Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-09-30
FEDERAL TROOPS GUARD OMAHA
READY TO QUELL RACE RIOTINe
STEPS TO FIX RESPONSIBILITY
Officials Confident Presence of Soldiers WIN
+. Prevent Further Outbreaks Machine Gums
Ready If Necessary--City Under Complete
Control of the Military - Proclamation As
sures Protection to All Mayor Still i'm Hos
pital Suffering from Injuries at Hands of
Mob-New Court House Is Practically Des-
royed by Fire

Omaha, Neb.. sept 2s.-With 500
troops from Forts Omaha and Crook.
Nebraska. and Camp Dodge. Iowa.
ON riot duty and with 500 more SOL
diei-s due To arrive tonight. Omaha
officials were confident that there
would be no further outbreak of the
race lioting which yesterday ana last
night resulted in the death of two
persons. injuries to several score 9TH
ers, an attempt to lynch Mayor E.
p. Smith and partial destruction ny
fire of the county court house
The troops have machine guns
ready to put into use II necessary.
Headquarters were established at
Central Police Station by Col. ]. E.
MOTHS. 10th Infantry commander of
the military forces IN the city. Mem
oers OF the, police department were
put under Col. Morris orders. Mai.
General Leonard Wood is expected
10 arrive tonight or tomorrow to take
charge of the situation.
Developments during the day in
cluded.
Announcement by County Attorney
A v shotwel that he would do ev-
erytnlng in his power TO fix the re-
sponsinaiity for the rioting and 10
start prosecutions.
A proclamation by Lit Col. Jacob
w ;. Wuest. commanding officer at
Fort omafla- promising protection tn
idi, and asking that fire arms be given
over To the police or military an
thcrities.
The sIafioning of federal t..oouz
near the hospital where Mayor Srnits,
hes suffering from injuries received
when the mob attempted to Ivnrh
) him.
inauguration by local authorities
precautions TO guard against a
Iresh outbreak including the trans
p"rtaaon of negro prisoners in lails
! n-re 70 the penitentiary at Lincoln.
The city was quiet throughout m.
''aE. soldiers patrulling the s.ra.+,
10 prevent the congregation on street
| corners OF groups of persons.
information from Ford hospital wa.
10 me effect thar the physicians at
encing Mayor Smith have little fear
OF complications setting in.
Mayor smith was the victim sev-
efa4 Years ago Of an accident which
required serious operation on his
SKILL During the attempt to nlaee
ms lie In jeopardy Sunday the
mayor received severe blow on the
mead from the effects of which corn-
phcatlons were feared.
On account Of his previous ciisa hill =
Ity, the mayor had. for a long time.
refrained from violent exercise of M,
kinds.
Sheriff Clark. who had charge of
about 1Oe prisoners in the county ja.l
oman upper floor of he court house
building tonight told how he attemp-
ted TO prevent members of the moo
which forced its way into the build
ing from getting possession of Brown.
When the heat of the burning
building became intense the prison.
ers were taken to the roof or safety.
The crowds IN the streets below were
shouting demands for the negro.
Other negro prisoners attempted u.
throw Brown from the building bur
| were overpewered and prevent. /
from doing SO by the sheriff and his
deputies.
Shots were fired by the mob in the
| street toward the top of the building
where the prisoners were.
Other shots were coming from the
roofs of nearby buildings. Fire was
beiching frum the air shafts and a
dense smoke was making il almost
impossible for the men to breathe.
Some Of the prisoners were praying:
. others cursing. Some OF them prayed
that the officers give up Brown be-
| cause they believed they would I've
saved IL he were abandoned To his
I fate.
Brown. reports indicate was the
coolest man of all the prisoners.
He had nothing to say He seemed
to realize. Sheriff Clark said. that
every other prisoner wanted hin,
turned over To the mob in the street
below
Finally, after the prisoners had
been on the roof about Is minutes
| the sheriff decided to take the men
to the floor below Sheriff Clark sta
toned himself ON a stairway to pre-
/ vent them from rushing madiy dewn.
In the meanf1me. members of fiss
| mub from the street had worlssd fneH
wav up to the top Of the iszi5d.ng
"The winnie sfzirwAv Jusr neaow
me WAS jusf jxmmed watn rioters,
4 Shnrfff Clark anEd-