The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-03-11
SPRINGFIELD IS
SWEPT BY FIRE
Levee District Fired by . Mob
Who Would Danish
Negroes.
A,r~-@r ~- orvrn@r
NEGROES SEEK REVENGE
Section Inhabited by Negroes Burned
by infuriated Mob and There Is
All Probability Negroes Will
Requte Wrong.

Springfield, o., March lo.-lntense eN-
citement prevails here at an early hour
this morning, which not even the pres
ence Oh seven companies OF the national
guard can allay. This excitement is
Shared by all the business n,en and
property owners OF the city, who fear
that some OF the negroes viii attempt
to ayenge the burning OF the leNee dis
trct by firing the downtown business
houses or their homes in the residence
district. Not u fourth of the business
district of the city Is under patrol by
either militia or police, and 1t looks
as ii Il close guard would have TO be
kept To prevent further incendiarsin.
Ii is thought, however, that the troops
now ON hand Will be able to save the
western ieNee district in West Wash
ington street, which the leaders openly
declared they would sci hle TO as soon
as their work in the eastern half of the
Street WAS completed.
There is little or no disorder, the mob
of 1000 lAen standing quietly watching
the spread of the flames in the neigh
borhcod OF Spring and Gallagher streets
and apparently ready to help if ii
should show amy signs OF spreading be
yond the confines they originally set for
When the leaders of the mob passed
down East High street early last even
ing 10 begin the WORK of burning the
leVee resorts. Father John Gogan, as
sistant pastor of st. Raphael's. got
down on his knees ON the sidewalk and
imp!ored them to desist in their work,
as they might start a fire they would
never be able to control. The inoendiar-
les paused only Il moment, a few of
them curs!nS him, and then went quiet
ly on to begin their task
Mayer Asks for Troops.
Springfield, o.. March 10.-Threats
throughout the day to burn the levee,
the negro district OF the city, con-
tirmed Mayor Bowlus in the belief that
more trouble might be expected. In
consequence he asked Governor Her
rick fol troops and five companies
have been ordered here to reinforce
the two local companies.
Early small groups OF whites We're
noticed gathering in the vicinity of
the levee district, and all the day po
licemen were called out TO augment
the night force. Several revolver shots
We're fired at random.
Threats Are Carried Out.
Al 11:20 p. IN. the fears of the Off
cialS that the threats of the mob to
fire the levee dis trict would be carried
out proved true. The crowd had by
this time increased to 1000 men. Sud
denly a volume of flame was seen to
shoot up from the rear of u place oc-
cupied by Les" Thomas. Il saloon
keeper. Preceding the firing of the
building the mob, at u distance of 100
feet, shot at the front of the building
for a half hour, but il is not known
whether any of the occupants had re-
manned in the building, and if they did
whether any fatalities resulted from
the shooting.
iS M
Thomas place. One of the fire en-
gines, in attempting to make its way
up the railway tracks to the scene of
the fire, got stuck in the muddy drive
and is unable to aid in fighting the fire.
1t is thought the mob will not toll
crate any effort of the department TO
put out the fire in the levee district,
but will offer no resistance in the at
tempts to oonfine the fire to that sec
ton. The buildings there are dilapi-
dated frame structures. ranginS from
one to three stories in height. they are
for the most part saloons, dwellings
and small rcoming houses. lh6re are
u few branch offices maintained by
downtown firms in the vicinity To the
north of the levce. or Washington
street, running parallel with it. is
East High street. the most beautiful
as well us the most fasfliona BILE thor
oughfare in the city. There is little or
no danger however. of the fire spread
ing to this thorougltare. The militia
has not arrived in sufficient numbers
to attempt to quell the mob, and the fire
is spreading rapidly east and west.
Say They'll Dynamite Jail.
Ii is understood that the negroes are
highly incensed at Sheriff Routzahn for
not using greater force in protecting
Dixon Sheriff Routzahn 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 immedi-
ately dynamited.
At midnight the entire block in Wash
ington street from Gallagher street
west to Spring street was on fire, With
no hope of saving any of the buildings.
The troops from Cincinnati, Miamis-
burg and Dayton will be here on a spe-
cial train. They are badly needed, as
it is entirely probable that the negroes
will make good their threats to fire the
business districts of the city and lyna-
mite the Jail and other county build
ings.
Fire Chief George Follrath is in receipt
of urgent requests from East High street
residents whose back lots Shut out the
burning district, to wet the roofs of their
houses. While the eastern portion of the
levce is doomed. it is thought that the
department will be able to confine the
conhaglation to the region east of Spring
street.
Members of the mob declare that when
their work in the western levee district
is completed they will transfer their eff
forts to that portion west of the Big Four
station aud the Arcade hotel. This por-
ton of West Washington street is also
known as the levee, and the buildings are
similar to those in the other portion.
Negroes all over the city are becoming
ntim.dated, and their boasts made in the
early part of last evening are no more
heard.
Arrival of Militia.
Springfield. o., March 9.--The company
of militia from Nenia arrived at 80 this