Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1899-04-15
UNDER MARTIAL LAW
City of Pana, Ill Needs Troops
for Protection.
Riot on Monday Which Resulted in
the Denth of Six Men and One Wom-
an-Mnny Wounded-Gov.
Tanner Acts.

April, 1898, was enacted at ten o'clock
Monday morning resulting in seven
persons being shot to death and nine
wounded. The dead are as follows:
Frank Coburn, citizen.
Xaxier Lecocq, Frenchman, union miner
Four negro men.
One negro woman.
The wounded:
Frank Laldsworth, shot in head.
Mrs. Henriot, shot in left arm.
Will Kuhn, laundryman, shot in legs and
hand.
Cyrus Strickler, shot in back.
Albert Vickers, shot in hand.
George Kimball farmer, Rosemond, shot
in arm
Henry Stevens, negro, shot in neck.
Cass Proffitt, shot in foot
Carrie Felix, shot in breast.
Soldiers Arrive.
The situation quieted down at night
fall, and no more trouble was looked
for. Adjt. Gen. Reece, Col. A. E. Culver
and three companies of infantry ar
rived at six o'clock Monday evening on
special trains and perfect order was
maintained throughout the town from
that time on. The companies of in
fantry are company II from Decatur,
under Capt. Castle, company c from
Springfield, under First Lieut.. Bauman,
and company B from Taylorville, under
Capt. B. Parish. The soldiers i'm
mediately began patrolling the streets
throughout the entire town. Miners
stood about in groups talking, but there
was no outward manifestations of eX-
element, although it was evident that
great indignation existed, especially
among the townspeople over the shoot
ing of the citizens and women.
Origin of the Riot.
Henry Stephens, negro miner, who
has long been considered leader
among his associates, is declared to have
been the direct cause of the riot. 1t is
said he was also the leader of the riot
that occurred last September. Stephens
has long cherished hatred for Sheriff
Downey and has openly made threats
that he would kill him on sight. Sun
day he was on the streets with a re-
volver, saying he was looking for Sheriff
Downey. He continued this Monday
and Sheriff Downey came upon him on
Locust street. The sheriff commanded
Stephens to deliver the revolver and
ing concealed weapons. Stephens with
out word instantly leveled his weapon
and fired at the sheriff, the bullet went
wild. The sheriff Immediately opened
fire on the negro. Deputy Sheriff Chez
ney hearing the shooting rushed to
join Sheriff Downey.
Stevens took to his heels and succeed
ed in gaining Penwell's general store
in Locust street, the principal thor
oughfare, two blocks distant, and took
his stand in the entrance. He hesitated
there an instant and then stepped to the
pavement, leveled his revolver down the
street toward his approaching pursuer
and fired
Bystander Killed.
The bullet missed the deputy and
struck Xavier Lecocq, a Frenchman,
who was standing in the entrance of
nearby saloon, squarely in the fore
head, killing him instantly. Stephens
then turned and ran into the Penwell
store and sought refuge behind a count
er. BY this time excitement was ram
pant and the streets were rapidly fill
ing with men, all of whom bore weap-
ons. Deputy Cheney dashed into the
store, followed by Deputy Joe Mullen
and several citizens. A fusillade of bull
let's was poured into the store and
Stephens emptied his revolver at his as
sailants from behind the counter. The
infuriated crowd at the door continued
the fire, and Stephens, seeing that death
was inevitable if he remained behind
the counter, made desperate dash
from his cover to stairway in the rear
of the store.
Shot Six Times.
He fell, pierced by six bullets before
he had gone ten feet. One of the bullets
had gone through his neck, another
through his back and the other wounds
were of a minor nature. The firing
stopped instantly and Sheriff Downey
ran to the wounded negro and placed
him under arrest. Stephens is a negro
of robust constitution, big and brawny.
| The shock of his numerous wounds did
not apparently hurt him, for he swore
and said to the deputy 81 surrender "
and with blood pouring down his cloth
ing walked with his captor to physi-
clans office, where he was given medi-
cal attention. He was then taken to
Jail.
The Riot Rages.
Meanwhile the riot was raging in the
street. AS soon as the first shots haC
been fired the whistle of the electric
light plant was blown as signal for tn,
citizens, the ma ajority of whom had lonl
ago been sworn as deputies, to turn out
| armed and ready IN fl uht Al the sam,
time the miners of the Pana and Pen
well mines, which are located about
four blocks distant from the Penwel
store, which is in the center of the town
rushed into the tipples and opened fire
on the thronged streets, the news thai
Stephens, one of their number. had beer
shot, arousing them to pitch of fury
They shot at any living mark in sight
and as a result among their victims are
| three women, two of whom are white