Fifteen years after that, John G. Comegys of Baltimore bought 1,800 acres there and named it Cairo in honor the historic city of the same name on the Nile Delta in Egypt. However, hundreds of men continued to search the riverfront, breaking into freight cars in the hope of finding Alexander. The climate was humid, disease-carrying mosquitoes and rats were everywhere, and to make matters worse, unscrupulous business operators were known to cheat and even rob many of the troops. Crime increasing in the past 3 years. Once Commercial Street was lined with businesses a Hallmark store, the Mode-O-Day, the Khourie Brothers Department Store in front of which, stood the Hamburger Wagon serving up popcorn, greasy burgers, and flavored sodas. By 1856, Cairo was connected by rail to Galena in northwest Illinois, and levees had been constructed around the town for transportation. Today, there are about 2,000 residents left, most of whom live in Cairo because they have no place else to go. Although Egypt is not a major exporter of gold, the country does host a criminal market for gold. Authors contribute to ENACT publications in their personal capacity. They beheaded him and stuck his head on a pole placed in the ground. This set Cairo on the path to becoming a boom town within just three years. Cairo, Illinois is an abandoned town that sits at the tri-state with Kentucky and Missouri. As you can see, the town was founded on blood. Cairo is safer than 51% of the cities in the United States. A developer with extensive affordable housing experience has offered HUD a plan to build a 40-unit housing community in Cairo at the site of one of the previously demolished homes. Comegys hoped to turn Cairo into one of Americas great cities, but he died two years later before his plans could be realized. Though steamboat traffic was dropping, more efficient barges were being utilized and the overall traffic dramatically increased on the Ohio River. The first attempt at settlement occurred in 1818 when John G. Comegys of Baltimore, Maryland obtained a charter to incorporate the city and the Bank of Cairo from the Territorial Legislature. White Union troops stationed at Fort Defiance swelled to 12,000. During the next two decades, Cairos African-Americans banded together to form a new society complete with their own institutions and culture, especially as they found themselves facing prejudice and hatred from white citizens. The situation is particularly critical in the Sinai region, where armed non-state actors have a heavy presence and are deeply involved in the illicit arms trade. Cairo, Illinois - Death by Racism - Legends of America Women from the Horn of Africa are particularly often at risk of sex trafficking in Egypt. Enacted partially to revitalize dying towns, it was the perfect opportunity for little Cairo to have a second chance. Unfortunately, it burned to the ground in 1942. High. The Confederacy also realized its strategic importance. This project is funded bythe European Union. Some even recommended that the city should become the capitol of the United States. By 1962, local freedom movements were breaking out in communities all over the country, though they were seldom reported by the national media. The rope broke and the man was riddled with bullets. He was lynched at 11:15 p.m. and once dead, filled with bullets. Though the racial tension continued, the town continued to thrive. For several months, both General Ulysses S. Grant and Admiral Andrew Foote had headquarters in the town. William "Froggie" James, an African-American man, was lynched and his dead body mutilated on November 11, 1909 by a mob in Cairo, Illinois after he was charged with the rape and murder of 23-year-old shop clerk Anna Pelley.. James was denied due process and killed before the police investigation had been completed. Egypt suffers a grave lack of transparency in governance and entrenched corruption across government institutions. Crime rates in Cairo, Egypt. National ArchivesAn aerial view of Cairo, Illinois. Camp Defiance was a prominent facility located in Cairo. The settlement was widely advertised in England, where the bonds of the Cairo City and Canal Company found eager purchasers through the London firm of John Wright & Company. Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois. Though the fortified city never saw any attacks during the Civil War, it trained and shipped thousands of soldiers who would fight in numerous battles. Egypts prison system is generally believed to be overcrowded and to suffer poor sanitary conditions. The country has somewhat limited anti-money laundering capacities and authorities have in the past failed to sever the financial flows of criminal and terrorist organizations. Nitti commits suicide in 1943 after he is indicted for labor racketeering, and Tony "Big Tuna" Accardo steps in as one of organized crime's bosses. How did it all happen? Alexander County is one of the poorest in Illinois. PDF Organized Crime in the United States: Trends and Issues for Congress The 1930s brought the Great Depression, wiping out more of the population, and in 1937, a great flood forced the town to evacuate. Salzners body was left in the street and claimed by his father the next day. Variety Store, a music store, and more. Trafficking in Cultural Property - Office on Drugs and Crime Nov. 11, 1909. It was noted again by other traveling priests over the next few years, but, it would not be settled until 1702, when French pioneer, Charles Juchereau de St. Denys and a party of about 30 men built a fort and tannery a few miles north from the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. The city and its residents have worked hard over the recent years to stabilize the small town; however, these attempts are often short-lived, as there is simply no money. By 1917, Cairo, Illinois had developed a violent reputation as the town with Illinois' highest crime rate, a reputation that stuck even 20 years later. Initially, the post consisted of a flat-topped mound upon which were placed three 24-pound cannons and an 8-inch mortar. But during those prosperous years of the 1890s, segregation took root and black residents (making up about 40 percent of the population) were forced to build their own churches, schools, and so on. Those who remained operated shops and taverns for steamboat travelers. Gold mining takes place in both the southern and northern parts of Egypt, however, in addition to the gold of Egyptian origin, there is also a criminal market for smuggled Sudanese gold. