The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-31

in front of the Court-ho hurled bewlder
through window, and a general assault upon
| the building then began In half an hour every
pane of glass in the first and second stories
had been broken The flying missiles compelled
the police to withdraw from their position along
the side of the building, anG this triumph over
| the officers emboldened the mob to greater de-
struction A bonfire was knded in the street,
and the crowd, which now numbered thousands,
Joined in a wild cheer. Bowlders rained
down upon the building, but the crack
! ing of glass soon became monotonous, and
some enc started cry of Burn the Court
housed" barrel of coal-on was thrown into
the northeast corner and burst open. AS it ran
over the room brand of fire was thrown in,
and it was Immediately enveloped in flames.
An alarm was sounded and the fire department
responded promptly but when they arrived
revolvers were put to the heads of the fremen
and they ordered not to leave their
seats. They were compelled to drive away
without throwing a single stream of water
the flames
The frebrand was applied to every room on
the first floor, and in q few minutes the whole
building was in a blaze. AS the furious flames
would burst out from the windows and the
crash of falling timbers was heard the crowd
would break out into wild cheers. From the
time of the first assault was made upon the
building the mob kept up an incessant shooting,
but the firing was in the air, and no one was in
jured.
OPENING OF THE BATTLE
Shortly after 10 o'clock company of militia
opened fire on the mob on Main street One
man was killed and three others were wounded.
The crowd was driven back for moment, and
the wounded were carried away. The excite
ment became furious, and the crowd again
pressed back into the streets about the
burning building The mob rallied, and
one or two 1dred, more, armed
with clubs, ems and revolvers. formed in line.
They marched up and down the street from
which they had been driven moment before,
carrying flag at the head of the procession,
wildly fourishing their weapons and yelling.
The militia marched through the streets leading
to the Courthouse, but the crowd closed in be-
hind them in double the number who
fled before them, and they compelled
to retire to their position, and to Sycamore
street for the protection of the Jail. Repeated
efforts had been made to set fire to this building,
but as there was nothing infammable that could
be reached, they were without success. The
Courthouse and jail are only a short distance
apart, and as the flames spread from the
former it seemed impossible for the latter to es-
cape destruction.
Finally the mob boldly pressed down Court
street toward the Jail and the fire was spread
about it. A cry of wen roast the murderers,'
was started and other wild EXPLANATIONS were
given Inference. A Calling was placed in posi-
ton on Sycamore street covering Court street.
An order to Immediately clear the streets was
given. Fall back" ''get out of the way, we are
going to fire." cried out the officer. Those who
in the streets as spectators fled panic
stricken to the doorways and alleys
for safety but the mad mob gave
no attention to the warning. The firing imme-
diately began. and volley after volley was poured
down through Court and Sycamore streets. On
the first charge six members of the mob, who
were fighting their way toward the jail, fell
dead and fifteen or more were wounded. several
of whom were in the crowd as spectators,
and were unable to get out of
the way The wounded were carried into the
drug stores and saloons in the vicinity, several
of whom afterward died and were hauled away
to the morgue in ambulances. From the danger
and excitement of the situation it was impossi-
BILE to get the names of all who fell.
sAcKING GUN SHOPS.
The mob for a moment panic stricken,
but those who escaped unhurt made mad rush
down Main street. crying out, We viii get
guns; they have shot to kill, and we will too
They first stopped at the gun store of man
named Berthe and began breaking in
the windows The proprietor who was
an aged and white-haired man, took
up position in front of the doors to his store,
begging apd pleading with the men to spare his
property. Remember my white hairs" he
cried piteously, and he fought back the crowd
for several minutes, but the door was burst open
and the mob rushed in. They moved on down
square further to Powells gun-store, corner
of Main and Third streets, where they met with
a repulse. Fearing an attack, guns and ammuni-
ton had been carried to the rooms on the second
floor and a squad of men placed in charge.
When the mob assaulted the store volley was 1
fired into them and three men were killed be-
sides several more being wounded. Shooting
was kept up and the mob successfully
repulsed here. Attempts were made to
get into several other stores but care had been
taken to hide the guns in most cases, and only
comparatively small number of firearms were
secured An alarm of fire was sent in from the
corner on which Powells store is situated, a
ruse to stop the shooting from men in the store,
but it was unsuccessful.
ONE HUNDRED PERSONS KILLED.
The crowd in the streets about the Court house
had not diminished at midnight but the mob
was kept out of the approaches to the Jail. A
dozen yolleys or more have been fired down
Court and Sycamore streets by the militia, and
the bloodshed is frightful. 1t is estimated that
fully one hundred persons have been killed,
and twice as many wounded There is
not saloon in the vicinity over the Rhine where