New-York tribune., 1919-10-02
Deadly Race Battle Fol
lows Shooting From
Ambush of Railroad
Man in Elaine, Ark.
Troops Are Rushed
From Camp Pike
Train Taking Women and
Children to Safety Is
Fired Upon by Blacks

HELENA. Ark, Oct 1.-Two white
men, Clinton Lee and J. A. Tappen, of
Helena, and seven negroes are known
70 be dead at Elaine. near here, as
result Of clashes to-day between posse
Of citizens and gang of negroes, who
last night fired from ambush and killed
W. K. Adkins, railroad special agent
according to reports reaching here to-
night. A third white man, Ira Proctor
and number Of negroes are known to
have been wounded
The situation at Elaine is critical
and growing more acute, according to
a message received here tonight from
Joseph Meyers, who is heading the
posse. Meyers is quoted as saying he
expected another clash at any moment,
and requested that additional rein
forcements be sent. Five hundred
United States soldiers from Camp Pike
are due to reach Elaine at midnight
Negroes Fire Upon Posse
Tapren, who was a prominent busi-
ness man here, died at an hospital of
wounds received in this mornings
fighting in Elaine. Proctor. who also
was brought here, is not expected to
live. The body of Lee, who died from
his wounds at Elaine, also was brought
to his home here.
The trouble is reported to have had
It's beginning when the posse was fired
upon by crowd of negroes at Elaine
The fire was returned and in few
minutes became general
More than hundred negroes and
white man, who is alleged to have had
in his possession a quantity of ques-
tionable literature, have been arrested
by posses operating in Elaine and
vicinity, according to former Sheriff
Amos Jarman, who arrived here to-day
A number of the prisoners have been
brought to Helena and others, accord
ing to Jarman, are on the way under
heavy guard.
Women and children of Elaine and
vicinity are being brought to Helena
on special train for safety, it is re-
ported
Negros in trees along the tracks
are said to have fred on the train
carrying women and children
Armed men are patrolling the streets
here.
The trouble began last night when
Deputy Pratt and Adkins and a negro
trusty were ambushed opposite a negro
church at Hop Spur, two miles north
of Elaine, when on their way to arrest
members Of the Glenn family, who were
said to be involved in row among
themselves
The automobile in which Pratt, Ad-
kins and the negro were riding was
fired upon from the church by unidenti-
fed persons. Adkins dropped dead and
Pratt was wounded. The trusty. who
escaped unwounded. telephoned a report
OF the incident to the Sheriff
Posses were hastily organized and
rushed to Elaine. The first to arrive
was met by force OF armed negroes
and immediately sent back urgent calls
for reinforcements. declaring the negroes
were firing promiscuously on white per
sons. Additional posses were sent 10
the scene. Within an hour reports came
of pitched battle in Elaine.
A thousand negroes, it was said.
were armed with rifles. a girl tcle-
phone operator, between screams, told
of fighting in the streets message
was sent to the Governor asking his
aid in obtaining troops from Camp
Pike
Chief Deputy Dalsell, in charge OF
the posse at Elaine, telephoned that
his force was greatly outnumbered
and that firing had become general.
Negroes Driven from Elaine
Later it was reported that the ne
groes had been driven from Elaine, brt
that fighting was still in progress a
mile to the north, where the band was
supposed to have received reinforce
ments. Fighting in this vicinity con-
tinued late in the afternoon. but died
down toward dark, and wearied posse
men began to return to Helena.
The returning posses brought ma
merous stories, rumors and suspicious.
through all of which ran the belief
that the rioting was due to propaganda
distributed among the negroes by white
men.