Jackson Advocate

Boston, Mass., Scene Of Vicious Race Riot

BOSTON, Mass., Oct. 11.- Two separate riots, one a vicious racial brawl in which more than 20 persons were stabbed or beaten, brought a police crack-down today on roaming mobs of teen-agers.

The race riot at a schoolboy football game at White's Stadium Thursday was by far the worst of the two incidents. About 250 Negroes and whites fought a pitched battle for 25 minutes with knives, ice picks, broken bottles and clubs.

Six hours later a mob of 400 teen-agers, many of them squealing girls, overran a downtown hotel in pursuit of rock 'n roll singing star Paul Anka, headliner in a show staged by television disc jockey Dick Clark. Little damage was done but the youngsters commandeered elevators and burst into rooms in the search for Anka who managed to escape.

At the stadium, 75 policemen flailing nightsticks rushed the fighting mob in a flying wedge and finally ended the battle. One policeman picked up a small crippled boy, who had been quietly watching the football game and carried him from the midst of the struggling teen-agers. Police said his crutches had been stolen and broken into clubs.

Two teen-agers were seriously injured. Gerald Flynn, 15, of West Roxbury was stabbed in the back. He was in critical condition. Keith Fritch, 17, of South Boston was stabbed below the heart and was reported in fair condition at City Hospital.

The riot, which had nothing to do with the football game, spilled over into the playing field and halted the contest. Police said the battle apparently began after two youths, one Negro and the other white, exchanged insults. In a moment the stands were transformed into a battleground.

Twenty-five police cruisers and the riot squad were sent to the scene. A dozen teen-agers were arrested.