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. Just to the west, on Commercial Avenue, sat the firms of Koehlers Gunshop, a drug store, the citys post office, the popular Athenaeum Theater, a blacksmith and a harness shop. Working along with Comegys, was Shadrach Bond, who was the first governor of Illinois. The prisoner pled for mercy while protesting his innocence, but it was to no avail. The name, however, stuck. Today, it is called home to about 2,200 people. Amazingly, the two buildings at the far right in the 1906 image to the left, still stood in 2010. It quickly became an important steamboat port, as goods and supplies were moved further south to New Orleans. Nevertheless, Egyptian law enforcement and the judiciary cooperate only to a limited extent with international partners, particularly with regard to criminal investigations and intelligence exchange. Ornamental cast-iron decorates the verandas and the ornate exterior cornice and eaves brackets are of wood millwork. Organized crime | Definition, History, Characteristics, & Facts Called the Old Custom House today, it continues to stand as a museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. By 1861, when the Civil War began, Cairos population had increased to 2,200, of which, only 55 people were African-American. Crime in Cairo. Safety in Cairo - Numbeo The walls were made of double brick, with a ten-inch air space between to keep out the dampness. Prior to the Civil War, the city also became an important transfer station on the Underground Railroad. Famous Building at 702-704 Commercial Avenue served as a general-purpose commercial building, housing a mercantile establishment on the ground floor and offices above. While Egypts crime legislation touches on most criminal markets and criminalizes participating in an organized crime group, there are significant gaps in Egypts crime legislation and its implementation. Someone had stuck a note in the door with an ice pick that said, No n____ here!. Preston Ewing Jr., Cairos unofficial historian, former president of the local NAACP chapter, city treasurer, and participant in the Civil Rights Movement in Cairo, described the town as poor, black and ugly. Further, not having unrealistic expectations, he said, Our goal should be to stabilize Cairo, not talk about growth. Cairo, Illinois Was Once A Booming City Until Racist Violence Destroyed The Entire Town. That changed; however in 1905, when a railroad bridge was completed across the Mississippi River at Thebes, a small town northwest of Cairo. Smith, Aaron Lake; Trying to Revitalize a Dying Small Town, 2010, Time Hays, Christopher K.; The African American Struggle For Equality And Justice In Cairo, Illinois, 1865-1900; Illinois Historical Journal, 1997 Their Public Housing at the End of Its Life, Residents Ask: What Now? The building was designed by Alfred Mullett, who also designed the San Francisco Mint, the US Treasury Building, and old State Department building in Washington, D.C. HUD Displaces More Residents From Cairo, Ill. ProPublica There have been several reports of Egyptian men subjected to forced labour abroad, predominantly in the Gulf countries. In 1861, General Ulysses S. Grant established Fort Defiance at the tip of Cairos peninsula, which operated as an integral naval base and supply depot for his Western Army. Several federal regiments were also stationed there during these turbulent years. Though the town had a population of some 2,800 people and is the county seat of Alexander County, its Main Street, called Commercial Avenue, was empty of people and lined with buildings in various stages of decay. As a result, when the war ended, the soldiers packed up and went home. The median income for a household in the city was just $21,607 in the 2000 census and the town continued to face significant socio-economic challenges including education issues, high unemployment rates, and lack of a commercial tax base, which all contribute to the sadness of Cairo. Alexander County Courthouse built in Cairo, Illinois in 1865. The lynching of Will Froggy James. The citys future looked promising as work on the Central Illinois Railroad brought a great many people to the vicinity of Cairo. They were known to have participated more effectively in union organizations, strikes, and demonstrations than did the white workers. The main environmental criminal markets in Egypt are those for fauna and gold. This abandoned town in Illinois is one of the most fascinating spots you can visit in the whole state. NewsBreak provides latest and breaking local news and reports on Cairo, IL crime and public safety, and updates from police and fire departments, so you stay informed, prepared, and safe . The St. Charles Hotel opened in January 1859. Photo by Kathy Alexander. Meanwhile, Egypts track record on international cooperation on combating transnational organized crime is mixed. Like many other cities across the continent, the 1930s and the Great Depression hit Cairo hard. At the time this story was written (2010), the road into the park is impassable due to flood damage. On that date, Cairo was the scene of one of the most gruesome lynchings in American history when a black man named Will James, who was accused of murdering a shop-girl, and a white man, who was charged with murdering his wife, were lynched by a mob, which numbered in the thousands. Crime in Cairo, Illinois - Best Places A hotel was built as well as a shipyard, warehouses, sawmills, an ironworks, and several residential cottages. This discovery reveals a lot about the underlying social