Omaha daily bee., 1919-10-02

lily to prvent further disturbances.
Fired on from Church.
The automobile in which Pratt,
Adkins and the negro trusty were
riding, it is related, was stopped be-
fore the Hoop Spur church to re-
pair puncture and while working
on the car the party was fired upon
from the church by unidentified per-
sons. Adkins dropped dead and
Pratt was wounded The trusty,
who escaped unwounded, made his
way to nearby railroad station and
telephoned report of the incident
to the sheriff. Pratt made his way
to Helena this morning despite his
shattered knee and was taken imme-
diately to the hospital.
The accounts of the deputy and
the negro trusty indicating the at
tack on the three men had been
made by an organized band of ne
groes, posses were hastily organ
lied by the sheriff and rushed to
Elaine.
The first posse to arrive was
met by force of armed negroes
and Immediately sent back urgent
calls for reinforcements, declaring
the negroes were assembling in
large numbers and had begun pro-
miscuous firing on white persons.
Additional posses were organized
here and at other centers of popu-
lation in the county and rushed to
the scene. Within an hour, reports
came of a pitched battle in the
streets of that town between the
posses and negroes.
$500 Negroes Assemble.
Early reports said that between
1000 and $500 negroes had as
sembled 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. Messages followed in
quick succession urging additional
reinforcements, guns and ammuni-
ton. Every available man was sent
to Elaine and message was sent
TO the governor asking his aid in
obtaining troops from Camp Pike.
In one message, Chief Deputy J
R. Dalsell, in charge of the posse
at Elaine, telephoned that his force
was greatly outnumbered and thai
firing had become general. .
Later it was reported that the
negroes had been driven from
Elaine, but that fighting was still in
progress a mile to the north, where
the band was supposed to have re.
ceived reinforcements. Fighting in
this vicinity continued late in the
afternoon, but died down toward
dark, and wearied possemen began
to return to Helena.
Expect Another Battle.
Early tonight, however, negroes
were reported again congregating in
the outskirts of Elaine, and, Joseph
c. Meyers. in charge of one of the
posses, said he expected another
battle to begin at any moment. Ar
hour later, however. message was
received saying the situation had
grown no worse.
The returning posse brought
numerous stories and suspicious
through all of which ran the belle
that the rioting was due to propa.
ganda distributed among thu
negroes by white men. 1t wa:
clearly indicated. they said. ttsre
was an organization of negroes an
tagonistic to the white residents If
the southern part of the county
Negroes in that section. it is re
lated, have asserted they will no
pick The present cotton crop unles:
paid their own price. and number:
Of them are reported to have refused
to work for the white farmers fol
any wages.
Whites Back Of Trouble.
1t is said that negroes of the vi
cinity have been holding secre
meetings at night and that unidenti
fled white men have BEEN circulat
ing literature among them.
When the situation in Helena be-
came tense leading negroes wer,
called to meet with white citizen.
and conditions were discussed
frankly with expressions of mutua
confidence and pledges to sustain or
der in this city.
Enough equities, consistin,
chiefly of discharged soldiers, wer,
sworn in to patrol every block in thu
city.
| Elaine has population of 400 ant
is supported chiefly by the Gerart
B. Lambert Lumber company. TIL,
ratio of population in that section o
! the county is said to be seven ne
| groes to three white persons.
Won't Send Troops.
Little Rock, Ark, Oct. Al
though Secretary of War Baker AM
General March, chief of staff of tn
United States army, were said t.
have authorized the sending o
troops to Elaine, Phillips county
Scene of today's race riots. the sol
| dfers had not left Camp Pike lat
tonight. 1t was reported that Maj
Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis, commando
of Camp Pike, refused to sent
troops without orders from the Wa
department.
| Governor Brough said secyetar,
Baker told him over the telephon,
this afternoon that Major Genera
Sturgis had the authority to sen,
troops if he considered this aetio,
advisable. The governor said tina
he received kilograms from U. S
Senators Robinson and Kirby o
Arkansas quoting General March t.