The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-24
THE CITY HALL BLOWN UP
Soldiers Arrive and Are Greeted With
Groans and Kisses.
RUM0RS OF A FRESH OUTBREAK AFLoAT
These. However, Are Now Declared to be Base
less. Twenty People Were Injured in
the Rioting Which Lasted Till
Near Morning.
Near Morning
(By the Associated Press.)


Akron, Ohio, August 23.-When day
dawned in Akron Thursday morning, it
revealed scene of desolation and the
evidences of violence and lawlessness
unparalleled in the history of this city.
The rioters had done their work and
had dispersed. One child was lying cold
In death and nearly a score of people
were suffering from the wounds of pistol
balls, buckshot and missiles.
The city building was heap of smould-
ering ruins and beside it steamed the
ater-soaked ashes of Columbia Hall.
At six o'clock the crowds began to in
crease as the curious spectators hurried
to the scene of the trouble. A police
man appeared and then another, timid
at first, but with increasing assurance as
no violence was offered. Then Company
e OF Canton, detachment of the gall
liant Eighth Ohio regiment, marched
down the street from the train and halt
ing before the ruins of the building was
at once set to patrolling the fire lines
There was no evidence of ill-wilI or
disQuiet on the part of the crowds at
the lines. There was no talk of violence
The turbulent element had skunk away
with the coming of daylight and order
was once more fully restored after an
awful night of terror and anarchy.
At $3.50 this morning Company c,
Eighth regiment, of Canton under com
mand of Captain A. Fisher, arrived in
Akron under riot orders.
The soldiers were met at the Valley
depot by Mayor Young and a party of
city officials. They were marched i'm
mediately to the scene of last nights
rioting. AS the troops marched up the
main thoroughfare Kisses and groans
were heard.
At 800 nine companies of the Fourth
regiment arrived in the city and marched
to the scene of last nights rioting. Short
ly before 10 O'Clock Mayor Young issued
a proclamation, closing every saloon in
Akron until further orders.
One killed, one fatally injured and
twenty persons more or less injured, is
the result of the mobs work.
Glen Wade was shot and almost in
stantly killed. He was in the mob, and
bullet from the revolver of a police
man in the city hall struck him. The
lad was only eleven years of age.
Another innocent who will die is Rhoda
Davidson, the seven year old daugter of
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. M. Davidson. Sitting in
a carriage with her mother and father
on the outskirts of the mob. a stray
bullet struck her in the head No hope
is held out for her recovery.
The resistance shown by the police Off
GERS and city officials in the city hall only
served to lash the mob into greater fren-
w. Failing in its effort to force an en-
trance into the city hall a portion of
the mob ran to the store of the Standard
Hardware Company, on Main street, about
one and a half blocks from the scene
of the rioting. Revolvers, rifles, and
guns, razors and thousands of rounds of
ammunition were taken and with these
weapons the mob returned to the city
hall where the city officials were har-
arguing the mob.
Adjoining the city hall which was con-
structed almost entirely of brick was
an immense building which for many
years past was the principal public hall
of Akron. This was set afire.
The various fire companies responded
to the alarm, but the mob refused to
permit them to work.
Columbia Hall was soon a ruin, but
the city hall was yet standing. Flaming
embers were thrown into the different
rooms and the building was soon burning.
Some of the more thoughtful ones in the
mob liberated the prisoners from the cells
below the hall.
A stick of dynamite was thrown into
the front of the burning building. A
terrific crash followed and portions of
the wall crumbled away like dust before
a breeze. Another charge was exploded
and the work of devastation was COM
pleted.
At four o'clock this morning, the rioting
had practically ceased.
During the day wild rumors were cur
rent that mcbs were being formed in
Cleveland to lynch Preck. but there was
no good ground for them. The arrival
of the troops distracted the attention
of those lawlessly inclined and had a
Salutary effect.
The rrrnor that Chief of Police Har-
risen lad become insane and had fed
caused a great deal of comment.
He is in Cleveland.
The saloons have been closed since
noon. At a conference in the after
noon at the Buchtel Hotel between Mayor
Young and the militia officers, dead lines
were established and soldiers were placed
In different part of the downtown sec
tion of the city.