The Irish standard., 1906-03-03
NEGROES FEAR THE
Wrath OF WHITES
MANY coLoRED PEOPLE LEAVE
SPRINGFIELD, O., AS RESULT
OF RACE RIOTS.
MOB LEADERS URGE THE
SLAUGHTER OF BLACKS

Levee District Is Wiped Out by An
gry Citizens-Troops Called On to
Restore Order - Trouble Arises
Over Shooting.
Springfield, O., March 1.-Many ne
groes fled from the town Wednesday,
fearing another attack by the mob Of
5000 men which Tuesday night partly
burned the negro levee known as the
"jungles" and defied the police and
troops. Despite all efforts of police
and local militia and two companies
sent from Dayton and Xenia the mob,
enraged by attacks by negroes ON two
white men, burned or wrecked a score
of houses and business buildings, and
drove the negro residents in wild panic
from their homes.
Wednesday the leaders of the mob
urged the slaughter of every negro
who attempted to remain in town
They declare they will drive the nc
groes from the city or kill them all.
AS result, the authorities are pre-
pairing for u bloody struggle. They
ure determined to protect the negroes
at all hazards, and hope by strong
show Of force to prevent repetition
of the sanguinary race rioting here
two years ago, in which several negroes
were killed.
Mob Forms to Lynch Negroes.
The mob was formed Tuesday even
Ing to avenge negro attacks on two
white men, Martin Davis, a big Four"
brakeman, and Earl Sulkins, base
ball player. The latter was shot by
two negroes, Preston Ladd, of Belle
fontaine, and Edward Dean, of this
city, because he refused to tell the
time OF the departure of freigh.
train. In the fight Ladd. too, was
wounded. Davis was stabbed and Sc
verely wounded. When 1t became
known that both victims of the ne
groes might die, friends OF the wound
ed white men began forming the mob
An effort to lynch the two negroes.
who had been arrested. was deter
mined upon. The authorities learned
of the lynching plan, took Dean out
Of Jail. placed him on board a train,
and sent him to Dayton for safety.
The police anticipated mob violence
and made preparations accordingly;
but no such outbreak of the populace
was expected, aud when the crisis
came the police precautions proved to
be entirely inadequate.
Jail Is Storlned.
Fully 1900 men stormeu the ja,l
n IN
two negroes there. When they learned
the prisoners hal been spirited away
Uadd had been taken to hospital),
the rage Of the rioters passed ail
bounds OF restraint. Instantly the
cry Burn the junglcs!" arose and
swelled into u terrific roar as the mob
started for the negro district known
by. that term. Hundreds Joined the
crowd ut every block, and by the time
the 'iungles" were reached fully 5000
frcnzied men were in the mob.
Mob Defies Police and Troops.
From nine o'clock to one a. nj. this
mob ragged through the negro section,
menacing life. destroying property,
beating negroes and defying both po-
lice and troops. The mob first burned
and sacked saloon and six negro
houses. Other buildings occupied by
negro families were riddled with bull
let's and battered with showers of
stones. Police Sergeant Joseph
Creagon, who bravely tried to oppose
the rioters. was struck on the head
by brick and probably fatally in
jured. The fire department was help
less. Every time 1t attempted to turn
stream of water OIL burning build
ing the mob cut the hose. The mayor
called on the militia at nine O'Clock
in the evening but up to IL o'clock
only six members responded. At mid
night, however. 80 men assembled ut
the armory and were sent out to re-
enforce the police.
Troops Push Mob Back.
The 80 militiamen and the police,
however, were unable to handle the
mob, and 1t was not until the. arrival
of two companies from Dayton and one
from Xenia, soon after midnight, that
the mob could be handled. Then, with
the butts of their rifles and without
firing shot, the soldiers pushed the
mob back both ways in Columbia
street, east from Water street and
west from Foster street.
Finally the crowd disintegrated, and
the trouble was ended for the time
being.
With the exception of the militia on
duty, Springfield at noon Wednesday
was absolutely quiet.
-Four more companies of militia were
ordered from Columbus at three o'clock
in the afternoon. and they arrived
early in the evening.