New-York tribune., 1919-07-28
Mob browns Negro at
29th St. Beach, Where
Fight Starts as Blacks
Are Pelted With Pebbles
Clashes Continued !
On the South Side
Entire City Police Force
Is on Duty; Chief Says
Situation Is in Hand

CHICAGO, July PA series Of
riots in the negro district late to-day
resulted in the drowning Of one negro,
the reported drowning of white man,
probable fatal injury of another negro,
the wounding of a policeman and in
jury to score of whites and blacks
by bullets or missiles. Police tonight
said they had the situation we'll in
hand.
The trouble started at the Twenty
ninth Street Beach, where whites and
blacks are segregated, and soon spread
to State Street, and the main thorough
fare in the heart of the negro district,
which extends about five miles. Shoot
ing started near the beach. There was
also some shooting in the vicinity Of
State Street.
Although Ill feeling between whites
and blacks on the South Side has ex-
tended over period of months, em-
phaslzed by bomb explosions, some
shooting and numerous fights, to-day's
riots seem to have had their start in
petty quarrelling at the beach.
Started by Pelting Pebbles
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 negro bathers appeared the
most plausible cause. Soon after the
hightlng started a negro lied, pursued
by number of whites.
He took shelter behind a building
and began shooting at policeman who
had joined the pursuit and who re-
turned the fire. The negro finally sur
rendered.
During the fight one negro probably
was fatally wounded.
Twenty-ninth Street was soon packed
with whites and blacks, the latter pre-
dominating. More fighting occurred
and few shots were fired as some Of
the negroes fed, and patrol wagons
loaded with police reserves raced to the
scene.
fire broke out in small building
ana hre apparatus was blocked by the
throngs. Negroes are said to have
tried to drag the firemen from their
seats.
ROCK rights Numerous
During the fighting rocks. bricks and
other missiles were hurled, both at the
beach and at various points along Twen-
ty-nlnth Street and along State Street.
Whlte men were frequently attacked and
beaten on State Street. the police said.
At the beach while missiles were fly-
ing negro on raft was reported to
have been struck with rock and hurled
into the lake. Later the body of q
negro was taken from the water.
A white man, swimmer, also was RS.
ported hit and drowned
With the police stations emptied of
reserves and scores of others rushed
from North and West Side stations, Act
ing Chief of Police Alcock ordered every
available policeman on duty to prevent
further outbreaks. The small army of
policemen succeeded in bringing about a
talr semblance Of order.
Late tonight the streets of the dis
tricts where disorders occurred were
stlli fairly we'll filled with people, but
pollce kept the crowds moving and no
further trouble was expected.
Another Negro May Die
Police were unable to make an esti-
mate Of the number injured, because
in the many skrmishcs names of in
jured could not be learned. Late hos
pital reports showed one negro prob
ably fatally wounded, another slightly
wounded and policeman shot in the
shoulder. Four other persons, includ-
ing one white woman, were irjured by
missiles.
A rife bullet fired by negro grazed
the forehead Of a white man sitting at
the upper window of his home. He fell
out the window, but was only slightly
injured. The negro, according to spec
tators, had levelled the rife at police
man, but bystander struck the weapon
upward. The negro escaped.
The negro district has been steadily
increasing in recent years with the
influx of Southern negroes, who came
to work in big industrial plants Their
encroachment on white neigh borAoods
caused considerable trouble and during
the last year many clashes.
Negroes have charged that a number
Of bomb explosions in the district in
recent months were directed against
families of their race by white neigh
bors.
The "Black Belt" as it is known in
police circles, now comprises approxi-
mately twenty-five square miles and
includes only comparatively few
small white settlements