Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-07-09

DaSelHeHt pii.rOoHl waiting lor sciiOni W
open. Suddenly IA little girl dashed from
behind a pillar and fled into the street, cry
ing:
1.-THE devil. I've seen the devil!'
Her companions dashed after her, shrek
ing One of them fell at the door, and be-
1roc they could stop n dozen Others tripred
and fell upon her. No one was badly hurt,
but the uprOar was increased, and almost
instantly u report spread through the
neghborhood that something awful had
happened at the school The cries of the
children seemed to confirm the report. The
tenemcnts poured forth a terrified mob of
men and women. wild, barcheaded, breath
less. They believed that their children
were IN danger and mobbed the school and
attempted to force the doors.
What is IL" they demanded fercely.
what the natter Where are our chill
drcn:''
Its a dcyl' terrified girl riped up.
"Siamic seen it,
NO" cried a man in the mob; Its
| Erc: / see the smoker
Fire, Fire. the crowd yelled in hor-
| Tor. LET the children out. Let us inn
still the tcncmcnts poured out terror
| stricken parents ard late school children.
| The street WIS blocked. The little girls
who had run from the building were in
| danger of being tramplcd to death. The
| crowd itself, wild and clamoring, seemed
TO confirm its own worst fears. 1t howlcd
| in many tongues and rushed at the school
| doors.
| These doors open outward, ard the rush
was easily checked Two policemen tried
| TO force the mob back, hut for n time they
were powcricss. Then came proof of the
valuc of school discipline. The larger boys,
who had reached the school. had not rushed
out with the frightened girls. They make
up the school guard and have bccn drilled
in the work of preserving order by the as
sistant principal.
Tie principal marshalcd them behind
his closed doors and gave them their in
structions in . second.
This is all ronscnsc, boys lie said. 81
want you to bring the little girls insid,
and quiet that crowd. Clear the sidewalk
in front and tell them there is no danger
and that no one is hurt"
The boys, led by their captain, Harr,
Leon kTingle. opened the front door ant
dashed out Their organized rush forcet
| back the men and women on The sidewalk
They rounded up the little girls. and. say
ing to each, Tho principal wants you in
side ut once, pushed them into the school
where they were lined up and treasured b.
Miss Bell. their head teacher. Inc bo
guards, 36 of them, cleared "A space of side
walk as feet long.
. The principal closed the door again whe
the little ones were inside and devote
himself tn the work Of quoting the crowd
The teachers inside started a song, and tn
pupils joined until the chorus could b
heard in the street The effect was mag
zeal.
Nothing has happened the princips
said. There is TO cause for fear. 1t woul
be better if you were to disperse.'
LET Us iii where the children are"
sturdy Pclack demanded. Let Us see fc
ourselves
My friend you must 60 away and |
quiet. the principal said
NO" the man shouted Let Us in.
The crowd, still fearful, was Measure
by the singing. but still fingered II
principal bcckoned 10 policeman, and Il
leaders of the mob fled. After that the p
lice, who had been REINFORCED, soon di
persed the crowd
And 20 hy o'clock the panic and q!