The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-15
Those Driven From Springfield
Come Back Heavily Armed.
Shoot and Rob the Assistant
County Treasurer.
SOLDIERS DISARMED
Their Guns Are Taken From
Them by White Mob.
Citizens of Nearby Towns Ar.
rive in Large Numbers.

TWO HI AdTSo NumU0TSs
Sprin gfleld, ILL.,, Aug. 15.-Troops
are being rushed to this city from all
| parts of the state. negroes are leaving
by trains, on trolley cars and many of
| them on foo, and the mob spirit seems
still to be rampant although the gov
ernor and military authorities claim
that they have the situation we'll in
hand. The first infantry of Chicago
was today ordered to mobilize at once
and start for Springfield on the first
train that could be made up to
carry them. Despite the claim of the
authorities that the mob is held in
subJection, there is every chance OF
another clash between the whites and
colored people. The negroes are we'll
armed and are showing a spirit of de-
termination. The white people are in
an ugly mood and farmers and men
from adjoining towns are constantly
arriving.
w. H. Bowe, assistant county treas
urer, was attacked by a crowd of ne
groes early today and fatally wound
ed. This has added to the excitement
and resentment, which is already tense.
dispatch from Decatur. Ill, says
that many negro men who arrived to-
day from Springfield. are trying to
them to go back to Springfield and
fight. Several of them have been ar
rested and weapons taken from them,
Unless the militia succeeds during
the day in auelling the mob much more
effectually than has been done Up to
the present time it is feared that the
night will bring more serious trouble
than has yet occurred.
Lynching of Hunter.
The most serious part of the rioting
came shortly before daybreak this
morning. At o'clock the mob cor
nered Charles Hunter. negro at
Twelfth and Madison streets and
lynched him. In the midst of the hang
ing company H, Fifth infantry. from
Decatur attempted to disperse the mob
and after firing two volleys over the
heads Of the rioters shot low. wounding
two. men, Some of the members of the
mob declared that the negro lynched
had shot three white men. The negro
was forced into a corner at Twelfth
and Madison streets, when retreat was
cut off, the negro thereupon opening
fire and wounding two,
Then came the cry Get the rope"
The negro was caught and dragged
to the street where he was beaten and
then a rope was swung around his
neck and the other end thrown over
the limb OF a tree. the negro was
swung high off the ground and he was
dead in a few minutes.
Many shots were fired at the body.
Troops Fire on Mob
Just then the troops arrived Two
vo1leys were fired over the heads of the
lynchers. The order was given to dis
perse With reluctance some OF the
rioters began to back away. But the
mob showed fight. Colonel Frank P.
Wells ordered the company to charge
on the crowd. During the fight that
followed two men were shot by the
troops They were Mike Lucey. shot
in the leg and Charles Wifi. 913 North
1 street. shot in the leg. The lynchinG
was Illuminated by the flames of
Every building in that vicinity with
the exception of the United States
Gypsum company's warehouse and one
or two others was burned and the
lynching was in the midst Of this scene
of havoc.
The rope used was a short one and
the body of the negro was not pulled
more than five feet of the ground. AS
the body went up. the crowd shouted,
We've got one, hurrah.
Look at the Niger swing.
The charge continued for some time.
Attack on w. H. Bowe.
1t is. believed the negro was shot and
killed before his body was strung up.
Sheriff Werner cut the body down at
3:3O a. m. There were 40 bullet holes
in the body. w. H Bowe, chief clerk
of the county treasurer's, was wound
ed in another fight which took place
three blocks from the scene of the
lynching. He was set upon by a num-
ber of negroes. one of whom shot him
through the body. The bullet grazed
the liver and inflicted a dangerous
wound. He was then robbed and
beaten and would have been killed had
not one of the negroes recognized him
and persuaded the others to desist. An
operation was performed on Mr.. Bowe
this morning and at noon the surgeon
said that he had fair chance to re-
cover.
The scene of the race riot is within a
half mile of the old homestead of Abra-
ham Lincoln, the only residence ever
owned by the martyred president. The
house is now the property of the state. |
A monument there marks the grave of
the emancipator, a statute of him
stands in the capitol.
Under Martial Law.
Springfield. Aug. 15.-By 6 o'clock |
tonight the First Fourth and Fifth |
infantry regiments will be in the state |
capital and the disturbed districts of |
the city will be under martial law.
The city is comparatively quiet at |
noon today, but the atmosphere is |
tense with suppressed excitement The |
burned district and the wrecked Loper |
restaurant near Fifth and Monroe |
streets were meccas for sightseers by |
the hundreds. Sentries were posted |
thick about the show places and kept |
the crowds back from the negroes
who searched the blackened ruins for
traces of former possessions. Scores
of poor families lost their all in the |
fires and their condition is such that |
the state has been compelled to come |
to their relief.
Governor Deneen issued orders this
morning -hat all who desired assist |
ance or protection against a possible |
renewal Of nc riots will be quartered |
at Camp Lincoln. The incoming |
troops will also be sent there and |
other measures Will be taken to wipe |
out the evidences OF the riots as 4
quickly as possible. Such at leasS 10 !