The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-23
CAPITAL FRONT
Washington Was PatrOIed Last
Night Like War Zone.
Rain and 1900 Heavily Armed
Troops Kept Down Riots.
ONE MORE KILLED, HOWEVER
Brings Total to FiVe-HOspitaIs
Literally Overlooking.
Three Battle Tanks Held in Re-
serve To Quell RiOting.

Washington, July 23.--AItho there
was sporadic firing of fire arms in
some of the negro districts until early
this morning, the major casualties
in last nights clashes between whites
and negroes consisted of only one
white man killed and another prob
ably fatally wounded. Scores were
injured in varying degrees as a result
of physical encounters.
The man killed last night was Isaac
Halbfinger and the seriously wounded
man was Benjamin Belmont, both
members OF the defense guard and
who were shot down on the street by
a negro while doing duty in one of
the black districts.
Rain and Troops Halt Riots.
An an-night rain and the presence
OF over two thousand heavily armed
command of Major General William
G. Ham, doing duty with the seven
hundred police and several hundred
home defense guards acted as de-
torrent upon any attempt at organized
mob violence.
The closing Of pool rooms. moving
picture houses and other places where
crowds OF negroes might gather and
the policy of the police and military
to keep everybody moving enabled the
authorities to keep the situation well
in hand.
Blacks Took the Offensive.
As on Monday night, the most of
the aggression last night appeared to
come from the blacks who had armed
themselves for retaliation on the
whites following the beating of a
number OF negroes Saturday and Sun
day nights. Practically all of the
more serious trouble was in one dis
trict. Revised figures early today for
the period of disorders since Monday
showed five dead and at least ten
fatally wounded. Hundreds were less
seriously hurt and the jails and the
hospitals were literally OVERLOOKING.
The situation today was regarded
as much better than at any time since
the Tioting between whites and blacks
began Saturday night.
No mobs were permitted to form
last night. Squadrons of cavalry made
several dashes thru streets where
crowds were congregating and scat
tered them. Every policeman who
armed soldiers. In addition, troops
were posted at every point in the city
where there was danger Of a clash
between white men and negroes. Army
motor trucks were held ready to trans
port soldiers quickly and three tanks
were in reserve.
just AS at Battlefront.
Major General Ham established
headquarters in the District building,
which corresponds to a city hall.
HAN, just back from France where he
commanded the 32nd division during
the war. made a personal tour of the
city during the night. inspecting the
Z troop dispositions. He said he be-
lieved the situation was well in hand.
His staff was with him, just as at the
western front, and regular telephone
reports were received from officers
I commanding the guards.
Conferences were to be held today
to decide whether it will be necessary
. to preserve the present military
strength tonight.
President Wilson was being kept
advised of developments. Appoint
ment of Major General Ham to "su-
preme command" was announced late
yesterday after the president had con-
ferred with Secretary Baker.