The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-04-16
MOB SPIRIT STILL
RULES SPRINGFIELD
Further Violence to Negroes
May Follow Lynching of Sat
urday Night.
EXTRA DEPUTIES AND
MILITIA GUARD JAIL
Thousands From Surrounding
Country Reach Scene; Crisis
Is Imminent.

SPRINGFIELD, April 15.-State militia
reinforced by 20o deputy sherifrs. sworn
In during the day. guard the streets of
Springfield tonight against a possible
repetition of the work OF the mob that
last night lynched three negroes in the
public square There are hundreds Of
strangers In the city and Springfield still
Is In the grip of the mob spirit
Many Threat Made.
Although no untoward move was made
during the day. many threats were heard
and Sherin Horner, fearing a fresh out
break when darkness should fall tele-
sraphed Coy. Folk early in the day for
aid. The Governor responded promptly
and within n few hours six companies OF
militia were on the way here from Au-
rora, Carthage. Pierce City, Butler. Ne
these companies arrived at o'clock this
evening and was followed during the
night at intervals by others.
VIII Prosecute Leaders.
In addition TO sending soldiers here to
guard against further violation OF the
law. Gov. Folk took quick action 10 prose-
cute the leaders OF the mob. Today he
authorized the oHering OF reward OF
$500 each for the arrest and conviction
OF members OF the mob. This is the limit
allowed by law In addition he instructed
Rush Lake, Assistant Attorney-General,
TO proceed here at once and aid the grand
jury OF Green county In ferreting out and
prosecuting the prime movers In last
nights work. Mr. Lake left Jefferson
City for Springfield tonight.
or the fourteen prisoners. whites and
negroes. who escaped from the prison last
night during the mob excitement four
were captured during the day.
Draws Great Crowd.
Thousands of people today swarmed
about the jail. to view the wreck caused
by the mob. and about the public square
where the three negroes were hanged
and their bodies later burned to ashes.
Every train brought hundreds OF per-
sons To the city from surrounding towns.
mostly hoodlums who apparently scented
trouble and were anxious 10 take a hand
In IT,. Many others, who came from the
farming districts. caught up the mob
spirit readily, and Joined the general sen-
tlment that the negroes should be driven
from the city and that now, when the
feeling against the race was strong, was
the time To do IL
Negroes who dared appear on the streets
today were greeted with boots and Jeers
and on several occasions crowds of men
and boys collected to attack them.
crowd OF 30 gathered around one negro.
who recently had been released from jail,
and threatened him with violence, The
fact that no one would assume the lead
ership alone saved the negro.
Both Sides Aiming.
Both the negroes and whites arc armed
and the negroes Will not likely be driven
from the Guy "llHpul Il SlIuBelt. lnfTt
was a steady demand today for firearms
and at many hardware stores II was re-
ported that they had sold nearly their en-
tire stock Of guns of every description.
Ropes were stretched around the jail
and a force OF twenty-five deputies
kept busy keeping the curiosity-seekers
from forcing their way beyond the In
closures The damage done to the Jail
cannot be repaired for some tlm|5 and It
could be entered easily by a moo unless
opposed by sufficient number OF armed
men