Troops Called Out to Stop Fighting Between KKK and Knights of the Flaming Circle, Nov. 1, 1924

Troops Are Called Out to Stop Rioting in Ohio Town. . . Flaming Circle and Klan Clash in Bloody Fight. . . Niles Is Patrolled by State Troops to Prevent Further Outbreaks. . . Klan Dispersed. . . Visiting Klansmen Are Sent Out of the City by the Military. . . Mayor Out of Action. . . City’s Official Head Could Not Be Found and County Sheriff Took Entire Charge of the Situation; Governor Orders Out Troops After Receiving Word That Riot Was in Progress—Business Places Including Banks Close Up

By the Associated Press

Niles, Ohio, Nov. 1—State militia tonight patrolled the streets of Niles following a day of rioting between members of the Ku Klux Klan and Knights of the Flaming Circle. Quiet was rapidly returning tonight. Gun battles between flaming circle adherents and Ku Klux Klansmen had occurred near the meeting places of the rival factions. Pistol fights between speeding automobiles of klansmen and klan foes added to the casualty toll.

Several times shots were fired by the opposing factions into their rival camps. Many of these shots went wild as large number of men fell flat on the ground as firing started. Military control, however, was not established until after almost a dozen persons had been shot or badly mauled. Some are in hospitals in serious condition at Warren, the county seat of Trumbull county, five miles away.

As the big motor trucks rolled through the streets loaded with soldiers and machine guns mounted on their hoods and tops, shouts and cheers went up from the crowds which lined the streets. Sheriff John E. Thomas said this evening after a tour of the city that “everything is quiet and I don’t expect any more trouble.”

The sheriff with scores of special deputies had managed to keep the opposing forces from coming together en masse until the rival of state troops. His efforts in preserving order, however, did not prevent numerous sporadic clashes among detached units of the opposing forces, resulting in the casualties.

“I am tickled to death that it was no worse” was the only statement Sheriff Thomas would make tonight.

Colonel L.S. Connelly, of the 145th infantry, who was placed in command of all troops ordered to Niles by Governor Donahey, in a statement to the citizens of Niles said it was not his intention to impose unnecessary military regulations on them and urged all to co-operate with him in maintaining order.

Tonight practically all klansmen from other points had left the city or were rapidly leaving by back routes or avoiding entering the city. A special train carrying several hundred Klansmen from Kent and other cities arrived over the Erie railroad after military authorities had taken charge of the situation. They were not permitted to leave the train.

Many business places were closed tonight. All banks were closed though it is their custom to remain open on Saturday nights.

Throughout all today’s tense period, Mayor Harvey C. Kistler “probably is in the city somewhere attending to official duties.”

From the front page of the Durham Herald, Sunday, Nov. 2, 1924. The Klan only accepted white people who were protestant native-born American citizens. . The Knights of the Flaming Circle were a militant Klan that accepted white people who were Catholic and immigrants.

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84020730/1924-11-02/ed-1/seq-1/#words=NOVEMBER+2%2C+1924