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.......Lawrence Clennan, White boy, and Arthur Harper, colored, slain
in street battle at Fifth and Main. H. S. McHenry, A. W. Mibeck,
Norman Dickens and Fred Kelly seriously injured - riot followed day of
intense race feeling in which
bloodshed was feared. Soldier boys under Major Bob Lewis take charge of situation and city goes under martial law. All quiet today as plans are made to keep peace tonight - citizens forbidden to carry arms." (The entire paper for this date is filled with this event. The full account can probably be read in its entirety in the Coffeyville Public Library. I have the newspaper, but there's too much to retype. Another excerpt is interesting: "MANY OLD GUNS........In the general cleanup of guns throughout the city today, all sorts of weapons were found. One old chap, presumably a farmer, was at the city hall and asked if he might guard his own property. He carried an old fashioned muzzle loader that looked as though it was a half brother to the "blunder busses" used by the Pilgrims. By noon today it was estimated that between fifty and one hundred weapons had been accumulated by the American Legion men who were putting forth every effort to keep down trouble. The Legionaires had the situation fairly well in hand today. The guns that were accumulated during the various raids this morning were taken to the city hall where they were kept. Most of the guns were taken from negroes. The white people who were carrying weapons had been given commissions to act during the affair today." Contributed by Juanita Alloway |
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