The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1908-09-05

ueTS nv iC.'..'InnC 10 me Vd1l Gus com
manders for the purpose of asSembl II :
the troops. At Q o'clock the first or
der for troops outside the city went
to Decatur. A few minutes Inter
bloomington. Peoria. Pekin Taylor
We and Pontiac companies were
called. thc company commanders he
ing ordered to secure SPECIAL trains
or interrrban cars that they might
reach Sprn cid in tie very sh rteSt
tire. At 40 the eStrrctir cnrSS of
tire mob manifested itself in the loot
in" Of lUi q n%s on Washing on street
and the l'urn ng Of bOuscs in the col
cred quarter Sheriff Werner refused
II Let thc troops leave the county Jail
t. at'cu'rt 70 dispense tie mob or TO
do H"vtN'n" that might end the de-
Strrctirn uf rronerty. His argument
agailet it vas that the jail must be
protccte'.
Decatur First to Arrive.
II miln sht It was decided to call
the First infantry from Chicago an
the entire Fifth in'antry with several
troops of cavalry. Company II of De
catur was the first uSide COMPANY
to arrive. 1t reached the city Iy the
wa Of The interurban at 2:2O Satu"-
daF morning. Accompanied by Troop
ID. First cavalry. Of Springfield the
Decatur comp ny was marched to the
scene of The burning and rioting. SheY
if Werner commanded the mob to dis
perse and us it failed to do so ordered
the Springfield troop to fire over their
heads. Colonel Shand protested, as
one of the companies previously ha"
heCn commanded to shoot in the al
in fr0nt OF the county jail. The MOI
paid 10 attention ether time. Co
onel Shlnd then insisted that the
troops should Lave permission to fire
low, EUt Iga.n Sheriff Werner, after
ordering lie mob to disperse, gave the
command to he Springfield boys that
they should shoot over the heads of
the mob. A dozen men heard the con
mand of Capita II Walz and Colonel
Shand to fire low and poured vol
ley of small bullets into the legs of
the mob. There was a hurried scat
tering and the mob melted away
The streets were filed with drunken
and reeling men and boys who. fred
by the lust Of blood and excited by
the burning buildings. were anxious t.
drive all colored people from the city.
Threats we're made that all bu ldingS
occupied 10y colored people would lie
burned the following night or the col
ored people driven out.
Summons More Companies.
In anticipation of more rioting It
was decided to bring enough troops to
Springfield to patrol the c ty thorough
ly and protect the cololed citizens. As
there arc five sections of the city in
which color"d people I've. 1t ncces-
STATED large number of troops to
make complete patrol. The speed
with which the respective companies
and regiments were mobiliZcd by their
commanders is shown by the follow
ing table which gives the arrivin.
time of tlle various organization
Company II, Decatur, 2:20 a. m., Sat
Irday, Aug. Is.
Company A, Pekin, 300 a. M. Satur-
day, Aug Is.
Company G, Peoria, 800 Il. M. Satur-
day. Aug. Il.
Company l., Peoria, 800 a. M, Satur-
day, Aug. Is.
Troop G, First cavalry, Peoria, 800 n.
m, Saturday, Aug. 10.
Company d, Bloomington. 3:05 a. m..
Saturday. Aug. IL.
Company f, Pontiac, 3:O5 a. M. Satur
day, Aug Is.
Troop b, First cavalry, Bloomington