The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-08-21
MOB LEADERS THREATEN
TO MAKE MORE TROUBLE
Merchants Of Springfield Warned That
Riots Will be Renewed.

sought refuge in the arsenal. Narly
In the evening almost twice as many
applications for shelter had been re-
ceived, and about 900 negroes curled
up In the corners Of the balcony,
sleeping on the floor or curled up In
chairs.
The exodus Of negroes, which began
to abate, was renewed. Trains and
trolley cars were used by those tor
atunate enough to possess q gittie mon.
ey, but many Of them took to the
roads, tramping across the country in
"a drizzling rain until exhaustion fore
ed them to seek rest in cornfields or
in woods. The children and aged who
were driven to the open, suffered &C.
verely and It is feared that many Of
them will succumb to the h~ardships.
Adjutant General Scott insists that
there is good ground for fears of
the negroes. ne said:
There are plenty Of troops here
tonight, and the force that wall be
available tomorrow. about $500 men,
can certainly protect the city against
any mob that may form. Then, too,
the presence of soldiers is irritat-
ing some sections OF the community
and is an element of trouble there
that could not be overlooked"
The opinion was endorsed in other
quarters. It was pointed out that
the rioting was overcome before the
last 1900 men had reached Spring.
field, and that the attempts to renew
~lawlessness had occurred before the
soldiers were thoroughly familiar with
the territory which they now
covering. It il asserted that $500
men can easily hold the advantage
that the larger body Of troops has
gained, and the addition of the cav
airy has increased the mobility OF
the troops to such a degree that the
presence Of the full force is absolute
ly necessary.
The special grand jury today ex-
amined nearly two cor Of witnesses,
but made no return Of its proceed
ings.
W9T Yr, = n,o1 rs ,y.o n a,yti1r &S n~y frN scnnworH
have been taken and the identity and
testimony of persons who nave ap-
peared to give information have been
carefully guarded.
Another coal mine was closed today
because the whites rfused to work
alongside the negroes underground.
Threatening Letters.
Threatening anonymous letters
which began to arrive at the offices of
the officials as Don as the %repressive
measures began, increased in number
today. No attention has been paid to
these missives, but several merchants
who have received similar communica-
lions are beginning to feel alarmed.
One grocer. was warned that his place
Of business would be burned unless
he discontinued the sale of provisions
to negroes. Tonight a small fire broke
out in his establishment, but it's 10
cation precluded the idea that it was
incendiary. Another recipient of anon
ymous threats was J. B. Perkins, sec
rotary of the Odd Fellows Building as
sociation, and a prominent member of
the Lincoln-Jeferson league, which
Joined in the meeting at the chamber
of commerce yesterday. The letter
writer's took exception to his action
in hiring a negro boy as elevator 0
ductor in the Odd Fellows building.
A troop of cavalry was sent to
Eighth street and North Grand avenue
early tonight t. remove an etfigy
which had been hung to a telegraph
pole. "A toy bear had been singed and
smeared with tar and to it had been
fastened a placard bearing the in
scription:
.....'.
"Niggars Beware
Z ....ss.s .
The place is in the neighborhood