Drowned
When Another SWIM
mer Knocks Him From
Raft With Stone.
Mobs Swarm Into State
Street Where Clashes
Occur for Distance Of
More Than Five Miles.

Chicago, July 27.-One negro was
drowned, a white man was reported
drowned, one negro probably fatally
wounded, a policeman wounded and
nearly score of whites and blacks in
Jured by bullets or missiles in a series
of riots in the negro district this after
noon. The trouble started at the Twen-
ty-ninth street beach, where whites and
blacks are segregated, spread along
Twenty ninth street to State street.
distance of nearly a mile. and along the
latter, the main thorofare in the heart
of the negro district, which extends
about five miles. The shooting started
near the beach.
Altho i'll feeling between whites and
blacks on the south side has extended
over period of months and has been
emphasized by bomb explosions, some
shooting and numerous fights, today's
riots seem to have had their start in
petty quarreling at the beach. Altho
several reasons were assigned. the po-
lice were unable to determine what act
ually started the disorder
Reports that negroes wandered across
the dividing line to the white section
of the beach. and that whites amused
themselves by throwing small stones at
some of the negro bathers, particularly
on raft, appeared the most plausible
cause. Soon after the fighting started
negro fled pursued by a number OF
whites.
Shoots at Policeman.
A policeman rushed out of a house
and joined in the pursuit The negro
took shelter behind building and be-
gan shooting at the policeman who re-
turned the fire. The negro then sur
rendered. During the fight one negro
was probably fatally wounded in the
abdomen. The fighting soon had Twen-
ty-ninth street packed with whites and
blacks, the latter predominating
A fire broke out in small building
in the neighborhood and fire apparatus
was blocked by the throngs. Negroes
are said to have attempted to drag the
firemen from their seats and further
fighting ensued.
Along State street, particularly near
Thirty first, the very heart of the black
belt, and at Thirty-fifth street, white
men were frequeLtly attacked and beat
en-. the police said.
At the beach while missiles wers
flying, the negro on the raft was report
ed to have been struck with a rock and
hurled into the lake. Later the body OF
a negro was taken from the water.
White Man Drowned.
A white man, swimmer, also was re-
ported hit and drowned. Several hours
later only the negro's body had been re-
covered altho search of the lake was
continuing.
With the police stations emptied Of
reserves and scores of others rushed
from north and west side stations. Act-
ing Chief of Police Alcock orderd out
every man available to prevent further
outbreaks, and the police soon had the
situation in hand. altho the negroes were
in bad temper. Late tonight no further
serious rioting was reported.
Hospital reports showed one negro
shot thru the abdomen. probably fatally;
another slightly wounded and police.
man shot in the shoulder. Other per-
sons, including one white woman. were
injured by missiles, none seriously.
The negroes were especially incensed
at reports of members of their race be-
ing injured or insulted. Many wild ru-
mors made the rounds. One was that
q little negro girl had been killed and
that that was the cause of the rioting.
Score Are Injured.
Tne police were unable to make an
egimate of the number injured in the
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