June 1
At dawn of the first of June, a steam whistle was sounded, and some of those who have studied the riot believe it to have been a prearranged signal to attack the center of Greenwood. Most of the businesses on Archer Street had been destroyed during the fires of the pre-dawn hours. Several cars filled with rioters raced into Greenwood firing as they went, and they were met with return fire. Other rioters left the areas where they had been undercover and began to work their way into the neighborhood.
Some residents simply fled for the outskirts of town. Others fought back but were heavily outnumbered and forced to withdraw under fire. White rioters established detention centers and those blacks who escaped the gunfire were forced to relocate to them at gunpoint. Homes were broken into and any persons found attempting to shelter inside them were forced out into the street, where they were exposed to gunfire. Others were shot in their homes during the break-ins. Many whites were shot as well by gunfire from houses.
Throughout the morning several aircraft circled the Greenwood neighborhood, and later it was claimed that at least some were reconnaissance aircraft allowing deputies to monitor the situation. Several witnesses on the ground reported that shots were fired by riflemen from the airplanes at blacks on the ground. Others reported that the aircraft dropped burning rags which had been soaked in turpentine on the rooftops of buildings. Several of the aircraft described by witnesses was privately owned.
Many black residents of Tulsa worked in some of the city’s white neighborhoods as cooks, maids, gardeners, and chauffeurs. Those in Tulsa’s white neighborhoods that employed live-in servants were approached by rioters who demanded that their servants be turned over to be taken to detention centers. Most complied with these demands but the few who did not found their homes attacked by the rioters, and their property vandalized.
Up until mid-morning of June 1, there was minimal police presence in the Greenwood area. Many witnesses later reported that what law enforcement was present was involved in the riot supporting the white attackers. Sheriff’s deputies remained primarily concerned with protecting the courthouse and the prisoner Rowland. The Mayor of Tulsa, T.D. Evans requested the help of the governor and National Guard troops were dispatched to the city by special train.