RACE RIOTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 490, 20 October 1928, Page 25

RACE RIOTS

Police and Negroes NEW YORK DISTURBANCE A fierce battle took place between 3,000 negroes and 150 police and firemen at Harlem, the negro district of New York, following the arrest by a constable of a negro named Clarence Donald. The negro rioters fired pistol shots, and hurled at the police bricks, table legs, flatirons, and any other missiles which came to hand. Four constables were injured, and had to be taken to hospital. The trouble started when Donald and two companions, who had been drinking, knocked at the door of the apartment of another negro named Henry Chabis, mistaking it for another man’s apartment. They demanded to see somebody whom Chabis did u»t know. An altercation followed, and Chabis shut the door on them.

The negroes then broke through the door panel, and tried to attack Mrs. Chabis, who came to her husband’s assistance (says the New York correspondent of the “London Daily Express”). Chabis then summoned a policeman on traffic duty to arrest Donald. A wild chase through the streets followed, and led eventually to Donald’s capture. Liberation Attempt Other negroes at once set on the constable, and attempted to liberate his prisoner, shouting, “Don’t let the white cop get him.” This constable blew his whistle, still clinging to Donald. Three other constables, including a negro constable, responded, and' attacked the crowd. The negroes were now wild with excitement. They shouted madly: “It is race war.” Shots were fired by the negroes from neighbouring houses, but the police used only their batons. All four constables were knocked down though in falling they still held Donald’ prisoner beneath them. Someone telephoned to police headquarters, and motor-cars filled with police soon arrived. They were not sufficient, and a police emergency squad and two fire companies were rushed to the spot. The police charged the rioters while the firemen poured torrents of water on them from their hose. The negroes gave way for a moment, but then reassembled.

Machine-guns were then brought out by the police, who prepared to fire. The threat, however, was sufficient. The negroes broke up and fled, permitting the police to rescue the four constables, who still held Donald. Donald and his captors were at once rushed to hospital.