New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-09
BURNING NEGRO HOMES
RIOT At SPRINGFIELD, O.
Mob Fires VoHcyS Into Colored
Quartcr-DcfcS Militia.


through the day to bum the negro quarter on the
I,.vee were fulfilled tonight and scene Of dis
order and mob violence beside which the lynch
ing Of Richard Dixon last night falls into insg-
nincance was enacted. A frenzed mob defying
The police and militia. sent TO preserve order by
Governor Herricz. first fired volley after volley
into the negro quarters and then set fire to the
buildings.
The crowd began gathering on the Ievee early
in the evening muttering dire threats.
At $50 O'Clock the crowd In the Ievee district
had increased to fifteen hundred, and one or
two revolver shots had been fired AT random.
Governor Herrick tonight ordered eight COM
Taries of state militia TO Springfield to preserve
order. Adjutant General Crutchfeld at once ar
ranged for the mobilization Of the troops Be
sides the two companies At Springfield. COM
ranies at Urbana. Dayton. Xenia Miamiasburg
and Piqua were called out.
Governor HerrfcE's first order 10 Mayor Bow
lus was 10 issue a proclamation ordering the
closing of all saloons. Next he ordered the col
ored members Of Company a. 9th Battalion. TO
rest on their arms in the armory and see thst
none or the guns were stolen.
By 1890 O'Clock crowd OF about two thou
sand men had assembled along the Big -Four
railroad tracks. almost bIockading Washington
ST.. which is known as the Levee, from Foun-
tain-aye. TWO hundred negroes were clustered
together Just west Of Fountain-ave, in the
Levee district near the place called HonAy
Toul1.
The negroes were unusually quiet, and seemed
10 be waiting for start 20 be made 10y the
white men. The white men were boisterous and
there were frequent yells and several pistol
shots heard although no one has been reported
injured.
Mayor Bowlus. Sheriff Routzahn and the
other officials were stationed in the Mayors Of
flee. where the Mayor was in constant COM
municaton with Major kirkpatrick and Gov
eru1r Herrick. II was announced hy the Mayor
that the militia were coming as quickly as the
cars could bring them SIX companies of mi
l.tia from other cities were expected besides
the three local companies that viii hc modified
iu this city.
80 effort was made 10 use Company A. 9Th
battalion. composed Of colored men. because OF
fear Of race prejudice During the afternoon
threats were heard that the Levee would be
burned. il was said that the negroes were de-
tcrrrined 10 ayenge the iynchinE Of Dixon.
u was the plan 10 place the several military
companies on the Ievee. in the centre of the
city and az the homes of several Of the officials.
whose lives have been threatened.
A. II 20 the threat Of the mob, frequently
made through the day and evening, was finally
made good and a volume OF flame was seen 20
shoot up from the rear OF "a place occupied 10y
Lee Thomas. a salooukeeper Preceding the
firing ~ The building the mob, at "A distance Of
one hundred feet. shot al the front Of the build
IL gr F-sssr a4-l1nF FfaT
any OF the occupants had remained in the bgild-
ing and. II they did. whether any fatalities re-
suited from the shooting
The FIRE spread both ways from Thomas's
place Il was thought the mob would not toll
crate any effort Of the Fire Department to put
ont the fire in the levee district. but would
offer no resistance TO attempts TO conflne the
e-,, to the buildings along Washington-st'
known as the Leyee.
These buildings are dilapidated frame struct-
No. ra,,ri,c from one TO three stories in height.
They are for the most part saloons, dweiiins
ar5 small roominE houses. The militia had no'
Set arrived in sufficient huihDeTS 10 "''S'i'P' ~
queu the mob.
II IS understood that the negroes are highly
inceured at Sheriff Routzahn for not using
greater force in protecting Dixon Sheriff
Routzohn had been warned that the instant the
.oreb ,.ss applied IN Washiagton-st.. he had
better remove his family from the iail. as l''t
institution was to be dynam'ed Immediately.
At midnight the entire block in washington
50 from, ;araeher-st west 10 Spring-st. was
on fire. with no hope Of saving any Of the build
iuEs.
While The eastern portion Of the levee was
doomed il was thought that the department
,,,,,l5 be able to restrict the conhagraton to
,ra region east OF Springheld-st. Members OF
the mob openly declared that when their work
,r the eastern levee district was completed they
would transfer their efforts 10 that portion west
Of the Big -Four station and the Arcade Hotel
This portion Of West Washington-st. is also
known as the levee, and the buildings are sin.-
lar TO those IN the eastern portion.
Among the places in the west levee district
ara a number that are resorts for the cciored
reople. In one OF them Dixon shot Coils.
The arrival OF out Of town militia alone could
save these places and a trainload Of troops
fror, several towns between here and Cincin-
Continued on nfth pase