The Chicago 1919 Race Riot-- Part 4: What Happened to Start It

Beaches were packed that hot day and black youths playing on a raft drifted over an invisible but accepted line that separated Blacks and Whites at 29th Street Beach.  This angered Whites.

The Chicago Tribune says the 29th Street Beach was for Whites and the 25th Street Beach was for Blacks.

George Stauber, a 24-year-old white man, hurled stones at the boys until 17-year-old Eugene Williams fell off the raft and drowned.  Daniel Callahan, the first police officer to arrive, refused to arrest Stauber -- angering Blacks.

Today, these two beaches are part of the Burnham Park Beaches which consist of 25th/26th Street Beaches and the Margaret Taylor Burroughs (31st Street) Beach

And, the riot started from that point.