Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Chicago Calmer After Race Riot, Troops Not Needed, July 30, 1919

From The Wilson Daily News, July 30, 1919

Races Battle All Night In Chicago While 8,000 Troops Polished Their Bayonets and Filled Cartridge Belts Waiting for Orders Which Never Came From City Government. . . Two More Added to Death Toll

Chicago, July 30—Comparative calm prevailed this morning in the race riot district of this city. With the exception of sporadic outbursts in various parts of the city comparative quiet prevails. The officers were compelled to shoot only one and that was when a negro resisted arrest when an attempt to search him was made.

Governor Lesden (Lowden later in story) and other city officials were encouraged by the diminishing evidences of the mob spirit. Although every State militiaman was in the city, none of them were called out, the police believing all the while they were able to cope with the situation.

To date 27 deaths have occurred, while the number of casualties are merely speculative, so numerous are they. The greatest casualties at any one place occurred last night at State Street and 35th, where an automobile crash and street fights occurred.

The authorities report two deaths  last night and both of them negroes, one of these in the Italian quarter on the west side named Ira Henry, aged 40, who was shot and killed when he wounded one of two policemen who were searching him for weapons.

In other instances whites and negroes were either engaged in knife duels or shot at each other from alley ways or secluded places, or ran them down as they emerged from their hiding places.
Some stores were looted in the South side black belt and small fires occurred.

One negro was added to the list of deaths from injuries. Berger Oldman, a white man aged 32 employed by a telephone company, was shot in the abdomen last night and died this morning.


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