The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-28
WORK OF THE AKRON MOB
THE CITY HALL AND COLUMBIA HALL A
HEAP OF RUINS
|ONE DEAD AND OTHERS DYING
The hob Infurfated at Their Inability
to Enter City Prison Destroy it With
Fire and Dynamite The City Yester-
day In the Hands of the Military-No
Further Riotlng observation-disclosures
of Attempt to Lynch Peck at CIeve-
land-Chfef of Police F1ees.

Auon, Ohio, August 23.-When day
Idawned in Akron Thursday morning.
lit revealed a scene of desolation and
the evidences Of violence and lawless-
mess u~nrivaled in the history of this
Icity. The rioters had done their work
and had dispersed. One child was ly-
ling cold in death and nearly a score
Eof people We're suffering from the
wounds of pistol balls, buckshot and
missiles. The city building was a heap
of smous1ering ruins n beside it
steamed the water soaked ashes of
Columbia hall.
At s O'Clock the crowds began TO in
crease. as the curious spectators hur-
Iried TO the scene of the trouble. A
policeman appeared and the another,
Itimid at first but with increasing as
Isurance as no violence was offered.
Then company C.. of Canton, a detach-
Iment of the gallant Eighth Ohio regi-
lment, marched down the street, and,
halting before the ruins of the build
ing, was at once set to %patrolling the
fire ines. There was no evidence Of
Ill will or disQuiet on the part of the
Sio"oS at liz lIFc lilcTc WAS ITO
talk of violence. The turbulent ele-
ment had skunk away with the coming
of daylight, and order was once more
fully restored after an awful night of
terror and anarchy.
At $50 O'Clock this morning Compa-
ny c., Eighth regiment, of Canton, I'M
der command of Captain A. Fisher, ar
rived in Akron under riot orders. The
soldiers were met at the Valley depot
MayQr Y01lnO a nd "a narfv Of aitv
officials. They We're marched imme-
ldiately to the scene of last nights riot
ing. AS the troops marched up the
main thoroughfare Kisses and groans
were heard. At 9:2o O'Clock min COM
lpanies of the Fourth regiment arrived
in the city. and marched to the scene
Iof last nights rioting.
Shortly before 10 O'Clock Mayor
Young issued a proclamation closing
every saloon in Akron until further
orders.
One killed, one fatally injured and
twenty erSOn more or eSs injured,
is the result of the mob'S work. Geld
lWade was shot and nearly killed.
was in the mob and a lbullent from
a revolver from a policeman struck
him. The lad was II years of age.
Another innocent person who will die
is Rhoda Davidson, h Z year Did
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. J. M. Da-
WILSON. Sitting in a carriage with her
mother and father in 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
officers and city officials in the city
hall only served to lash the mob into
greater frenzy. Failing in it's effort to
force an 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 rioting. Re-
~volverS, rifles, shotgunS, razors and
thousands of rounds of ammunition
were taken, and with these weapo
the mob returned to the city hall wher
the city officers were haranguing the
mob.
Adjoining the city hall which was
constructed 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 re-
sponded to the alarm. bur the mob re-
fused to permit them to work. Co.
lumbia hall was soon a ruin, but the
lc1ty hall was yet standing. Flaming
embers were thrown into the dinerent
rooms and the building was soon burn
ing. Some of the more thoughtful
ones IN the mon liberated the prisoners
from h cells blow the hall. A stick of
dynamite was thrown into the front
of h burning building. A terrific
crash followed and portions of thu
wall crumbled away like dust before
a breeze. Another charge was ex-
ploded and the work of devastation
was completed.
AT 4 o'clock this morning the riotins
has practically ceased.
During the day wild rumors were
Icurrent that mobs were being formed
in Cleveland to lynch Peck, but there
was no good ground for them. Tn
arrival OF the troops distracted thu
attention of those lawlessly inclined
and had statutory effect. the rumior.
that Chief Of Police Harrison had be.
come insane and had fed caused {
great deal of comment. He is in Cleve
land.
The saloons have been closed sine,
noon.
At a conference in the afternoon a
the hotel between Mayor Young ant
the military officers. dead lines wer
established and soldiers were place,
in different parts Of the down tow
l~SectiOn ~ the citV.