The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-09
Race War Results From Lynching of Dixon.
 - TROOPS RUSHED TO TOWN
  Herrick Takes Vigorous Action to Avert Trouble.
 -. Lives of ofnaials are Threatened by Mob Because of Their Supposed Sympathy for the Negro Residents of the City.
TROOPS RUSHED TO TOWN

SpHnBueius O.s March 8.--Ihf1ata throughout the day and this evening to burn the Leyee the negro district of tho city. confirmed Mayor BDwiug in hls be- lief that more trouble is brewing t6nixlst. and he asked Governor Hzerrfck for troops. Two companies from Dayton and one, each from MiamisburR, Urbana and Columbus wero ordered to reinforce tho two local companies. Many of the neA groes of the city are snrIy and moody tonight, . and it Is realized that only spark Is needed to start a race war.
 At s;SO o'clock the crowd in the levea district had increased to f,500 and one or two shots were fired at random. Tha excitement was growing and 1t was seen that in an instant the situation m6uiH easily pass beyond the control of the ip- cal police. In contrast with last night. not q negro wns seen in tho down town districts. although hundreds of them were thought to be heavily armed and awnft~ ing an attack. All the saioona were closed.
 By sso crowd of about s.Oc0 men ha4 assembled along the BE Four Railroad tracks. almost biockS4lng Washingf0n Street. which Is known as the Levee TWO hundred negroes were clustered tokefh6S just west of Fountain Avenue. in the k.e~ wee district. near the place called Honlzx Tonk.
 Negroes Were Quiet.
 The negro streets were unusually uuiet and seemed to be awaiting for a start 70 be made by the white men. The other crowd was boisterous. and there wer1 frequent yells and several pistol aho~a heard.
 Mayor Bowlns, Sheriff Routxahan ana the other officials were stationed in the Mayors ofiiee. where the Mayor wns "a constant communication with MaJYE Kirnpatrick and Governor Herriek. v was announced by the Mayor that tic Urbana company was en route on the g:19 inter-urban car, afd that 1he 0thafa were coming as quiekfae tIse carr wuslsH bring them Company of rEMua. alAa. was ordered here Tlis will mate aiK companies Of militia from other ciklGs. besides the three local companies that will be mohilized in this city.
 No effort win be made 10 use Company A. Ninth Battalion. composed of color,s1 men, because of fear of race prejudice.
 Five companies of the ohio Nationai Guard are on their way here on a spe- cial train by order of Governor Herfisx. in response to the request of the city and county officials
 During the afternoon threats were heard that the levce would be burned. It is said that the negroes are detsf- mined to avenge the Iynchlns of Dixon. Tn some of the large shops today the white msn treated the negro employees with contempt and this resulted in heat- ed arguments and threats being ex- changed.
 Disposition of 1Eilta-
 It is the plan to place the several nils itary companies on the Levee in the con- ter of the city and ak the h0mes oe sev- eraf of the officials whose lives have been threatened, one of whom is Police Judge J. U. Miller. Major Kirkpatrick intends to keSp his companies at the armories as long as possible. as there is stored there all the ammunition. If it is left without guard, the mob would have it's own way
 Mayor Bowlas issued an order at s:2s to Chief of Police O'Brien 10 close all the saloons of the city.
 At Il 80 the threat Of the mob freuuens- ly made through the day. was fnallx made good. and a volume of flama was seen to shoot up from the rear of place, occupied by Lea Thomas. a saloon keep- CT. Pending the firing of the building, the mob at a distances of a hundred feet. shot at the front of the building for halg an hour. but 1t is not know whether any of the occupants had remained. in the building. and if they had whether any fatalities resulted from the shooting
 The Are is spreading both ways from Thomas's place. One of the fire enc gines. in attempting to make It's way up the railway tracks to the scene of the Ire. stalled in the muddy driveway, and is unable to aid in fighting the fire. i It is thought the mob win not tolerate any effort of the department to put out the fire in the Leves district. but will offer no resistance in the attempts to conflne the ire to the buildings along Wash ington Street known as the Levee.
 old Shacks Burning.
 The buildings are dllapldated frame structures. ranging from one to three stories in height. They are for the most part saloons and small rooming houses. There are a few branch offices maintain- ed by down town firms in the vicinity. To the north of the Levee or Washington Street. running parallel with it. is East High Street, the most beautiful thorough- fare in the city. There Is little or no danger, however. of the fire spreading to this thoroughfare.
 Tho Are department win probably ex- perience no trouble in coninIng the fro to the frame buildings. The militia has not arrived in sufficient numbers to att tempt to quell the mob and the are is spreading rapidly to the east and west of Leslie's place.
 The negroes are highly incensed at Sherfn Routzahan for not using greater force in protecting Dixon. Sherifr Rouf- zahan has been warned that the Instant the torch was applied In Washington Street he had better remove his family from the jail as that institution was to be immediately dynamited
 At midnight the entire block ln Wash ngton Street from Gallagher 10 Spring Street is on fire. with no hopes of saving my of the buildings. The troops from Cincinnati. Miamiasburg and Dayton will ,e here on a special train within twenty I've minutes. They arc badly needed as { is entirely probable that the negroes ylli make good their threats to fire the business districts of the city and dyna- mite the jail and other buildings.
 Fire Chief George FoIIeiath is in re- eipt of urgent request from ne ilign