River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-08-20
luarters under Mai. Cen. Young.

lAlOHA Out DIS the SudA uSAAOh
barked from the train gained applause
from the crowd which had gathered
at the railroad station to watch the
arrival. The khaki-clad militiamen
marched to the capitol to the lively
beat of fife and drum quickstep and
then assignment to Col Sanborn's bri-
gade followed AS it was nearly mid
night when the Seventh infantry and
the First cavalry troopers arrived, no
brigade assignment was given them.
They probably will be detailed as re-
Inducements to the two brigades al
ready formed.
Deneen Wants Negroes to Return.
Gov. Deneen said that he wished to
so protect the city that the negroes
who fed will return.
1--WE can protect them here and we
can't when they scatter about the
country said the governor. If they
will come back, we will give them
food and shelter in government tents"
At the conference in the governors
Office steps were taken to notify the
negro residents of the suburban dis
tricts to come into the state arsenal
for the night. The scattered settle
ments extending around the outskirts
of the city present too great a field
for even the big body of troops here
now. 1t was the idea of the military
authorities that the most effective
work could be done with the danger
spots restricted as much as possible.
Many Warnings of Trouble.
A factor in this connection was the
large number of warnings of impend-
ing trouble. At all the principal sta
tions word was received that attacks
were being organized by the lawless
elements who, with complete day OF
rest, were expected to make the night
the time of supreme test between the
mob and the troops. Several COM
plants were received from nearby vii
lagos and hamlets of the existence OF
threatening conditions. The most in
sistent came from Chatham, village
IL miles south of here. The negroes
there had become frightened at the at
titude of their white neighbors and
asked that troops be sent Their
spokesman was told that the best plan
would be for them to come to Spring
field and seek protection at the
arsenal
The authorities are bit worried by
the conditions in the outside sections.
Scores of negroes have left Spring
field, either on foot or by trolley cars,
the latter class riding as far as their
means permitted and then striking
across country.
Complaints from the Country.
These tramping parties, aimless and
penniless, are causing some complain
ing from the communities through
which they pass. The whites assert
that the presence of these negro pau
pers imposes unnecessary burdens and
also argue that only the shiftless and
immoral portions of the Springfield
negroes are represented. Minor depre-
dations, it is said, have already in
creased in the farming districts, be-
cause of this condition. The Spring
field authorities are doing all they
can to reassure the negroes still here.
Thus far they have been partially sue
cessful although the number of those
who have sought shelter in the arsenal
is surprisingly small. Most of the
refugees are advanced in years, too
The younger negroes who might be
expected to add fuel to the shoulder
| ing flames by rash acts, thus far have
generally refused to become wards OF
| the state. Gov. Deneen explained that
| the disposition of troops at the cap
| itol was not because Of any apprhen
sion of danger to that edifice, but be
cause the grounds offered excellent
| camping facilities and were strategic
point from which Col. Sanborn could
| control the situation west of Seventh
| street
Mob Quickly Scattered.
| An example of this was afforded
| late in the afternoon when an alarm
reached the arsenal from Spring and
Edwards streets, where William Don
nigan was lynched Saturday night. A
rapid-fre squad under Capt. j. V
Clinnin of Chicago was sent to the
place on the double-quick. Within five
! minutes he had cleared the streets fol
half a mile from the threatened cor
ner, three companies of infantry be
! ing held under arms at the arsenal
meanwhile.
The states attorney of Kankakee
county called on the governor In the
| afternoon in an effort to have arrested
the soldier who stabbed Earl Nelson
with a bayonet while the First regl
ment troop train was at Kankakee
The governor referred him to the mill
tary authorities.
A special grand jury is to investi
gate the rioting here, beginning a
once, according to an announcement
made by States Attorney Franz
Hatch of Sangamon county. The
scope of the inquiry will be wide ant
an effort will be made to fasten re
sponsibility for the disturbances upo1
certain individuals who are under sus
picion.