The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-03-01
Negro Houses Are Burned and
 Occupants Stoned
MILITIA KEPT ON THE JUMP
Eight Companies Are Now Doing Riot Duty-Record-5rea Run Is Made to Dayton With
 Prisoners.

Springfield. O.. February 2S.-The riot and race war begun here last night as a result of the shooting of M. M. Davis, a railroad man. by Ladd and Dean, ne- groes. was continued tonight the eight companies of troops called out to assist the local officials in preserving order not being able to prevent the destruction of two houses and the partial demolition of a dozen or more others tonight at the hands of the mob. Up to midnight no casualties had occurred and the riot had consisted mainly of marching mobs which either set fire to or stoned the houses of negroes Hundreds of people are in the strets and the excitement continues in tense.
 A negro house at Harrison and York streets was stoned by large crowd, but the occupants are believed to have es- capped.
 FIckers Nest Assailed.
 "The Flickers Nest" which Is inhabited by negroes, and which figured In the Dixon mob and subsequent race war two years ago, was assailed tonight and sev- eral attempts made to fire 1t, but as it is guarded by militamen, the effort has so far failed.
 Several alarms have been turned in as a result of the fires started, but no gen eral alarm up to this hour. as every available fireman is now at work on the | fire under way.
 Several negroes had been chased by the angered whites from the negro quarter of the city. made their way to the city building which is in charge of the sol diers. Col. C. S. Ammel, Fourth regiment arrived here this evening and assumed command of the troops, relieving Capt. Horace Keller, who had been in com- mand.
 Burned Two Houses. Up to II 30 o'clock the mobs had suc- l ceeded in burning two houses, and had stoned and partly demolished dozen others all being inhabited by negroes. 1 The first place visited was the home Of l George Miller at York and Harrison streets. When the assault began from the rear of the house, Miller ran in his bare feet and without coat or hat and escaped from his pursuers by going to the city hall. where he found shelter with the troops. Coal oil was applied to | his house which was soon mass or | flames and was quickly destroyed From ! Millers the mob went to the homes or l John Logan and Noah Ingraham, double | frame on York street, and the torch was applied following the escape of the oceu- | pants a few minutes before The house | was practically destroyed The military was in hot pursuit of some of the rioters and at Central avenue chased them at the point of the bayonet
 Even while this was going on, some of the members of the mob who are at a safe distance from the soldiers continued ! to stone the houses of negroes.
 Family Fled In Terror.
 The house of the Rev. John Scurry, negro preacher, was stoned and the fam ily fled terror-stricken from 1t. The mob then set fire to 1t. but the prompt ar rival of the militia prevented its de- struction The homes of Reuben Campbell l and Charles Fillmore on Central avenue l were rdded with stones and at this point | a boy whose name is not known, was | shot The militia have devoted their at tention to control of the larger crowds leaving the police to look after the small CT end of the riot. Promiscuous and ran dom shooting has been a feature tonight and has added to the general terror, Two negro women were injured by jumping from the second stories of their homes when assailed by the mob, and were later taken to the hospital.
 Brakeman Is Dying.
 Martin NJ Davis, the railroad brake man shot by the two negroes. Dean and Ladd, is pronounced to be dying tonight. Acting Prosecuting Attorney Laybourne before midnight took the dying statement of Davis which will be used against the accused when they come to trial. Davis is the son of a Columbus attorney.
 A committee of lawyers consisting of City Solicitor Tatum, former Representa- tive Charles E. Stewart and Paul A. Staley has been appointed to prosecute the cases against the rioters. mass meeting has been called by the Conner cial club by President N. H. Fairbanks, a brother of Vice President Fairbanks to devise means to eradicate the causes which have made the rioting possible. The meeting has been called for tomorrow night