Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-11

Tanner this evening had the following TO
say with reference to the affair:
At Sheriff Downey's request about
three weeks ago | removed all the troops
from Pana, after he had made a statement
in writing that troops were no longer
needed; that he would preserve peace and
protect life and property with the civil au-
thorities if | would send him 200 stands of
arms and 1000 rounds of ammunition, which
request l complied with and removed the
troops. s....
About 1030 this morning Mr.. Penwell,
mayor of Pana, telephoned me that there
was a riot on, that four people had been
killed and the battle w.s still going on,
with continual firing. He asked for troops.
| replied that would advise with the sher-
iff and l called Sheriff Downey by tele-
phone and got him about IL o'clock and
asked him the situation. He replied that
he had the trouble under control and would
be able to quell the riot and maintain order
and that 1t would not be necessary to seno
troops ! received kilograms and telephone
messages from time TO time from citizens
stating that firing was going on ana people
were being shot wounded and killed. About
3 o'clock | learned the sheriff had taken
prisoner and with the pretense of saving
him from mob violence had taken him to
Taylorville. About the same time ! re-
ceived further advice that the riot was con-
tinuing and that seven people had been
killed and great many wounded and that
the people were shooting into the houses
with their long-range rifles killing lnno-
cent citizens. In a few minutes / learned
that two more colored men had been killed
and unless troops were sent there would
be a general battle there tonight.
! | was also advised by Mr. Schuyler, one
OF Panas best citizens, that If the mob
/ learned of the troops coming there would be
fifty people killed before they reached there.
/ | Immediately directed Adjutant General
/ ROoce to order three companies, those from
| this city Decatur and Taylorville, to pro-
| ceed to the scene of trouble at the earliest
! possible moment, providing special trains
for their transportation. l renewed my
4 original proclamation of last November, de-
claring Pana under martial law, and directed
the adjutant general to proceed with all
haste with troops and to quell the riot, re-
store order, protect life and property and
| disarm all persons found with guns. At
o'clock | received telegram from Sheriff
! Downey, who was at Litchfeld on his way
! home with his prisoner stating that order
! had been restored at Pana and that all was
quiet, and that there was no necessity of
sending troops and not to make the mis-
take OF doing so. However, with the evil
dence before me from citizens of Pana and
the fact that he had fled from the scene
( and was at that time sixty-fve miles away,
! | paid no attention to his request. At $50
this evening | received the following tele-
phone message from Sheriff Downey, at
/ Tayloryille, where | supposed he had landed
why were troops ordered to Pana this
afternoon, when everything was quiet? Why
| are the troops dsarming the deputies
! Everything could have been easily con-
trclled If the negroes had kept out OF the
! towers"
/ replied THE troops were sent TO Pana
| by my order because you had left the scene
| of battle and taken a prisoner to Taylor
Vile, This is the first instance in my eX-
perience where general or commander left
- LII l.,, al N.ly. V,nfrF tln
rear He generally sent such prisoners back
| in charge of a corporal and two guards. The
! troops have orders TO disarm everybody and
! the military authorities at Pana must be
! obeyed until further orders from me-"
/ To this Sheriff Downey replied: II left
! Pana with my prisoner to prevent him being
lynched. My chief deputy was in charge
and everything was quiet
Adjutant General Reese and Colonel ]. S.
Culver left here for Pana this afternoon with
Company and will be Joined at Taylorville
! by Company b, both of the First infantry.
| and upon their arrival there they will be
| joined by Company II of Decatur, all OF
! these troOIs having been ordered TO Pana
for riot duty by Governor Tanner upon re-
quest OF the citizens of that city.
! II may be that more companies will be
sent there before morning. as authentic ad-
vices prove that the rioting miners have
and a considerable army may be there In
a few hours. It was decided just before the
train left to take the Calling section ana
it went down with the other troops.