Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-18
RUMORS AS BAD AS FACTS
Attempts Made to Assassinate Patrol
of Soldiers.
BUSINESS MEN BACK DENEEN
Two More Victims Die-Exploding
Can of Molasses Scares Negro
Nearly to Death.

SPRINGFIELD. ILL.,, August 1S.-An at
tack upon pickets and the forced flight
of 100 negroes from cornfields on the out
skirts of the city to the state arsenal
kept the militia busy this morning. The
firing upon the sentries and their answer
ing shots occurred less than two blocks
from the headquarters Of Gen. E. c.
Young at the county Jail. No one was
injured in the ARRAY, but the flying bull
let's from the militia carbines caused con-
sternation in the district.
The trouble followed an attempt to set
fire to factory building on Sth street be-
tween Jefferson and Madison. A negro
who had been ordered away from the
place several times during the night was
discovered lurking in shadow by Private
George Howell of Troop E, 1st Cavalry
Howell again ordered the man to move on
but the nesros reply was a shot from a
revolver. He dashed down the street, dis.
regarding the commands of other SEN
tries to halt. AS he turned into an alley
two soldiers fired at him. The shot went
wild but aroused the headquarters, two
blocks away. and Company E of the 1st
Infantry was sent to the place on double
quick time.
Third Attempt to Kill.
The alley and adjacent houses were
searched, but no trace of the fugitive
was discovered. The affair happened
shortly before daybreak. and was the
third occasion of the night In which at
tempts had been made to assisinate militia
pickets.
The clearing out Of the cornfields
southeast Of the city was the result of
successive nights of terror in Harvard
Park. An inspection of the cornfields
late yesterday showed that at least l5O
negro refugees had camped therein. The
presence Of the negroes is thought to
have been responsible for the disturbed
conditions In the suburb. Both last night
and Sunday numerous shots were fired
there. and 1t Is now thought that minor
depredattons by starving refugees had
caused the troubles. At daybreak today
Company E. LIST Infantry. under Capt.
Jacob Junson Of Chicago, was sent to
the place to herd the negroes into the
arsenal.
Back Up the Governor.
Support to Gov. Deneen's appeal to the
citizens of Springfield to aid the authori.
ties in fastening the responsibility for
the riots upon the ringleaders was given
at a meeting Of the chamber Of commerce
and the Business Mems Association this
morning Strict enforcement Of the laws
was urged upon the officials and the aid
Of the associations was pledged. The cler-
gymen of Springfield took similar action.
adopting resolutions declaring that LAX
administration of the laws which has SO
long characterized this community was
largely to blame for the riots. The ef-
forts of States Attorney Hatch to bring
the offenders to justice was commended,
was also the refusal of Mayor Reece
TO allow the saloons to reopen. The ex-
ecutive committee Of the local branch OF
the Presbyterian brotherhood sent Gov
Deneen a letter commencing his efforts to
restore order.
Reward for Murderers.
Two hundred dollars reward for evi-
dence leading to conviction in each of
the cases of violent death during the riot
ing in this city is offered by Gov. Deneen.
The governor. who is determined to pun
ish all proven 10 have participated In
the deeds of violence. last night issued
SIX proclamations. one covering each OF
the cases of death resulting from the race
outbreak. The same reward is offered
III cdCU lnSI6uCc, diQ IL Is uOpcQ u secure
the evidence necessary to convict the
leaders responsible for the crimes. Plans
for the prosecution Of all who had any
thing to do with the riots have been com.
pleted by the city and state officials.
There will be no halfway measures
taken and the laws action will be swift
certain and impartial.
The task which the authorities face
was increased yesterday by two more
deaths and news that a third victim ol
the riot Of last Friday night Is dying.
Two More Victims Dead.
G. w. Scott. a white man. who was sho'
through the lungs during the riots Fri
day, died last night The other death
was that of the three weeks old daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Paine. ne
gro refugees at Pittsfield- The child
died from exposure as the result ofa nigh
flight from Springfield.
w. II. Bowe. chief clerk of the county
treasurer's office. who was attacked anC
shot by negroes Saturday. while walk
ing through the burned district. is re
ported dying at ST. Johns Hospital. Th'
states attorney has secured from him Al
ante-mortem statement TO be used befor'
the grand jury.
Timid Still Terrorized.
The continued outbreaks of last, nigh
and this morning have not reassured tn
timid portions of the community. II one
tenth of the reports afioat in this be
wildered city were true Springfield woul
be one of the most sanguinary places OIL
earth But they are not. Gen. Wells ha'
a merry time of it last night dispatchini
1escuing squads to places where they wer
not needed and escorting firemen to fire
that did not exist. Some of the alarm
were hoaxes and some the result o
nervousness On the part of citizens.
Out of all the rush and hurry the sol
tangible result vas the arrest Of two be
fuddled negroes whose libations had bes
indiscreet and strong. In the early even
ing this incident. however. furnished
typical shock, nothing less than the troop
had dispersed a mob which had cut
white man to shreds, cut and slashed hir
so horribly that the body was unrecoe
nizable.
A Mob Of Just Two.
The rumor was traced from a privat
lContinued ON Second Pa4e.)