The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-08
MILITARY RULES EVANSVILLE.
COY. 0URBEN BUSHES TROOPS
THERE TO RESTORE ORDER.
VIII Put Down the Mob n IL Takes All the
Troops OF the Etate--Anarchists Said
to Have Led tho MOb-SOldiers Have
Orders TO Sbo0t--Sarety Committee
Formed I'm TOwn-PeOpls Excited.

EVANSVILLE, Ind, July Eight dead,
two wounded mortally and at least thirty
five either seriously or slightly wounded,
is the canvass tonight of the battle between
militia and rioters at the court house and
county Jail last night, Most Of the dead
are young MEN. A girl, Hazel Altman
aged IS, was shot through the heart while
fleeing from the scene with her parents
in a buggy.
Military rule is enforced tonight. The
city Is guarded by the entire First Infantry
Of the Indiana National Guard under COM
mand Of Gen. w. j. Mckee of Indianapolis,
who arrived to-day. An artillery squad is
also present
Three companies are at the county jail
and the court house opposite, and the
remainder Of the city is patrolled by 100
civilian and special police. The 200 deputy
sheriffs sworn in for service last night
have been relieved.
Some OF the tension resulting from two
attempts to storm the jail and lynch Robert
Lee. colored, murderer Of Patrolman Louis
N. Massey, has been allayed, but the public
mind ia still in an inhamlnable state from
the carnage Of last night.
The negroes are extremely quiet and
every sign OF race war has disappeared,
for the present, at least. Hundreds Of
negroes have left the city, and those who
are brave enough 10 remain sleep in coIn-
panies Of from so TO 200. They are in a
state OF nervous fright.
Tonight the chief danger arises from
excited public opinion at the presence of
troops in SO large numbers. Any clashes
tl,pf nfaI 70
from isolated crowds Of the rougher ele-
ment attempting to contest military au-
thority.
The city is now under control Of twelve
citizens, who constitute a Safety and Vigi-
lance Committee, and who were appointed
at a meeting in the Mayors Office to-day,
held at the instance Of Gov. Durbin.
The committee is composed of G. A.
Cunningham, P. W. Frey, Alexander Gil
christ, +. p. PoZy, j. o. Parker, Major
j. d, Welman, lawyers; Aaron NJ. We'll,
NJ. J.. johnson, w. S. French and S. q.
Fleetwood, mercantile men; Capt. S. p.
Gillette, banker, and Fred Van Orman,
hotel man.
Mayor Covert is chairman ex oflicio and
Chief Fred Heuke is still in command of
from the Vigilance Committee and Sheriff
C. W. kratz. who is commander OF the
city.
Mayor Charles j. Covert issued second
proclamation, calling upon citizens to re-
main at home and closing all saloons at
noon. There is no disposition to dispute
the proclamation by saloon men. The
Mayor Gays tonight that the outcome
of the next twenty-four hours is uncer-
tain. He said
-The situation is critical, even with the
presence of sodiery. | cannot say how
long military rule will last If we can pass
a night or two without serious trouble we
expect to control the situation"
Gov. Durbin has been III communication
with Evansville all day, and after the first
reports of last nights fatalities decided
to come here and take charge. He IL eA-
erciscd over the shooting.
The sent iment of in uontial men, the
business and professional men, is that law
and order had to be preserved at any
hazard. and that the killing was justified,
if forceful action was niece ssary 70 curb
the people who dis obeyed the Mayors
proclamation about street congre cations.
Damage suits approxirnating s2000oO
against city, county and State are threat
ened MS result of last nights trouble.
Responsibility for the fatalities has not
been fixed and until the CorOner's inquest
is held there will be no official action against
members of the militia or the deputy
sherifS
The riot started with the calling Of names
by 500 men gathered outside the patrol
lines Several III, II headed flying wedge
at 10 o'clock, rushed the guards back to
the all, a distance of 100 feet from the
corner where they were placed, and the
leaders from the protect d vestibule in
Court Place. a lawyers Office building,
began to shoot
The shooting from the citizens ranks
became general, but the military did not
return tho fire at once. When they did,
il was sent directly into the crowd. 10
the deputy sherifls, stationed on the court
house steps opposite the Jail, are attributed
most of the deaths
This Judgment is the result of an investi-
gat ion of the wounds The militia used
rifles, while The deputies used shot guns.
Most Of the men killed fell before "CouTt
Place. wit hin twenty feet of tho military
and within 100 feet Of the Shenf's men,
Miss Altman was seated in buggy $50
feet away. Her father attempted to drive
away, and MS they, we're at a corner almost
out Of range the shot struck her. Tonight
the city IL highly wrought up over the nu-
mcrous unfounded rlnors Of deaths ard
attacks, set on foot it il thought, to incite
attGcks upon the military, Two or three
negroes have been pursued and wounded
slightly.
TNpiANAPoLIs, July AFTER being under
arms at their armorics the greater part of
the morning, Battery A and the four in
fantry companies of The city were marched
at 1.l5 o'clock this afternoon TO the Capital
avenue entrance of the Union Station,
where they boarded special train, which
started shortly after o'clock to hurry the
soldiers to Evansville to prevent a recur-
renee of tho riot outbreaks which marked
Monday night
A new phase which makes the demonstra-
ton appear more serious than was at first
thought has been reported 10 the Governor
This is the fact that the mob is led to a
certain extent by avowed anarchists, who
are members of an anarchist society that
exists in Evansville The anarchists are
using the mob ms their tools in the struggle
against authority. The reports Of the
part anarchists are taking in the trouble
were made 10 the Governor this morning
by citizens Of Evansville.
The Governor believes the soldiers did
their duty in firing into the crowd when
they did and while he regrets the blood
shed, he thinks the guard had no apollo
gics to offer for it's action. He said,
II am shocked beyond the power Of
words IT, express at the booClshcd ut Evans
Will. The q 'dirs and deputies have done
their duty and I intend that they shall be
upheld and that this roting shall cease If
it takes every soldier in the State to ac-
ccrnrlish it.
"Thcre r. only one way to hardle such a
mob and that il 20 deal summarily with il,