The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-03-18
SPRINGFIELD IS
SWEPT BY fire
levee District Fired by a Mob
Who Would Danish
Negroes.
NGGROES SEEK REVENGE
Section Inhabited by Negroes Eurnec
by Infatuated Mob and There Is
All Probability Negroes VIII
Requite Wrong.

ehis morning, Which not eve the pres
'enoe OF sever companies of the national
guard can allay. excitement is
shared by all the business men and
property owners of the city, who e
that some OF the negroes will attempt
to .aVenge the burning Of the levee dis
trict by firing the downtown business
houses or their homes in the residence
district. Not Il fourth Of the business
district OF the city is under patrol by
either militia or police, and 1t looks
as II a close guard would have to be
kept to prevent further incendiarism.
1t is thought, however, h a the troops
now on hand will be able to save the
western levee district In West Wash
ington street, which the leaders openly
declared they would set fire 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 men standing quietly watching
the spread of the flames in the neigh
borhood OF Spring and Gallagher streets
and apparently ready to help if it
should show any signs Of spreading be-
yond the confines they originally set for
1t.
When the leaders of the mob passed
down East High street early last wen
ing to begin the work of burning the
levee resorts, Father John Cogan, as
sistant pastor Of st. Raphael's, got
down on his knees on the sidewalk and
implured them to desist in their work,
as they might start a fire they would
never be able to control. The ~incendiar-
les paused only a moment, a few of
them cursing him, and then went quiet
ly on to begin their task.
Mayor Asks for Troops.
Springfield, O., March 10.-Thrcats
throughout the day to burn the levee,
the negro district OF the city, con-
firmed Mayor Bowlus in the belief that
more trouble might be expected. In
consequence he asked Governor Her
rick for troops, and five companies
a beep ordered here to reinforce
the two local companies.
Early small groups of whites were
noticed gathering in the vicinity of
the levee district, and all the day po-
licemen We're called out to augment
the night force. Several revolver shots
were fired at random.
Threats Are Carried Out.
At 11:20 p. n. the fears of the off,
Gals that the threats of the mob to
fire the levee district 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 a place oc-
cupied by Les" Thomas, a saloon
keeper. Preceding the firing of the
building the mob, at a distance of 100
feet, shot at the front of the building
for a half hour, but it is not known
whether any of the occupants a re-
mained in the building, n if they did
whether any fatalities resulted from
the shooting.
The fire is spreading both ways from
Thomas place. One OF the fire en-
gines, in attempting to max it's 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 ontine the fire to that sec
ton. The buildings there are dilapi-
dated frame structures, ranging from
one to three stories in height. They are
for the most part saloons, dwellings
and small rooming houses. There are
a few branch offices maintained by
downtown firms in the vicinity. To the
north of the levee, or Washington
street, running parallel with it, is
East High street, the most beautiful
as well as the most fashionable thor
oughfare in the city. There is little or
no danger, however, of the fire spread
ing to this thoroughfare. The militia
has not arrived in sufficient numbers
to attempt to quell the mob, and the IRE
IS spreading rapidly east and west.
Say They'll Dynamite Jail.
1t is understood that the negroes are
highlysincensed at Sheriff Routzahn for
not using greater force in protecting
Dixon. Sheriff Routzahn has been
warned that the instant the torch was
n ,,,1ipI IN lTa II zinc fnp ctroa lo IRA
better remove his family from the Jail,
as hat 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 dyna-
mite the Jail n other county build
ings.
Fire Chief George Follrath Is in recent
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
levee is doomed, 1t is thought that the
department will be able to conine the
confaGrat1on 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 ef-
forts to that portion west Of the Big -Four
station and 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
inundated. 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 Xenia arrived at 1870 this
morning and were Immediately sent to-
wards the levee by a circuitous route.
Three companies Of militia are guarding
the armory where ammunition is stored.
They are commanded by Major Kirk
patrick. The feeling Of unrest is accentu-
ated by the uncertainty of what the mob
Is going to do or where the trouble may
next begin. Monday night there was one
mob, and Its purpose was to lynch the
negro. Now there are reported to be two, +
under cover, one of whites and one of
black. and there is a feeling that a race
war OF serious proportions is imminent.
Company D Of the Third regiment ar
rived soon after the Xenja company. Its ]