The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-09
Eight Companies Of Ohio
MIIit1a Are Ordered TO
the Scene BY GOUeynOr
Her7rck TO Suppress tie
Riotlng and Vandalism
Serious Riot GrO7CYng ONt
of Threats of Negroes TO
RetaIIate for tie Lynch
ing Of DlxOn--SOLdfer
NO1O PahOling Streets


SPRINGFIELD. O.. March s.-This city
was in control Of a riotous mob all last
night. The torch was applied to the levee
district. the negro quarter OF the city. and
for an hour or more the flames roared and
scared among about twenty small frame
buildings. which were destroyed. causing
loss OF about $4,000.
The rioting was an outgrowth Of the kill
ing of Policeman Coils and the lynching
of the negro murderer Dixon late Monday
night. Threats were alleged to have been
made by the negroes to retaliate. and the
lawless white element started out last
night to burn out the negroes. The latter.
it is said. had threatened to burn the busi-
ness district.
The situation became so serious last
night that Governor Herrick ordered out
eight companies of militia. Some of the
troops arrived early this moraing and the
mob of 1000. which had thronged the
streets all night. at once dispersed.
At 230 a. m quiet prevails throughout
the city and what remained of the mob
was good-natured and orderly. evidently
well satisfied with its nights work. 1t is
hardly probable that an attempt will be
made by the whites to burn the West
Washington-street resorts out, as this sec
tion is closely guarded by Dayton and
Miamisburg troops.
THREATS To,BIRN BEyEE. !,
Yesterday afternoon threats We're heard
that the levee would be burned. In one OF
the large shops the white men treated the
| negro employees with contempt and this re-
suited in heated arguments and threats be-
| ing exchanged.
Fearful of the consequences of the NUT
terings about the city a conference was
held in the mayors office last night by the
mayor, the sheriff. President w. r. Burnett
and George Cotter, of the Board of Public
Safety. the county prosecutor. Mai. 7. ].
kirkpatrick. of the Third Regiment and
Chief of Police O'Brien. As a result OF their
deliberation a telegram was sent to Gov
ernor Herrick asking for six companies Of
militia and requesting that the local COM
panies be stationed i'm their armories. In
response TO this the mayor received a tel
egram TO the effect that the request would
be complied with at once and asking that
the Governor be kept fully advised on the
situation.
1t was the plan to place the several mill
tary companies on the levee in the center OF
the city and at the homes of several OF the
officials whose lives had been threatened.
one of which was that of Po-
lice Judge j. j. Miller. Major
kirkpatrick said he. would keep his
companies at the armories as long pos
sible as all the ammunition is stored there.
If it was left without guard. IL be-
lieved, the mob would have its own way.
Mayor Bowlus issued an order at S:25 to
Chief of Police OBrien to close all the
saloons of the city.
THE TORCH APPLIED.
AT 20 the threat of the mob. frequently
made through the day and evening. was
finally made good and a volume Of flame
was seen to shoot up from the rear Of a
place occupied by Les Thomas a saloon
keeper. Preceding the firing of the build
ing the mob at a distance of a hundred
feet shot at the front of the building for
half hour but it is not known whether
any Of the usual occupants were in the
building and if they were whether any
fatalities resulted from the shooting. The
fire spread both ways from Thomas's place.
One Of the fire engines, in attempting TO
make its way UP the railway tracks TO
the scene of the fire. stuck i'm the muddy
driveway and was unable 10 aid in lighting
the fire
The mob threatened not 10 tolerate any
effort of the department TO put out the
fire in the Ievee district. but. it was said.
would offer no resistance in the attempts
10 confine the fire TO the buildings along
washington street. These buildings were
dilapidated 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 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 in the city. There was lit
tie danger. however. OF the fire spreading
TO this thoroughfare.
NEGROES INCENSED.
1t is understood that the negroes
were much incensed at Sheriff
Routzahn for not using greater
force in protecting Dixon. Sheriff
Routzahn was warned that the instant the
torch was applied in Washington street
he had better remove his family from the
Jail as that institution would be immedi-
ately dynamited
At midnight the entire block in Wash
ington street from Gallagher street 10
Spring street was on fire With no
hope OF saving any OF the buildings.
II was then said had the negroes threat
ened to fire the business district % the
city and dynamite the jail and other
county buildings.
Fire Chief George Folrath was in receipt
of urgent requests from East Hgh-street