New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-28
RIOTING IN ILLINOIS.
TWO MEN KILLED AND THREE OTHERS
AND ONE WOMAN WOUNDED
AT GILMAN.
AT GILMAN,

Gilman H.. Aug 27.-Two men killed, three
wounded-two of them perhaps fatally-one woman
wounded and her residence burned are the results
of an all night effort by mob TO destroy the house
of Mrs DR.. c. ". Wright who was accused OF the
murder Of bessie Salter. the sixteen-year-old
daughter of citizen of Gilman, at her so-called
hospital.
MYERS. John Iaborer. employed by Mrs Dr. Wright
RYAN, Michael citizen, serving as deputy constable
Fatally wounded:
wILLoUGHRY George citizen through left lung
bullet taking downward
Seriously wounded:
LAUER. Peter member Of the citizens attacking party;
shot through stomach.
About 10 o'clock last evening the tragedy began
1t precpitated by the investigation of the
Coroner's jury into the death of Bessie Salter, a
sixteen-yearold girl. of Leonard, ILL.,. VINO died In
Mrs. Wrights lying-n hospital on Friday night
and was taken to her home in Leonard under cover
OF darkness early on Saturday morning. No coffin
was procured The body of the girl was wrapped
up in an old blanket and piece of carpet and
buried After the jury had heard the evidence of
Clarence Salter. father OF the Pirl, the Coroner
came to the conclusion that it injudcious to
wait longer for Mrs. Wrghts arrest and war
rant was procured and placed in the hands Of
Constable Nilstead for service, charging her with
murder.
number Of deputies. gathered up In the street,
accompanied Nilstead. Mrs. Wright barred the
door, and. in forcing entrance, the constable en-
countered unexpected opposition. They broke the
outer door open and entered the darkened rooms
Michael Ryan felt his way across the first room
and was about enter the door of the inner apart
ment when a shot was fired and he fell dead.
The constabes made hurried exit. and formed
a picket line around the building. At regular in
ervals they fired into the building in the hope that
the occupants would surrender. but without sue
cess. Finally, it determined to set fire to the
building. The recent rains had so dampened Its
timbers that the fire would not catch, and, after
burning some outbuildings, the posse gave up the
attempt. and fell back to their original plan of
driving out Mrs Wright.
About o'clock the family Of Michael Ryan ar
rived The dead man had been carried to the
bushes the house where he met his death.
mob Of probably two hundred and fifty people had
gathered. Most of them were armed The scenes
of grief which followed the arrival Of Ryans wife
and children fired the crowd with frenzy. They
seized bundles of straw, saturated them with Pc
troleum, piled them against the front and sides of
the so-caled hospital, and applied the torch In
moment the place was a mass of flames Shot
after shot from the upper windows. and
George Willoughby, local representative of the
Standard Oil Company fell with a bullet in the
left side. The victim Peter Lauer a
member Of the attacking party These casualties
so angered the crowd that they fired at the house
as fast as they could load their firearms Contrary
to expectations. no screams followed the progress
of the flames, and the mob began think that the
inmates Of the burning house had been cremated-
Suddenly. from a bunch Of timber in the rear.
several shots came in the direction of the mob.
They were answered, a hundred to one. and the
nre was quickly silenced Members of the mob
rushed TO the timber. and in the dim light of the
coming dawn found the body Of John Myers a
blacksmith. who had been employed by Mrs
Wright stretched in the death agony. He was
Shot n a dozen places about the head and Shout
GERS. showing that he had been lying his face,
hrlng at his enemies when he met dea tn
near oy lay Mrs. Wright, a ragged hole in her
right shoulder. The mob carried her downtown
ell Chamher, and physicians set to work in
deavor TO bring her to consciousness. 1t is prob
able that she will not recover
The mob Immediately dispersed II had been
besides Mrs Wright, but no signs of them have
been. found. The house was destroyed, with its
contents.
Mrs. Dr.. Wright is about fifty years old 1t is
stated r9ats she was formerly an actress For
time she has been conducting a so-called hos
A strong guard was placed around the City Hall.
Before long the crowd gathered tgain and threats
Of lynching the wounded woman freely made
The city authorities tried TO keep the mob quiet
but with poor success At $50 o'clock the mob
made a united demonstration. smashing in the City
haN windows and throwing brckbats and clubs at
the prisoner.
A shot was fred through the window by one of
the mob. but missed its intended mark Finally
the officers got the mob quieted down, but another
outbreak was rnomentary expected. Mrs Wright
was taken to Paxton at noon by the Sheriff Later
she removed to the Watseka Jail The mob
became quiet, and no further demonstration was
feared in Gilman although II rumored that
a force would be organized 70 make an assault on
the Watseka Jail.