The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-05
Race War Spreads Throughout
Southern Illinois.
Irritation Grows on Account Of
InnumerabIe
THEFTS AND
Which the Whites Blame Upon
the Negroes.
Trouble Started in Kentucky
and is Moving NOrthWard.

Paducah. KY, March 5.-The anti
negro crusade which for two weeks has
ragged in west Kentucky has found its
way across the Ohio river into southern
Illinois As a result one tragedy has
already occurred along the lower bouu-
dairy of the sister state, and more are
threatened The war against African
violence really dates a month back,
when Bob Blanks, a long, lean mulattO
fed to escape the wrath of the father
of an 11-year-Old white girl in Mayfield,
Ky. He is now supposed to be hiding
near Vienna, Ill, and if captured it is
well nigh certain that he will be burned
at the stake.
Blanks crime inhamed the white peo-
pie in the section where it was commit
ted against the criminal classes of his
race, and a small reign of terror began
in MayheId and in the country around
about. Several vicious negroes were
whipped and ordered from the state.
One blacks house was riddled with bull
let's at night, and the inmates driven
from the house into the darkness under
a shower of lead All this eliminated
a week ago in the lynching of Richard
Allen, cOlOred, at Maydeld, who was ac-
cuSed of burglary, and in the driving
out of scores of negroes from the town.
Mayfield was the scene of a bloody race
war only a year ago on account of SINH
lar occurrences, and open conflict be-
tween whites and blacks there is again
feared.
Since the last lynching at Mayheld
the feeling against offending negroes
day night at COldwater, KY. seven mask
ed men stormed the cabin of a tenant
on the farm of James Haneline, and
captured the negro after a hard fight
He was soundly dOgged on the bare
back.
The following night hostiIities broke
out in Paducah. A dozen masked men,
incensed by the depredatiOns of dusky
thieves, raided some suburban dives.
Eight negroes and three white men were
driven out Of the city, while two more
TaI1 oil fne
who at the command of the regulators
attempted to board a moving freight
train was thrown and badly hurt. The
VigiianteS forced him, however, TO
climb into a car and leave, although he
claimed to be suffering greatly 1t was
not known whether his injuries result
ed fatally.
The people of towns across the Ohio
have caught the infection, and negroes
are being ordered to stay away At
Carrsville, Rosiclare, and Cave In Rock
all riverside landings in Egypt, the
blacks have been warned to quit the
country at once. The citizens of those
places have since war times objected to
negro residents, and during the last 80
years this sentiment has been greatly
intensified.
The death at Cave In Rock Of Tom
Hackett, a rouster on the steamer John
S. Hopkins, who committed suicide by
drowning rather than face mob, has
added fuel to the flames. The boat was
held up on its arriVel by 100 armed men,
VINO DeSS1n searching 1OI d AASEAO NCt@E@
hand who had robbed a Baptist preach
er of $50 at Cave In Rock the day be-
fore. The lynchers were sworn to hang
the guilty man. Hackett was the cul-
prit. He saw the rope, and leaped into
the river, sinking almost instantly, while
pistol balls pattered around his head
The mob attempted to swing up two
of his comrades. but the trembling ne
groes were saved in time. Colored stew
edores on packets plying the lower Ohio
river are deserting in numbers, saying
they feared to land at one Illinois town
where the color of their skins would
endanger their lives.