The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1920-08-06
FIVE KILLED, MANY HOMES BURNED
RESULT Of R!Q]I[. R!!Qll][..! IA .....|SGiS TOWN

west Frankfort, ILL.,, August g.
Following night of rioting in which
nve persons are believed to have been
kilied and scores injured, comparative
quiet was restored today. Approxi-
mately 5000 foreigners, against
whom the rioters directed their at
tack had left town and this, coupled
with the arrival of $50 militiamen of
the Ninth Illinois Infantry, tended to
A number of homes were burned
mob, at its heighth, numbered about
1000 men. Foreigners fled in all di-
rections, taking what articles of
property they could with them.
Ihe outbreak got underway short
ly after 10 o'clock last night and con-
tlnued to nearly daybreak. At times
the mob split up in sections and it
was reported that some divisions
drive foreigners into nearby woods.
The homes of about fifty foreign
ers were fired and the residents were
clubbed and mauled as they emerged
from the burning buildings to escape
incineration.
Troops arrived under command of
MAJOR w. +. Satterfield. Two other
companies from Carlo are expected
later.
The troops were stationed in sec
tions of the town, principally inhabit-
ed by persons of foreign birth and
instructed to protect the property
abandoned by the fugitives.
Witnesses to the rioting said a
number of foreigners had been beaten
into insensibility bySthe mob, many
being trampled upon.
Several women were hit by mis-
siles, it was said Many of those
beaten according to these accounts,
were left in the streets, and wre pick
ed up by relatives after the mob had
gone to other sections of the town.
Following formation Of the mob,
Fox and Sheriff Watkins to leave
town, or else give the rioters free
reign: A press censorship was es-
tablishd to keep news of the rioting
from the outside world.
| Public indignation was aroused fol-
lowing the arrest of Settino- De Ses-
mis- in connection with the murders of
Amiel Calcaterra and Tony Hefnpel,
two youths. A mob formed and
stormed the Jail at Marion, where
De5t Sesnis was incarcerated, but
COUNTY. officials had been advised of
1.-THE mob.s approach, and spirifed the
Il lpftSotterSs sffWays VI SSs-ss.s .$,sit y s,
intensified when two other men, be-
4 lived to be Sicilians, were arrested
in connection with the murders. The
mob, hearing of the arrests, visited
the Jail here and demanded that the
prisoners be turned over. The de-
mand was refused, but committee
of the mob was PRINTED to speak to
the prisoners.
One of the prisoners is reported to
have admitted he drove De Sesnis
and the two boys to Royalton Mon
day. This, coupled with reports that
the youths had been served with a
"blackhand" letter admonishing them
to silence concerning bank robberies
in southern Illinois, incensed the
crowds against the foreign element
and the rioting ensued.
Count Giulio Bolegnesi, italian
Consulate, Chicago, telephoned the
Italian Embassy today that he and
the Vice Counsul were proceeding to
West Frankfort, Ill.,, to make a.per-
sonal investigation of the attacks by
q mob on Italian rsidents there.
Where representations regarding the
attacks will be made to the State De-
partment probably will depend large
ly upon the Consul's final report.
Mayor Bailey this afternoon issued
a proclamation ordering all theatres
to close at seven o'clock tonight. The
police department requested citizens
to remain at home tonight in the
hope of preventing reoccurrence of
rioting.
Springfield, ILL.,, August 6.-Five
hundred more Illinois militiamen are
to be sent to West Frankfort, Ad-
jutant General Frank S. Dickson an
nounced. He received word this
afternoon from Major Wilbur Sat-
terfeld commanding, the troops in
West Frankfort that the situation
was still threatening. :,