tension of the town during the Civil War. Oil smuggling in Egypt may happen, particularly because of the fuel price difference between Egypt and Libya, which provides economic incentives for smuggling. It was dismantled after the war and has since become the location of a state park. In 1910, the historic Gem Theatre opened its doors to much acclaim. In the early 1940s, 12 serious fires destroyed businesses, most of which were never rebuilt. Cairo, Illinois was once a bustling transportation hub situated at the junction of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. This town named for riches and wealth was doing nothing to improve the wallets and lives of the African Americans who had landed there one way or another. Everywhere, there are dismal reminders that less than 2,500 people now live in a city designed for many more. Unfortunately, it is abandoned, overgrown, and completely run down. Black women, who were overwhelmingly employed in household service, also struggled for workplace justice by contesting their white employers exploitative demands. The building continues to serve as both a post office and as the District Court for Southern Illinois. William "Froggie" James - Wikipedia An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. During this time of growth, most of the African-Americans worked as unskilled laborers, but, were not afraid to speak out. The angry mob instead riddled his body with bullets and then dragged him for a mile by a rope before he was torched. Trafficking in cultural property involves several acts that may ultimately result in the loss, destruction, removal or theft of irreplaceable . Performance & security by Cloudflare. Cairo, Illinois, Lee Russell, 1937, Before long, the railroads began to bypass the city and severe problems were created by water seepage on the low-lying land. With burgeoning population and commerce, Cairo was poised to become a major city, with some even suggesting it should become the capital of the United States. This near-ghost town offers an inexpensive place to live, but there are not many businesses left for people to utilize. Egypt - The International Criminal Police Organization Tramadol tends to be smuggled into Egypt from Libya or via maritime routes. However, the country continued to suffer high levels of debt and unemployment. The violence then continued and another prisoner was ripped from his cell, dragged to the town center, lynched, and shot. Abbott Papyrus, wikipedia. In 1900 alone, the Ohio River transported more than 14 million tons of goods and people, a number that would not be surpassed until 1925. Until 1889, there was no railroad bridge crossing either the Ohio or the Mississippi River at or near Cairo. However, human smuggling from the Egyptian Mediterranean peaked in 2016 and 2017. The city facilities were completely segregated, including public housing, local parks, and seating in the courthouse. Although America is dotted with former boom towns made irrelevant over time, the history of Cairo (pronounced CARE-o) is unusual. In 1937; the focus changed to another potential disaster when in February, the Ohio River swelled to record heights. At the very tip of the peninsula, south of Cairo, Camp Defiance was established near the river bank, and Camp Smith was located just a short distance to the north. With their blood-thirst boiling, part of the mob then went in search of James named accomplice Alexander. James was discovered by the mob and returned to the towns center to be publically hung. Turner, Paul; Cairo Seemed Destined For Greatness; Chicago Reader Tornado activity: Cairo-area historical tornado activity is near Illinois state average.It is 82% greater than the overall U.S. average.. On 4/22/1981, a category F4 (max. That same year, Preston Ewing, Jr., Cairos NAACP president, wrote a letter to Adlai Stevenson, the state treasurer, reporting that Cairo banks would not hire blacks. (The US average is 35.4) NOTE: Click on the links below to see charts for each crime category. Photo by Kathy Alexander. Some new businesses open up but are soon closed, and tourism is not actively promoted. In 1858, the grandest hotel in the city was built at the southwest corner of 2nd and Ohio Streets. However, the old problem of racism would ultimately be the towns demise. In the depths of the Great Depression, shuttering businesses were forcing residents to leave Cairo for good. By the year 2,000, Carios population had dropped to only about 3,600 residents. Over the years, Cairos population began to decline due to the violence and the decrease in river trade. Cairos historic downtown boarded-up and deserted. The mansion became an outstanding social center during the 1870s and reached the peak of its fame on April 16, 1880, when ex-President and Mrs. Grant were guests there for two days following their world tour. ENACT is implemented by the Institute for Security Studies and INTERPOL, in affiliation with the Global Initiative against Transnational Organised Crime. The next morning, nothing was left of his body other than bones. This decline; however, would not lead to Cairos ultimate demise instead, it was racism. Cairos main street, Commercial Avenue, during the height of the port towns economic prosperity. Women and children were evacuated from the city and a three-foot bulwark of timbers and sandbags was hastily built atop the levees. Wikimedia CommonsGeneral Ulyssess S. Grant used Cairo, Illinois as a strategic advantage against the Confederates because of its location. Though the passenger depot originally built by the Illinois Central Railroad still stands, the trains no longer stop for passengers. But, the troops who were stationed in Cairo did not like the location. An elegant courthouse was built in 1865 that continued to stand until the 1960s when it was torn down and replaced with a new one. James was strung up at 8:00 pm, but the rope snapped. Despite the post-war population exodus, Cairos location and natural resources continued to attract breweries, mills, plants, and manufacturing businesses.