The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-08-28
THE RIOTS AT AKRON.
y Prison Destroyed-Two Killed
in a Fight With the Police.
Many Others on Both Sides Were
Seriously Hurt-The City In
Now PatrOIIed by Ohio
State Guards.

Louis Peck, colored, about 40 years
old. He confessed of having on Mon
day night attempted to assault Chris
tina. 6-year-old daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Theodore Mas, industrious and
respectable people. The story of his
confession spread like wildfre, and
a mob of several thousand gathered
about the city prison at $3.50 p. m.
and forced the doors and made q
search of the institution.
Early in the evening the prisoner
Rad been quietly taken away to Cleve-
land.
A mad rush was then made for the
Jail, and it soon was in the hands of
the mob. They were informed by
Sheriff Stone that Peck could not be
found there. They went to the court
house and ransacked that building in
the search for the prisoner. A second
time the mob visited the city prison
and Mayor Young addressed the
crowd, saying that Peck had been
taken out of the prison at o'clock
by Sheriff Kelly and driven out of the
city in closed carriage. The people
in the mob would not believe the
mayor and continued to yell and de-
mand that Peck be surrendered.
At 10 o'clock the mob attacked he
city prison, and those inside defended
it. Many shots were exchanged be-
tween the mob and officers. Two peo-
pie were killed and another is dying
in the hospital. Many were wounded
Shortly after midnight the mob
broke into hardware store and stole
all the firearms and ammunition they
could find, including guns, rifles and
revolvers, and proceeded to the city
building and opened fire on the de-
tenders and finally set fire to the Co.
1umb:a hall, which adjoins the city
building
All the officers who had been
penned up in the city building for
two hours, escaped through a rear
window and ran for their lives. The
mob then placed dynamite under the
city building and partly wrecked that
structure. 1t was later set on fire
and completely destroyed.
Akron, o., Aug. 24-Thousands of
people came to this city Thursday to
see the ruins of the buildings de-
stroyed by the mob Wednesday night.
The city hall has been totally ruined
by dynamite and fire.
Chief of Police Harrison has left 4he
city and his whereabouts are IN
known. He is suffering from a nerv-
Gus shock.
Mayor Young Thursday morning
issued a proclamation to close all sa-
looms until further orders.
At $3.50 Thursday morning every
thing was quiet about the ruins OF
the city building. In the destruction
of the building the city has lost all
records of the city clerk and also the
records of the city engineer. City
Engineer Payne said that the loss in
lis department will be fully a half
million. The automobile patrol
wagon has been run into the canal
With the approach of dawn Thurs
day morning the riotous mob which
held possession of this city through
out the night melted away, and when
the sun rose the streets assumed their
usual appearance.
At o'clock Thursday morning
Company &, of the Sth Ohio regiment,
arrived on a special train from Can
ton and was at once marched to the
scene of Wednesday nights rioting.
The militiamen were at once placed
on guard duty around the county
buildings, but they found little to do.
The excitement has Gained down,
and now the people of Akron are con-
templating the smoldering evidences
OF the wild fury of the mob.
Nine companies of the 4th regiment
arrived at $3.50 Thursday morning.
Beside the city building destroyed
by the mob, the Columbian building
adjoining is heap of ashes, and sew
eral smaller frame buildings in the
vicinity are in ruins The property
loss is fully $1,O0O,OOO. 1t is estimat-
ed that the mob was composed of
not less than 1900 men.
At 10 o'clock Thursday morning it
was reported that portion of the
mob had marched to East Akron,
broken into a hardware store and
stolen a quantity of ammunition and
dynamite, together with all the guns
IN the place, and that it was their
intention to charge on the troops at
the first demonstration.
officers commanding the troops
say that any attempt to start riot
will be the signal for a charge by
militia.
The mob, which has had possession
OF AlsOn since early Wednesday
night, is still parading the streets,
although there is now no organiza-
ton.
There was no rioting Thursday and
affairs are quieting down, the mob be-
ing awed by the militia.
Salvation Army Lad.