The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-27
KILLED in
A RACE RIOT
A Sturdy Sheriff II Danville, Ill.,,
Shoots Into the
Crowd.
He Protects the Prisoner at the Elk.
pense of a Large Number
of Wounded.

Danville, ILL.,, July 27.-A race riot Sat-
urday night has resulted In two deaths
A large number Of people are suffering
from gunshot Wounds The sheriff fred
into the crowd. The troops are now in
full possession Of the town.
The mob started for the county Jail,
clamoring for the life of negro, James
Wilson, who confessed to brutal assault
on Mrs. Thomas Burgess, wife Of g.
farmer at Alvon, III.
The negro Mayheld met his fate while
the mob was on the way to lynch Wilson.
The angry throng was passing down East
Main street, when the negro became In
volved in an alteration with some Of the
members. They started after him and he
fired into the crowd.
Henry Catterman, young butcher, who
has recently returned from Fortress Mon
roe, fell mortally wounded and expired In
a few minutes. The negro fed, but was
caught by the officers within a block and
hurried to the police station, with the
mob in hot pursuit
The officers with their prisoner took
refuge in the city building, and barricaded
themselves. ~
The mob, hoverer, secured a long pole
and pried down a section of the wall and
and the door. The negro was hurriedly
seized and rushed to the spot where he
had shot Catterman. It was the work of
an instant to throw rope around his neck
and draw him to the nearest telephone
pole. The mob proceeded on to the county
jail to lynch Wilson. Three other negroes
were attacked by members and severely
beaten.
Troops Cleared the Streets.
After daylight appeared Saturday morn
ing, restless crowds congregated in the
streets. Hundreds of farmers thronged
to Danville and each surrounding town
contoinued to swell the crowd. Many
miners were seen in the streets. Great
unrest and threatening attitude was re-
ported from Westvil1e, five miles away.
Early In the morning Wilson, the alleged
negro assailant of Mrs. Burgess, was Sc
cretly taken from the county Jail but was
returned shortly afterwards.
Four companies Of militia arrived from
Springfield, Companies A, I, B and H OF
! the Seventh Illinois infantry. The troops
marched to the market house opposite
the jail and encamped
Streets were cleared and the threatening
attitude OF the crowds disappeared. There
were su1en threats heard but no attempt
at an outbreak was manifested during the
day. Last night 100 sentinels pa trolled the
streets in the immediate vicinity Of the
jail. Each soldier carried forty rounds OF
ammunition.
The sheriff's Story.
Sheriff Whitlock tells what happened
| at the Jail as follows: 49,
"After I saw from the Jail that the
mob was determined to attack / went tc
the veranda and ATTEMPTED to talk to the
| naddened men. AS I stepped into view
| Of the crowd two bullets were fred, one
striking the wall back of me. T fired two
| shots into the air. e..
Some one shouted that I was only
bluffing and was shooting blank cart
| ridges. I warned the mob I would resist
the attack on >theSJail with powder and
lead. There was another Fsfot from the
mob and it s spulrgeds forward. I then fired
| a Shot from my SHOTGUN into their legs
This drove them bpck, but they returned
moment later to af1e attack lon the front
door. I was alarmed for the safety OF
| my wife and children. 49, .--
| My wife took "a gun and said she
would stand by me. I got her and the
children out Of the way and then as the
| leaders were coming with the Fail to bat
ter down the walls, I shot along the raj
| to make them dropGit. This accounts fol
| SO many being shot in the hands AND
arms. I fired eight or ten shots in air.
Sheriff Whitlock had four deputies an6
| three constables with him in the jai
guarding the prisoners. He says none
fired into the mob but himself.
There are all sorts of rumors afoat anc
a strained situation is noticeable. But the
| 2OO soldiers mere, 1t IS believed, Will pre-.
vent her outbreaks for the present
at least. .s-s
The feeling against the soldiers is
noticeable. The commissary department
had much trouble getting food 80 .-'
Company K, a colored troop, has its
headquarters here. Leaders of the moi
declare they will kill the entire company
| If 1t comes out .....-s. g..
In the mob are many women Nearly
| md
| the assault on Mrs. Burgess was com
mitted were active leaders Of the mob.