The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-04-11
MORE RIO7INC IN PANA.
Governor Tanner Places the Illinois
Mine Town Under Martial Law.
SEVEN DEAD AND NINE WOUNDED

| The Conflict Was Precipitated by n
Out a Threat to Kill sheriff Downcy.
Ono Negro Woman Among the Killed
Pana, Ills, April 11-A deadly riot,
the most serious disturbance that has
occurred here since the union miners
instigated strike in April, 1898, WAS
enacted yesterday, resulting in seven
persons being shot to death and nine
wounded. The dead are: Frank Co.
burn, citizen; Xavier Lecoa, French
man. union miner; three non-union
negro miners, James l.. James, Green
Vile, s. c., and Henry Hobbs and
Charles Watkins, from Alabama; negro
woman said to be the wife of south
ern negro miner.
The situation quieted down at night
fall and no more trouble was looked
for Adjutart General Rcece, Colonel
A. E. Culver and three companies of
infantry arrived at 6 O'Clock last even
ing on special trains, and perfect order
was maintained through the town
from that time on. The troops now
here are Company H, from Decatur,
under Captain Castle; Company G,
from Spring gfeld, under First Lieuten~
ant Bauman, and Company B, from
Taylorville. under Captain B. Parish.
Governor Tanner has declared the city
under martial law.
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. Sunday he was on the
streets with revolver, saying he was
looking for Sheriff Downey. He con-
tinued this yesterday, and Sheriff
Downey came upon him on Locust
street. The sheriff commanded Ste
phens to deliver the revolver and told
him he was under arrest for carrying
concealed weapons. Stephens, with
ont a word instantly leveled his
weapon and fired at the sheriff. The
bullet went wild. The sheriff i'm
mediatcly opened fire on the negro.
Deputy Sheriff Cheney, hearing the
shooting, rushed to join Sheriff
DoTney.
Stephens took to his heels and sue
ceeded in gaining Penwells general
store on Locust street, the principal
thoroughfare, 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. The
bullet missed the deputy and struck
Xavier LecCq, Il Frenchman, who was
standing in the entrance Of a nearby
saloon, squarely in the forehead, kill
ing him instantly. Stephens then
turned and ran into the Penwell store |
and sought refuge behind counter. !
By this time the streets were rapidly |
filling with men. all of whom bore
weapons. Deputy Cheney dashed into |
the store, followed by Deputy Joe Null |
len and several citizens. A fusllade |
of bullets was poured into the store, |
and Stephens empted his revolver at I
his assailants from behind the counter.
The infuriated crowd at the door |
continued firing, and Stephens, seeing |
that death was inevitable, made des-
perate dash from his cover to STAIR
way in the rear OF the store. He fell
pierced by six bullets, before he had
gone ten feet. One of the bullets had
gone through his neck, nerthrough
his back, and the other wounds were
of minor nature. The firing stopped
and Sheriff Downey ran to
the side Of 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,
Il surrender" and with blood pouring
down his clothing walked with his
captor to a physicians Office. where
he was given medical attendance. He
was then taken to jail.
Meanwhile the riot was raging in the
street. AS soon as the first shot had
been fired the whistle of the electric
light plant was blown as a signal for
the citizens, the majority of whom
had long ago been sworn as deputies,
10 turn out armed and ready to fight.
AT the same time the miners of the
'ana and Penwell mines, which are To-
'ated about two blocks distant from
he Penwell store, which is the center
If the town, rushed into the tipples
nd opened fire on the thronged streets,
The news that Stephens, one of their
lumber, had been shot and arrested
roused them to a pitch of fury. They
hot at any living mark in sight, and
IS 4 result among their victims are
hree women, two of whom are white
women wounded and one negro wO-
nan dead.