Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-01
RACE RIOTS
CHECKED AT
KNOXVILLE.
Situation Under Control
With Arrival of State
Military Forces.

Knoxville, Tenn, Sept. 1.-Quiet
prevailed throughout the city and
suburbs this morning, after the
race rioting of Saturday night and
Sunday. Last night military pa
trolls were stationed in the bust
ness section and in the territory
where negro population is great
est. No disorder was rep6rted.
Pedestrians and automobiles
we're ordered OF the streets at 10
o'clock. Every pedestrian or au-
tomobile seen was held up by
soldier or policeman and was made
TO give an accounting before being
permitted TO proceed.
Despite the fact that today is
holiday. expected crowds had not
appeared on the streets during the
morning. Here and there groups
Of men appeared, but they were
not permitted to gather in num-
bers. the move on" order being
enforced by police and militia pa
trolls. Negroes were searched for
firearms and other weapons.
One white man and two negroes
we're wounded yesterday in rioting
between whites and blacks grow
ing out Of Saturday nights dis
orders
Saturday nights riots. which fol-
lowed attacks on the county Jail by
a mob OF more than 1000 persons.
bent On obtaining Maurice Maye6.
q negro accused OF killing a white
woman, were quelled early vester-
day. but as the day wore on Incl
pient Tioting broke out afresh de-
spite the presence in the city of
200 national guardsmen. SeTen
persons were killed.
GnardSman Shoots Negro.
One of the negroes wounded yes
terday was snot By a gUardsman
while resisting search. Many ne
groes during the night broke into
hardware stores and pawn shops
to obtain guns and ammunition. TO
prevent the bringing in of more
firearms. police and soldiers yes
terday searched all negroes arriV-
ing by train.
The attack on the Jail was made
by a mob of more than 1,000 whites
who believed Mayes was held
there. The negro. however, had
been taken to Chattanooga during
the day. but the mob declining to
accept the word of jail officers,
shot out the windows and battered
down the doors In gaining en-
trance to the Jail, the mob permit
ted 10 prisoners, several of them
murderers, to escape.
Troops ROut Mob.
Fooled in their attempt TO obtain
its intended victim and driven from
the vicinity of the Jail by guards
men hurriedly brought into the
city, the mob spread to outlying
parts of the city and sporadic riot
ing began at once and increased in
violence after midnight.
Troops meeting a hand of armed
negroes. who refused to give way.
turned machine guns on the blacks.
In the resulting exchange of shots
Lieutenant James W. Payne of
Providence, Ky, a regular army
instructor, and d private by the
name Of Henderson, we're killed.
In its attack on the Jail, the mob
came upon a large quantity of
whisky and casks apd
cases were smashed open, the
liquor vanishing quickly.
Launch Court Action.
the criminal court will convene
Wednesday to consider the case
against Mtyes, and acts of mob
violence.
No attempts were made to con
ceal identity, TO masks were worn,
and street lights in front OF the
Jail were not disturbed. A portion
Of the jail was lighted while the
men were searching it.
A hegira of negroes from the
city which began Sunday afternoon
continued today.