RACE RIOTS IN CHICAGO

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 60, 4 December 1919, Page 7

RACE RIOTS IN CHICAGO

A NEW 7,EA LANDER'S EXPERIENCES. At the weekly gathering of tho Pnlmerston North Luncheon Club, Mr. J. H. Watt, who has recently returned from a trip through America and Canada, gave an entertaining account of his experiences. In referring to tho gravity of fho race riots in Chicago ho said that this had been very much minimised by the Press generally. It had been stated by the newspapers thnt there had beeu 3G deaths of negroes, but the inside estimate was nearer 3ISOO. During the timo> that tho riots were going on it was dan-< gerous to go about the streets, of the city. Fleeing negroes were pursued % tho crowd and shot at in everv direction. Even white women took a hand in tho game, firing from tho window,? of their houses. In one place Mr. Watt saw a black thrown from <t seventh-story window and killed. A police natrol simnlv camo along and removed tho body, but no inquiries appeared to be mado as to where it camo from. The trouble aroso In the first case through the spiriting nwav of white girls. Then the returned soldiers took a collective hand. Trouble also arose because negro soldiers, who hnd been treated as enuals in France, wero rolegated to their inferior stains on their return, and aeainsf. this they showed activo resentment. While the trouble was on great nnmbcrs of waiters and waitresses were circled from the restaurants and boardinghouses and transferred in police wagons to the native quarter. When the trouble was over the proprietors were'glad to get them batk. because they were very much more industrious and efficient than the casual helpers.