Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-13
BATTLE OF FULTON,
First Anniversary of the Riot At
tending the Woodmen
Removal.
THE SECOND FRUITLESS ATTEMPT.

/ Peacefully and Lawfully to Whiteside
/ County and is VioIeatiy Assaulted-Story
| OF the Sensational Occurrences of that
I'm Joining with the other cities OF the
| world in offering thanks for the
peaceful termination OF the Amer
! ican-Spanish war. Rock Island should
not forget to revert back to Aug. IS.
! 1897. Just one year ago today, and re-
call the sensational incidents attend
/ ing the attempt on the part of a dele
CATION of citizens to remove the Wood
men records-it will go down in local
history as the battle of Fulton-and
| the fortunate outcome thereof. and
the victory of the order and the city
of Rock Island so closely following.
1t was necessary for Rock Island if
she was to have the headquarters To-
! Gated within her borders. to 90 after
the records. Twice, after all legal
Instructions had been removed, and
| under the protection of the law. eX-
petitions were sent to the Whiteside
county village. On both occasions
success was defeated by the Injunction.
which was the favorite weapon of the
obstructionists.
Aug. ID, at Cambridge. Judge Gest
dissolved the pending inJunctions.
Now was the time for action and il
must he taken Immediately 1t was
hot afternoon when a special train of
two coaches, baggage car and two
box cars. bearing about three hundred
citizens, under the leadership of NJ.
H. Sexton. p. j. Cary and Aid. w. G.
Marker, rolled away to Fulton over
the Burlington. The Whiteside deni-
zens had been informed of the APP
Droach and n furious mob, armed with
all kinds of weapons from shot guns
to pitch forks, was assembled at the
WoOdmen office and in the street lead
ING thereto where the train halted.
There was pitched battle. Many
shots were fired and assaults made,
but the Fultonites, although having n
force many times larger, were forced
back by the visitors, who proceeded to
the Office and began moving the books.
with the assistance OF the clerks, I'M
der the direction of General Attorney
J. @. johnson, vino with his fellow
counsel in the injunction proceedings,
William Jackson. went to Fulton on
the Milwaukee o'clock afternoon
passenger.
In the face of volley of stones,
clubs and an occasional bullet the
Rock Islanders went about their work
coolly. and in less than an hour had al
OF the valuauie records on the cars.
The Fuitonites were insane with rage.
Even their marshal, William Bennett,
lost his head and Joined in the riot.
standing at the foot of the back stair
way leading to the Office and brandish-
ing a revolver. He shot off his mouth
more thaa his weapon, however. and
two of the invaders, fearing he might
do somebody harm, took the gun away
from him. The women folks united
in the riot and from distance peltcd
rocks and other missiles.
Many Injured.
That there were no fatalities seemed
almost miraculous. As it was,
number were severely injured. At
6:lO the Rock Island delegation
boarded the train and the order to
move was given. But it was discov-
cred Il section of track had been torn
up at the south, an engine being sub
sequently taken from the roundhouse
and run off the track. thus securely
blocking the exit of the train toward
home. Later the rails at the other
end were torn up, and hence any pos
sibility of escape was shut off.
The invaders remained in the
coaches. packed like sardines, with
the windows and curtains drawn and
the doors closed. The heat was suffo- |
eating, and it is believed the excite |
ment alone prevented prostrations. |
Stones came against the cars as thick !
as hail, and the mob continued to |
grow i'll strength and anger.
Soon an armed guard was lined up |
on either side of the train, the de |
Tenders" carrying the guns of the
Iowa militia, which were loaned by |
Capt. c. l. Root. of Company l., of /
Lyons. a second call for reinforce
ments was given by the blowing of
the whistles. People from the sur
towns and country fiocked |
IN, many of them armed. The mob |
was Decoming so ferocioUs that il was
feared there would be "A wholesale
anuihilatioT OF the Rock Islanders.
Sheriff Fuller addressed the Whiteside
people and admohished them to CON
troll themselves aud allow the law to
take its course. William Jackson
spoke for his fellow townsm men. and
said they We're not looking for trouble
and would act civilly if treated like-4
wise.
Then came blank warrant issued
by Justice jackson, charging ali the
visitors with riot \ few arrests
were made. At 10 O'Clock an iniunc-
ton arrived. Master in Chancery Nc
Pherran again coming to the rescue
Of his constituents. II was served.
The Rock Islanders oleyed the
law The books were carried back
to the office by the Fultonites.
after which those in the coaches
were marched outside and lined up
and searched This proceeding was
directed by Lieut.. Frank Holleran, of
the Lyons militia company. At "a I
. In K.a fr--a m lanar-tsd IL. Rn.I- LII