The semi-weekly messenger., 1904-03-11

VI,
citement prevails here at an early hour
Wednesday morning. which not even
the presence of seven companies OF
National Guard can allay. This ex-
citement is shared by all the business
men and property owners of the city,
who fear that some negroes will at
tempt ito avenge the buring OF the levee
districts. by firing the downtown bus
mess houses or their homes in the resi-
dence district. So far the negroes have
not tried to make good their threats to
dynamite the county Jail, to even up
with Sheriff Routzahn for permitting
the negro murderer Dixon, to be taken
by the mob Monday night without the
shedding Of blood to save him
IncendiariSm Feared.
Not a fourth Of the business district
of the city is under patrol by either
militia or police and it. looks as if a
close guard would have to be kept foT
several days to prevent further incen-
diaryism. 1t is thought however, that
the troops now on hand will be able to
save the western levee district in West
Washington street. which the leaders
openly declared they would set fire to
as soon as the work in the eastern half
of the street was completed.
There is little or no disorder. the mob
of z, 600 men standing quietly watching
the spread of the flames in the neigh
borhood Of Spring and Gallagher
| streets and apparently ready 10 help
| If it should show signs Of spreading
beyond confines they originally set
| for it.
The incendiariStS paused only q mo-
ment. a few Of them cursed and then
| went quietly ON to begin their task. So
| far the fire loss does not exceed $50
coo
The Mayor Asks for Troops.
Threats throughout the entire day
and this evening TO burn the
levee, the negro district of the
city, confirmed Mayor G. J. Bowlus
IN his belief that more trouble is brew
| ing tonight and he has asked Governor
| Herrick for troops. Two compan e.
| from Dayton and one each from Mia
| miasburg, Urbana and Columbus have
been promised to reinforce the two local
| companies.
Only Spark Needed.
Many of the negroes Of the city are
| Surly and moody tonight and 1t Is re-
allied that only a spark is needed to
| set off the magazine of race war.
At $50 O'Clock tonight, the crowd
gathering in the levee district numbered
| 1.500 and one or two revolver shots had
| been fired at random. The excitement
| is growing and in an instant the situa-
ton can easily pass beyond the contro
of the local police. All the saloons
throughout the city have been closed.
By $50 O'Clock a crowd of 1000 men
had assembled along the Big Four rail-
road tracks, almost blockading Wash
ington street which is known as the
levee, from Fountain avenue. Two
| hundred negroes were clustered togeth-
er just west of Fountain avenue. in the
levee district, near the place called
Honky Tonk-
The negroes were unusually quiet and
seemed to be waiting for a start TO b<
made by the white men.
The other crowd was boisterous and
| there We're frequent yells and severa
pistol shots heard. although no one has
been reported injured 50 far.
Burning Out the Levee-
At 11:2O the threat OF the mob fire.
Quently made through the day and
evening. was finally made good and q
volume Of flame was seen to shoot VI
from the rear Of a place occupied By
Les" Thomas. a saloon keeper. Pre-
ceeding the firing OF the building. ths
mob at distance OF a hundred feet