The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-07
SPRING VALLEY IN SUSPENSE.
THE FAMILIES OF THE NEGROES
DRIVEN OUT OF TOWN.

drcn and Then Raid Their Houses
and DespOiI Their ERects-The
Negro Miners still without the
Arms Necessary to Attack Their
Foes. But Are Promised Aid From
chicago and PeOria.
Princeton, Ill, Aug. 6, IL p. m.-The Ital-
ian miners of Spring Valley made an at
tempt to carry out their resolution of
yesterday to expel all the colored people
remaining in the city and the result was
one of the most disgraceful outrages ever
perpetrated in Bureau county. 1t was
done under protection of the mayor and
policeman. Innocent women and children
were driven from their homes, and insult
cd and their trunks and belongings drag
ged about and despoiled. The affair out
side of Spring Valley has created a sensa-
ton and the news spread rapidly. Con-
demnation of the proceedings Is coming
from everywhere. A dismal scene was
presented during the latter part of the
day. Wagons were hurrying about gath
erings up household goods and carrying
them off on all the principal highways.
During part of the time Martin Delmar-
go. the italian mayor, accompanied by
several italian members of the police,
were on the ground watching the proceed
ings. Mayor Delmargo said he was there
TO see that the negroes got away peacea-
bly,. but If this was his purpose he did not
accomplish much.
Gov. Altgeld has interested himself In
the matter. This afternoon, Sheriff Clark
of Princeton, received a message from the
governor asking for Information on the
tr1,a D
ing done by the officers Of the law.
Sheriff Clark replied, giving a brief his
tory of the events, being substantially in
accordance with the United Press story.
He also said the authorities In Spring VAL
ley were doing nothing, and that he had
not even been called upon by the mayor
for aid.
At2 D. m, the committee appointed at
yesterdays mass meeting to see
that the negroes were out of
the town by p. m. commenc-
ed operations. Going to the 10
cation" where only women. children and
invalids were left. they notified each one
to have their traps ready and move out
at once. Many who were slow were
roughly handled and their goods kicked
about and broken up. The same scene
was witnessed in every part of the city
where the negroes lived, or had taken re-
fuge.
AS the Chicago Burlington and Quincy
passenger train on the Streator and Wal
nut division entered Spring Valley, the
passengers saw a lot of negro refugees,
who had been waiting anXiously for the
train for a few minutes board the cars
like lot of wild animals in fear of their
pursuers. Among them was a woman 90
years old, accompanied by three little chill
dren, who was terrorized amost into in
sanity. She said she and the children had
been abused and chased to the depot by
a mob of Italians. who had threatened
to take her life every minute.
Supervisor Pickett of Hall township
gave all negroes who would leave the city
an order on the county treasurer for the
price of a ticket to the Chicago. The old
woman had received her ticket, but when
the train pulled out of the depot she was
suffering to such an extent that she tore
up the ticket unconsciously. Her baggage
was strewn about the depot platform un-
checked.
The passengers on the train were so
touched with pity for her that they raised
fund of over So with which she paid her
fare to Chicago, where she said friends
resided Her husband was among the num-
ber who was chased out of Spring Valley
during the assault of the Italians last
Sunday, and he is yet among the six
who are missing. Even If he is alive sne
fears it will be some months before they
are reunited The family is now scattered
into three groups and the whereabout OF
each are unknown to the other.
The passenger train had just got out OF
Spring Valley when the engineer saw a
colored woman % years old, coming out OF
the woods and running toward the train.
The engineer stopped at once and took
on the girl. who had been chased by sew
eral Italians. 1t was sometime before she
could compose herself to relate her story.
She said that a crippled relative had start
ed from home with her, but that he had
been shot in the shoulder, and as ne could
Ga CT had hopn left behind DY neT.
The girl was permitted to ride to Chicago
on township order that she held.
The indications are that the strike OF
the miners at Spring Valley VIII be con-
tinued for some time. The miners VINO
are under the control of the Italians, held
a secret meeting to-day, at which 1t was
determined to remain out until the spring
Valley Coal Company will give assurances
that they will not in future give en-
ployment to negroes, which the company
refuses TO do.
Aside from the outrage IN driving the
negroes from town this afternoon and the
stopping of men from working in the
shafts this morning, everything has been
quiet on the surface in town to-day sew
eral secret meetings Of the aIen miners
have been held but beyond deciding 10
continue the strike little is known OF
their doings.
The negroes are assembled principally
at Seatonville and received telegrams To-
day from members of their race in chicago
and Peoria that gave them great encour-
agement. The purport of these telegrams
Is to stand firm and assistance would soon
be forthcoming. The negroes, during the
last few days, have procured a number Oh
shotguns and small arms, and If more
cannot be secured they propose to march
to Spring Valley, occupy their home and
resume their employment with the coal
company. Many of the negroes have Ianl-
HES that cannot be induced TO return, but
as the men have no other employment in
view they are willing to assist their breth-
ren.
Among the negroes at Seatonville are six
bearing shot wounds and four who are laid
up with bruised heads and shoulders from
the clubbings they received Sunday.
Persons influenced by the lawless ele-
ment at Spring Valley have caused
statements to be sent out that
but ane negro was shot In the riot Of
sunday. but this is denied by the county
ofhcials, some of whom state that they
themselves faIEaI Witt Ave or more who