The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-09
RAGE WAR IS IMMl-
 NEWT AT SPRINGFIELD D
tcontlnued from <Irst Page)
2oO0 Men Assembled.

dreds of them are thought to be heavily armed, and awaiting an attack. All the saloons have been closed.
 200o Men Assembled.
 By 9:3O o'clock a crowd of about 2OOO men had assembled along the Big Four railroad tracks, almost blocking Wash ington street which is known as the levee Two hundred negroes were clus- tered together just west of Fountain ave- nue in the levee district, near the place called "Honky Tonk."
 The negro streets were unusually quiet and seemed to be awaiting Tor a start 10 be made by the white men. The white crowd was boisterous and there were fre- quent yells and several pistol shots heard. although no one has been reported in- iured so far.
 Mayor Bowlus, Sheriff Routzahan and the other officials are stationed in the mayors office, where the mayor Is in constant communication with Major Kirk patrick and Governor Herrick. It was announced by the mayor that the Urbana company was en route here on the $40 Inter- Urban car, and that the others were coming as quickly as the cars will bring them. Company I of Piqua, also has been ordered here. This will make six com panies of militia from other cities. be-
 
 be mobolized in this city.
 No effort will be mde to use Company A, Ninth battalion composed of colored men, because of fear of race prejudice Five Companies on the Way.
 Five companies of the Ohlo national guard are on their way here on a special train by order of Governor Herick in re- sponse to the request of the city and county officials.
 During the afternoon threats were heard that the levee would be burned. It Is said that the negroes are determined to ayenge the lynching of Dixon. In one of the large shops today, the white men treated the negro employees with contempt, and this resulted in heated ar guments and threats being exchanged.
 It Is the plan to place the several mili tary companies on the levee in the center of the city, and at the homes of several of the officials whose lives have been threatened, one of whom is Police Judge J. J. Miller. Major Kirkpatrick intends to keep his companies at the armories as long as possible. as there is stored all the ammunition If 1t is lea without guard the mob would have it's own way.
 Mayor Bowlus issued an order at s:20 to Chief of Police O Brien to close all sa- looms of the city.
 Threat Finally Made Good.
 At 11:3O the threat of the mob frequent ly made the through the day, was finally made good, and volume of flame was seen to shoot up from the rear of a place occupied by Lea" Thomas. saloon keeper Preceding the firing of the build Ing, the mob at distance of hundred feet, shot the front of the building for half an hour but 1t Is not known whether any of the occupants had remained in the building, and If they did whether any fatalities resulted from the shooting
 The fire Is spreading both ways from Thomas place. One of the fire engines in attempting to make It's way up the railway tracks to the scene of the fire, stalled In the muddy driveway, and Is unable to aid In fighting the fire. It Is thought the mob will not>,tolerate any effort of the department to put out the fire in the levee district, but will offer no resistance in the attempts to confine the fire to the buildings along Washington street known as the levee
 The buildings are dilapidated frame structures, ranging from one to three stories fin height. They are for the most part saloons and small rooming houses. There are few branch offices maintain ed by downtown firms in the vicinity. To the north of the levee or Washing ton street, running parallel with 1t. is East High street. the most beautiful thoroughfare in the city. There is little or no danger, however. of the fire spread ing to this thoroughfare.
 VIII Experience No Trouble.
 The fire department will probably ex- perience no trouble in conf1ning the fire to the frame buildings. The militia has not arrived In sufficient numbers to at- tempt to quell the mob, and the fire is spreading rapidly to the east and west of besles place.
 It Is understood that negroes are highly incensed at Sheriff Routzahan for not using greater force in protecting Dixon. Sheriff Routzahan has been warned that the instant the torch was applied in Washington street he had better remove his family from the Jail. as that insti- tuition was to be immediately dynamlted. At midnight the entire block in Washing ton street from Gallangher to Spring street is on fire with no hope of saving any of the buildings. The troops from Cincinnati, Miamisburg and Dayton will be here on a special train within twenty five minutes. They are badly needed, as 1t Is entirely probable that the negroes will make good their threats to fire the business districts of the city and dynamite the jail and other buildings.
 Fire Chief Called Upon.
 Fire Chief George Folliath is in receipt of urgent request from the High street residents whose back lots shut out the burning buildings. to wet the roofs of their houses. While the eastern portion of the levee Is doomed it is thought that the department will be able to confine the fire to the region east of Spring street. Members of the mob openly declare that when their work in the eastern levee dis trict is completed they will turn their efforts to that portion west of the Big Four station and the Arcade hotel This portion of West Washington street