Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-08-16
INNOCENT MAN
LYNCHED; MOB
CUTS THROAT
RIOTERS KILL AGED NEGRO
AT SPRINGFIELD
ILLINOIS CAPITAL IN A STATE
OF TERROR
With More Than Two Thousand MAJ
tionaI Guardsmen Present, City
Is Still at Mercy Of Mad
dened Crowd

BY Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD, Ill, Aug. IS.
With one more victim added
tonight to the roll of fatally in
jured in the race riots which be-
gan here last night, Springfield
spent the night in anxiety.
Apprehension of more serious
trouble was modified but not
stilled by the presence of $500
national guardsmen from various
parts of the state under the COM
mand of Maj. Gen. Young, Illi-
nois National Guard.
Tonight's victim of race preju-
dice was an aged negro, William
Donegan. He was cobbler and
respected as a simple and unof-
fensive citizen. His shop was
within two blocks of the state
house. Tonight, in the absence
of a patrol, a mob set fire to the
shop and the venerable negro was
compelled by the smoke to run
into the street. His appearance
was greeted by a shower of bricks
and as he staggered under the
fusillade he was seized and his
throat cut. A rope was then run
through the wound and the vic
tim bound to a tree. He was
found later, unconscious and all
but dead. DIR. Tuttle, who dressed
the wounds, reported that death
was matter of hours. A wit
ness to the firing of the shop
turned in an alarm, but when the
fremen appeared the blaze was
out. 1t had not gained enough
headway and had been ex-
tinguished by some OF the cooler
headed members of the mob.
Two companies of infantry ana q
troop of cavalry were rushed TO the
scene and at their approach the Grove
ran helter-skelter down the street ana
disappeared in all directions when they
reached the capitol grounds. Six ar
rests were made.
Threaten Negroes at Armory
coincident with the attack on Done
gan g. less serious disturbance occurred
in front of the new state armory. A
crowd gathered and threatened to
storm the place wherein there were.
sheltered a number of negro refugees
Two companies of the Fourth Infantry
and troop B of the cavalry came on
the scene quickly and charged the
crowd with bayonets leveled. In the
previous incident the mob fled pre-
cipitately at the sight of cold steel ana
the businesslike appearance or the men
in khaki.
From this time on alarms were fire.
quent. They seemed to come from
everywhere
Camp Lincoln, where a large num-
ber of the fugitive race were sheltered,
reported the appearance of mob and
asked for more soldiers. Gen. Youngs
after consulting with Governor De-
neen and Adjutant General Scott, Or
dered the camp abandoned. with Two
additional companies as guards the
negroes were brought to the new ar
rnory. -.
Spaulding, a suburb seven miles dis
fant. where there are many coaored
miners. telephoned the governor that
the blacks were threatening retalia-
tory measures. Gen. Young promptly
dispatched a company to the place.
Force Must Be Increased
These were samples of the disturb
ing messages constantly reaching the
commanding officer at his headquarters
at the county JAIL His force, Which
had seemed at first more tnan ace
ouate. melted in the process OF detail
ing guards SO that 1t became apparent
that further reinforcements were ad-
viSable.
Governor Deneen responded by call
ing out the Second regiment OF Chica-
60 and ordering the Fighting Sew
enth" of that city, to hold itse1 IA
readiness for call to arms.
A plan probably unique In similar
situations was adopted by Gen. Young
ir order to spread his force about ana
reassure the numerous alarmed neigh
borhoods.
Street cars we're impressed to carry
guardsmen about on all lines IN the
disturbed section. Such cars as still
carried passengers were halted on their
wav to the bad lands" and guards put
aboard under command of sergean
Half dozen owners Of AUTOMOBILE
at the urgent request Of Governor ~
reen, put their cars at the disposal ot e
Gen. Young in order that small detaCA-
ments might be-shurried to places Of
pressing need. More horses were need
ed for the troopers, many of whom
had no mounts, ana arrangements were
made to supply the deficiency tomor-
row.
Negroes Leave City
A report that the two nlobs dispersed
earlier in the evening had formed q
junction and were proceeding by g cir
cuitous route to Twentieth and Mon
roe streets proved without foundation
after strong force had been sent 70
that vicinity.
The situation OF the negroes here is
pitiable. Those who have the courage
to remain show their fears plainly IN
grave faces and by their endeavors to
keep out of sight OF persons on the
street Ten walters employed at the
Leland hotel were compelled to leave
They were afraid OF violence, and the
hotel people feared that damage to
their property might follow If the col
ored help remained.
Two porters, both fearfuily attentive
to the white guests, alone remained.
They were given no duties which would
call them to the first floor.