From: Major C. W. Daley To: Lt. Col. L. J. F. Rooney Subject: Pursuant to communication of June 27, 1921 from The Adjutant General I beg to submit the following report:
On May 31st, 1921 about 8:30 P M as near as I can find out the first inkling of trouble between the black and whites was noticeable. At this time I was out of the City, being called to Sapulpa Oklahoma, 14 miles distant. Upon leaving the City I left a memorandum on the Chief of Police's desk stating I would be out of the City for a few hours. I left Sapulpal about 11:10 P M by auto and arrived at West Tulsa Bridge at 11:45 P M.
I was stopped by several men on the bridge and informed that hell was breaking loose and that the negroes were trying to take the City. I immediately drove to the Court House and upon arriving there, there was between two and three hundred people gathered in front. I talked to the crowd and few moments and requested them to disperse and go home. I then drove to the Police Station and upon arriving took charge of the situation in the handling of the crowd and other details. At this time which was about 12:05 A M several people were gathered in front of the station running with guns of all kinds. It was at this point that I requested all men to stand still and I picked out a half dozen ex-service men to act as my assistants. Separating the crowd placing men with pistols on one side and men with rifles on the other, and gave final instructions that all men under 21 years of age be disarmed as the City would not be responsible for any accidents that might occur in the discharge of firearms in the hands of boys.
At this point I discovered Lt. Col. L. J. F. Rooney in the middle of the block on Second Street with several members of the Guard standing beside a truck belonging to the Service Company National Guard. I immediately reported to Col. Rooney. I was directed by Col. Rooney to continue as I had been and to organize the automobile patrols and keep them organized and report the number available.
At this time I was informed by Col. Rooney that Major Bell, and Capt. McCuen were on duty at the Armory as there had been an attempt to secure the rifles and ammunition. Major Kirkpatrick was on duty in the Chief of Police's office. Capt. Van Voorhis and Lieut. Wood were on duty with the troops under commend of Col. Rooney. Upon receiving these instructions and Col. Rooney notifying me he would remain with the troops I again assumed charge of the crowd gathered at the station. At this point runners were sent out by me to assemble all automobiles at the Police Station as I have been informed they had been running wild over the City without any head or any one to give instructions.
Letter to Col. L. J. F. Rooney, 1921 July 6, from Charles W. Daley, Major I. G. D. Oklahoma National Guard, Tulsa, Oklahoma, submission of a report to the Adjutant General.
Letter to Col. L. J. F. Rooney, 1921 July 6, from Charles W. Daley, Major I. G. D. Oklahoma National Guard, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Folder 16, Box 3, Record Group 8-D-1-3, Administration of James B. A. Robertson, 1919-1923, Oklahoma Governors' Papers, Oklahoma State Archives Division, Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Oklahoma City, OK
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Oklahoma State Archives Division, Oklahoma Department of Libraries. For further information regarding the rights to this collection, please visit www.crossroads.odl.state.ok.us/cdm4/rights.php
From: Major C. W. Daley To: Lt. Col. L. J. F. Rooney Subject: Pursuant to communication of June 27, 1921 from The Adjutant General I beg to submit the following report:
On May 31st, 1921 about 8:30 P M as near as I can find out the first inkling of trouble between the black and whites was noticeable. At this time I was out of the City, being called to Sapulpa Oklahoma, 14 miles distant. Upon leaving the City I left a memorandum on the Chief of Police's desk stating I would be out of the City for a few hours. I left Sapulpal about 11:10 P M by auto and arrived at West Tulsa Bridge at 11:45 P M.
I was stopped by several men on the bridge and informed that hell was breaking loose and that the negroes were trying to take the City. I immediately drove to the Court House and upon arriving there, there was between two and three hundred people gathered in front. I talked to the crowd and few moments and requested them to disperse and go home. I then drove to the Police Station and upon arriving took charge of the situation in the handling of the crowd and other details. At this time which was about 12:05 A M several people were gathered in front of the station running with guns of all kinds. It was at this point that I requested all men to stand still and I picked out a half dozen ex-service men to act as my assistants. Separating the crowd placing men with pistols on one side and men with rifles on the other, and gave final instructions that all men under 21 years of age be disarmed as the City would not be responsible for any accidents that might occur in the discharge of firearms in the hands of boys.
At this point I discovered Lt. Col. L. J. F. Rooney in the middle of the block on Second Street with several members of the Guard standing beside a truck belonging to the Service Company National Guard. I immediately reported to Col. Rooney. I was directed by Col. Rooney to continue as I had been and to organize the automobile patrols and keep them organized and report the number available.
At this time I was informed by Col. Rooney that Major Bell, and Capt. McCuen were on duty at the Armory as there had been an attempt to secure the rifles and ammunition. Major Kirkpatrick was on duty in the Chief of Police's office. Capt. Van Voorhis and Lieut. Wood were on duty with the troops under commend of Col. Rooney. Upon receiving these instructions and Col. Rooney notifying me he would remain with the troops I again assumed charge of the crowd gathered at the station. At this point runners were sent out by me to assemble all automobiles at the Police Station as I have been informed they had been running wild over the City without any head or any one to give instructions.
Oklahoma State Archives Division, Oklahoma Department of Libraries. For further information regarding the rights to this collection, please visit www.crossroads.odl.state.ok.us/cdm4/rights.php
Identifier
001_Letter Major C. W. Daley to Lieut. Col. L. J. F. Rooney; Page 1