Letter Major Byron Kirkpatrick to Lieut. Col. L. J. F. Rooney, 1921 July 1

              Tulsa, Okla. July 1, 1921.
 From: Byron Kirkpatrick, Major, A. G. Dept. Okla. Nat'l. Gd.
 To: Lt. Col. L. J. F. Rooney, 3d. Inf. Okla. Nat'l. Gd.
 Subject: Activities on night of May 31, 1921, at Tulsa, Okla.

 1.	On the night of May 31, 1921. at the hour of approximately ten  o'clock, P M I was sitting on my porch, which faces south, at 514 South Elgin  Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma, with members of my family. At said time a young man  named Brewer, who rooms at my house drove up in his car and reported that a  large number of armed negroes, approximately 150 had congregated at the corner  of 5th. and Elgin. Within a few moments, possible five, my attention was attracted  to a number of trucks and automobiles, heavily laden with armed men, driving at  a high rate of speed, in an easterly direction on Sixth street. At the same time a  number of shots were fired from the mob at 5th & Elgin. These shots, so far as I  can learn, were fired into the air, and no causaulties occurred therefrom. I at  once went to the telephone and called Col. Rooney, and explained the situation  to him, so far as I was advised at that time. At the direction of Col. Rooney, I  placed a long distance call for the Adjutant General at Oklahoma City. At about the  hour of ten o'clock, and ten minutes, an automobile containing Col. Rooney, Capt. Vann,  and other drove up in front of my house, and not having completed my long distance  call, I asked Col. Rooney, to have the care return for me at once. At 10:14, I reached  the Adjutant General on the long distance wrie, and explained briefly the situation to  him. Advising that in my judgement great disorder was to be apprehended, and was  instructed by him to report to the Armory and assist in mobilizing the troops and render  such assistance to the civil authorities as might be required, when legally called upon. 

 2. 	At approximately 10:20, the car returned and I was driven to the Armory. I found  several members of the guard, possible 25 or 30 already assembled, and extrenous efforts  being made to get in touch with other members in the city. At this time the service truck  of the Service Company was being loaded to go to the City Jail, it having been reported  by the Chief of Police that a large mob had surrounded the jail. The truck was loaded with a squad  of men, the exact number of which I do not recall. Probably ten, or fifteen. The truck  was driven to the Police Station, and Col. Rooney reported personally to Chief Gustafason, who verbally instructed him to hold his men about the station, and assist in removing  the crowd from the street. I accompanied this party to the police station.

 3.	Under your direction, sentinels were established at 2nd. and Main, and at Boulder & 2nd. for the purpose of holding back crowds, and preventing traffice from using the street. Also at  your direction I assumed charge of a body of armed volunteers, whom I understand were Legion men,  and marched them around into Main Street. There the outfit was divided into two groups, placed  under the charge of officers of their number who had all had military experience, and ordered to  patrol the business section and court-house, and to report back to the Police Station at intervals of  fifteen minutes.