Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-08-03

Chicago, Aug 2.-As a result of
the fire which early today destroyed
six blocks of homes of stock ward
be barred to prevent a possible recur-
renee of race riots. The announce
ment was made tonight after con-
ference of Governor Lowden and the
packers.
The stock yards district had been
storm center of racial feeling during
the riots, and with the disappearance
of serious outbreaks yesterdays, it
had been planned for the $1,000 negro
workers to return to their posts at
the stock yards tomorrow. But the
fire, which many of the foreign
workers who were made homeless de-
clared was started by negroes aggra-
waited feeling and changed the plans.
Although Fire Attorney Decade de-
clared many witnesses had told him
negroes had been seen to set fires
in the neighborhood, Governor Low
den was inclined to believe that labor
trouble rather than race feelink was
responsible.
First Death Due to Drowning.
Coroner Hoffman announced today
that no marks of violence had been
found on the body of Eugene Will
liams, colored youth, who was re-
ported struck and knocked from
raft into Lake Michigan late Sunday
at the goth street bathing beach when
stone throwing precipitated the
riots. The coroner stated that the
negro had not been struck by stones,
but had been drowned
George Stauber, white, is being
held by the police on charge of muir
der in connection with Williams
death.
Only few minor disturbances oc-
Cured today. In enc case. Mexican
Theodore Gracin, supposed to have
been mistaken for negro, was stab
bed, probably fatally by white man
in the stock yards district. At 33rd
street and Prairie avenue, a negro
was beaten by white man.
Negro attorneys are preparing
damage suits against the city as re-
suit of the riots. Under the state
law, persons who do not participate
in riots can recover from the NUM-
cipality for damage sustained. In
at least twelve cases of negroes
slain. attorneys have prepared suits
for $4,000.
A numbed of witnesses have been
found by the police who say they saw
several automobile sof negroes with
burning torches in the district shortly
before the fire was discovered. The
fire broke out in three different Sec
tions of the district at the same time
according to the police. Telephone
wires in the district went out few
moments after the blaze started
Several residents declare they saw ne
groes fleeing from the scene after the
fire was discovered. A number of
shots were fired at negroes in auto
mobiles who, it is said, were attempt
ing to escape after the fires were
started. One negro was said to have
been wounded but was carried away
by his companions.
Fire Chief O'Connor, after hasty
investigation declared that the fires
were undoubtedly of incendiary orr
gin and evidently started by throw
ing gasoline on the outside Of the
buildings and applying lighted
torch or matches.
Fire Attorney Harry Donnelly gave
the police the names of IL persons
who declare they saw negroes in the
district bearing burning torches and
cutting telephone wires.
The situation in other sections Of
the danger zone OF, the South side was
reported satisfactory to the authori-
ties although there were number Of
minor disturbances.
FOR SALE.