Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1919-08-06
TROOPS IN CHARGE
OF CHICAGO RIOTS
Governor of Illinois Orders State
Militia on Duty.
ATTITUDE OF RACES MENACE
After Tour of Inspection Adjt. Gen,
Dickson Reports That the Crisis
Is GraVer Than Ever-9,0oo
Troops Under Arms.

Chicago, July Ex-Governor Lowden
has ordered the state militia to take
charge of the riot situation here at
once Eight thousand troops are mo-
bilized under arms and ready for any
emergency that may arise.
The governors decision was arrived
at after a tour of inspection of the
''black belt by Adjutant General Dick
son. Within a few minutes after the
order was issued, motortrucks were
busy hurrying troops to the disturbed
district.
Peril Is Imminent.
''There is no point at which you can
put down a finger and say the danger
is here,'" said General Dickson. but
the general temper of the people, both
black and white, is bad. Things are
potentially dangerous.
81 talked to police captains, officers
of the militia and citizens. They all
said they feared what might happen
during the night Mobs are gathering
Oh the outskirts of the black belt made
up of white hoOdlums and rOwdies.
1.-THE sniping within the district con-
tinues. The blacks are getting short
of food and in a nasty temper.
II sent for all my colonies as soon
as I got back from the South side.
told them to hurry back to their arm
,ories, assemble their men in company
formation and be prepared to go out
AT a moments notice"
Armories Get Busy.
That the order of the general was
literally Obeyed soon became evident
iat the armories. Motortrucks that
have been held in readiness to trans
port the soldiers to the scene of trou-
bile since Monday morning were backed
up to the armOry doors. Company
commanders were allotted trucks for
their men, 40 to truck, and bayonets
were fixed on 5000 rifles. Cartridge
belts and bandoliers were refilled to
their utmost capacity. The men were
reminded, in talks by their officers, of
the standing orders issued to cover the
riot situation:
"Use butts and bayonets-fire as a
last resort.
TRY to placate the crowd, but stand
firm on enforcing order.
DRAW no color line-a white rioter
is as dangerous as a negro rioter and
must be handled with the same brand
of firmness."
One More Slain.
There was but one killed since morn
ing, though many had been shot Three
others, all white, died in hospitals.
G. L. wilkins, an insurance collec-
tor, was shot by a negro man as he
was coming out of 1925 Federal street.
He died in the Provident hospital.
Shortly before eight o'clock three
colored men in an automobile passing
through an alley near Twenty-fourth
street and Princeton avenue fired a vol
ley. August Victoria was hit in the
shoulder; Thomas Possell was wound
ed in the stomach. Both are white.
Victoria is ten years old.
Negroes in Homes Armed.
The negroes in their eight square
miles of territory stayed in their
homes all day. In many of these
homes were stores of guns and am
tluuulllOu LII SOluC VI lhclu WCIS
wounded men.
The "black belt" was in a state of
siege. On every street were armed po-
licemen. Outside were armed white
gangs waiting for the negroes to come
out. There had been little food deIiv-
erred there since Sunday. The citizens
Of the beleaguered city were hungry
and desperate and mourning their dead
and wounded.
500 Patrol Loop.
The state conStabulary, 500 men in
charge of Bert Hazleton and Walter
Stuart were policing the loop, prevent
ing trouble, while the police reserves
were regulating traffic.
The regular poi re, the 5000 vet
erans who have Ieen on duty since
MAnday, were tire out with their
huge task. Their nerves were strained
and ready to snap. Several of their
officers had called for the chief to send
the Goops into the area.
Meanwhile w J. Brennan, head of
the bureau of justice of the depart
ment of Justice, was making an inves-
tigation 80 that he might have the
facts ready for the government should
they be required. Thus a city, state
and federal Investigation is under way
to learn the conditions and causes of
the rioting ann TO fix the responsibility.
The police have much evidence
which will be used in the prosecution
OF those guilt,v-but not until the
roundup of the guilty has been accom-
DliShed