New-York tribune., 1919-09-30
Scores Injured in Racial
Disorders; Condition of
Mayor, Nearly Lynched,
Is every Satisfactory"
Negro Prisoners
Are Transferred
General Wood Expected
to Take Charge To-day;
Many Policemen Quit

OMAHA, Ncb., Sept. 29.-With 500
troops from Forts OMAHA and Crook.
Nebraska, and Camp Dodge. Iowa. on
riot duty and with 500 moro soldiers
due 10 arrive later tonight. Omaha
officials were confident there would be
no further outbreak of the race rotlng
which yesterday and last night result
ed in the death of two persons, III
jurics to scores of others. an attempt
to lynch Mayor l.. =. Smith and par
tal destruction BY Arc of the county
courthouse.
The troops have machine guns ready.
Headquarters were established at
Central police station by Colonel J. L.
Morris, Goth Infantry, commander o.
the military forces in the city Mem
bers Of the Police Department were
put under Colonel Morris's orders. Cen
eral Leonard Wood, commander Of the
Central Department Of the Army, is en-
pected to arrive in the city tonight
or tomorrow TO take charge OF the SIT.
uatlon.
Developments in Situation
After the soldiers had begun restor-
Ing order in the city. many police Of
fcers, it was reported, stripped them
selves OF their Insignia OF authority
and resigned forthwith. Most of the
policemen who quit were men who had
come into the service during the pres
ent city administration.
Developments IN the situation during
the Day included:
Announcement by County Attorney
A. v Shotwell that he would do
everything in his power to fix the
responsibility for the rioting and to
start prosecutions.
Issuance of a proclamation by
Lieutenant Colonel Jacob W. S.
Wuest, commanding officer at Fort
Omaha. promising protection to all
and asking that firearms be given
over to the police or military author
tiles.
Prosecutions Promised
DEVELOPMENTS Of to-day included the
announcement by County Attorney A.
v. Shotwell that a determined effort
would be made to search out and pun
lsh the rioters, and the issuance Of q
proclamation by Lieutenant Colonel
Wuest, commanding officer at Fort
Omaha promising protection to life
and property.
Omaha apparently was not ashamed
bf its deeds of last night. Only among
the highest type of business and pro-
fesional men was regret expressed for
the lynching, the burning Of the court
house and the attempt to hang Mayor
Smith. The ordinary man in the street,
the workingmen and the clerks, seemed
to glory in the fact that the mob had
accomplished its object, regardless of
the cost
Late to-day information from Ford
!, Hospital was to the effect that ply
slcans attending Mayor Smith have
Slight fear of complications setting in.
Mayor Smith was the victim several
years ago of an accident which required
serious operation on the skull. He
wears a silver plate where a small por-
non Of the skull was removed at that
time. During the attempt TO place
his life in jeopardy Sunday the Mayor
iecelyed severe blow on the head,
from the effects of which the danger
d complications was feared.
Latest reports Of the rioting estimate
tast forty-five to sixty persons were
injured. Only two persons were killed,
However. These were William Brown.
negro, who was taken from the county
isil and lynched, and white man,
elarence Clancy, aged twentyth three, of
4 Omaha
How Brown Was Seized
Sheriff NJ. l.. Clark, who had charge
Of about one hundred prisoners at the
county Jail, on an upper floor of the
ssourthouse building, tonight told Of
Z now he attempted to prevent members
oi the mob which forced its way into
sne building from getting possession
Of Brown
When tho heat from the burning
puidng became intense. the prisoners
were taken 10 the roof for safety.
While on the top of the building the
crowds in the streets below were shout
ncf fA tod
u'her negro prisoners attempted to
Mrow Brown from the building, but
we're overpowered and prevented from
aeo'ng so by the Sheriff and his depu
Shots we're being fired by the mob
"a The street toward the top of the
'aliaing where the prisoners were.
uther shots were coming from the
tioofs of nearby buildings. Fire was
Se!ching from the airshafts, and
ushso black smoke was making it al
ssost sst impossible for the men to breathe.
some ss, Of the prisoners were praying.
ssshers cursing. Some of them prayed
s saa' the officers give up Brown, be-
u sause they believed they would be
fate. "0ie "'"''N''NN
rinally, after the prisoners had been
81 shs roof about fifteen minutes, the
es''i decided to take them to the
a0or below. and stationed himself on
stairway to prevent them from rush
: ,madly down. Meanwhile members
- the mob had worked their way up to
"'s !op Of the building
"h'ie | was standing on the stair
by, the Sheriff said, "I was con-
sh.ed with the onrushing mob. AS
nu.. tfying to hold them of, Brown was
Iahed by, into the hands of the men
sao were after his hfe.s