Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-07-09
RIOTERS SHOT DOWN
Militiamen atEvavnsville Fire Their
Muskets on a Mob.
SEVEN KILLED. MANY OTHERS HURT.
The Mob Tried TO Break into the Jail-Gov.
DurbIn Much Agitated ut the News
Several Companies Of Militia Or
derod to the Scene.

Evansville, Ind, July 7.-Following
four days Of rioting and general law
lessness this city last night saw the
most terrible Of its experiences with
rioters. Seven persons are dead and
IA are known to be injured and at
least that number more are thought to
be hurt. At 10:3O o'clock the members
Of company A, First regiment, Indi-
ana national guard, after days Wig
ilance guarding the county jail, and
100 deputy sheriffs under Sheriff Chris
Kratz, fired point blank into q mob Of
1000 men gathered on Fourth, Division
and Vine streets, surrounding the Van
derburg county Jail and attempting its
capture. From seven o'clock yester-
day morning until the hour Of last
nights catastrophe the crowd surged
about the Jail, calling the militiamen
vile names, assaulting them with
stones and berating the deputy sher-
IFS who guarded the Jail. The mob
had gradually become more and more
excited and Its manifestations of un-
easiness more frequent and at ten
o'clock 1t was seen that nothing could
prevent an assault on the jail. At
10:S0 o'clock the rioters pressed for
ward with determination and innocent
onlookers and the curious followed.
Slowly they forced the militiamen back
toward the jail, until the alleyway be-
tween Division street and the stone
building was reached. Then the lead
ers, with q bicycle in their front as q
shield TO the bayonets Of the soldiers,
attempted to enter the alley and storm
the alleyway entrance. Capt. Blum, Of
the national guard. ordered charge
on the rioters. Gradually the crowd
was forced back, the soldiers using
their bayonets and butts Of their guns.
Suddenly q rioter fell. A soldier tried
TO drag him to his feet, but before he |
could do 80 was assaulted by o rioter.
Stones and bayonets began to fly |
through the air. A soldier was struck
with rock and fell. A rioter was
knocked down with gun butt and
then a shot was fired. The one shot
started a fusillade of musketry and
shotgun fire from the defenders.
Inside the jail 43 prisoners lay ter
rifed in the darkness; 10 of them
we're negroes whose lives are far from
,afe II the mob attacks the jail again
md affecta n cantiIra. I,ighta were
urned out when the shooting began
ind the prisoners moaned and cried
n their cells.
GOV. Durbiu Orders Out Militia.
indianapolis, Ind, July 7.--Gov. Dur
in was very much agitated at the In
ormation from Evansville. III this
continues he declared, en-
hatically, II shall go to Evansville
1yself and declare the city under mar
Ial law" At midnight he began or
ering out additional militia compa- /
les. The first was that from Vim I
ennes, which was rushed to the scene
the riot on a special train The I
lew Albany company was called out |
nd placed under arms, with orders /
, proceed to Evansville early this
forming. The Terre Haute company I
as placed under arms, ready to move /
n a moments notice, arrangements s
aving been made for a special train r
hIch would hurry the soldiers to the
ene.