The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-18
But Nobody Was Hit, So Far
as Reported.
NEGROES ROUNDED UP
About $50 of Them Had Hidden
In Cornfields.
Many False Alarms of Fire and
Other Dangers.

upno pickets and the forced hegira of
l5o negroes from corn fields on the out
skirts Of the city to the state arsenal
kept the militia busy this morning.
The hring upon the sentries and their
answering shots occurred less than two
blocks from the headquarters Of Gem
eral Young at the county Jail. No one
was injured in the ARRAY, but the n.y.
ing bullets from the militia carbines
caused CONSERVATION in the district.
The trouble followed an attempt to set
fire to building on Eighth 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 a shadow by
Private George Howell of troop E,
First cavalry Howell ordered the man
to move on. but the negro's reply was
shot from revolver. He dashed
down the street. disregarding the COM
mands Of other sentries to halt As he
turned into an alley Corporal Adelman
and Private H. Lowenstein. both of
troop B, fired at him. The shots went
wild, but they aroused the headquar-
ters, two blocks away and company E,
OF the First infantry was sent to the
place on the double quick.
lie dlIey anu dJdCenC houses WeTG
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
attempts had been made to assassinate
militia pickets.
Corn Fields Cleared.
The clearing out OF the corn fields
southeast of the city was the result Of
successive nights of terror in Harvard
Park An inspection of the corn fields
| late yesterday. showed that at least
| $50 negro refugees had camped therein.
| The presence of the negroes is thought
to have been responsible for the dis
turbed conditions in the suburbs Both
| last night and Sunday numerous shots
| were fired there and 1t is now thought
| that minor dspSedations by starving
refugees had caused the troubles. At
under Captain Jacob Junson OF CHI
cago, was sent to the place to herd the
negroes into the arsenal
Support to- Governor Deneen's ap-
peal to the citizens of Springfield to
aid the authorities in fastening re-
sponsibility for the riots upon the ring
leaders was given at 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 clergy
men Of Springfield took similar action,
adopting resolutions declaring that
lax administration of the law which
has so long characterized this COM
munity," was largely to blame for the
riots The efforts of States Attorney
Hatch to bring the offenders to Justice
was commended as was also the re-
fusal of Mayor Reece to allow the sa-
looms to reopen. The executive COM
mittee of the local branch of the Pres
byterian Brotherhood sent Governor
Deneen a letter commenting his efforts
to restore order.
The continued outbreaks of last night
and this morning have not reassured
the timid portions of the community.
If one-tenth of the reports afioat In
this sbewildered city were true Spring.
field would be one Of the most SAN
guiary places on earth. But they are
not.
Busy Night for Troops.
General Welsh had merry time of
it last night dispatching squads to
places where they were needed. and
escorting f1remen to fires that did not
exist. Some OF the alarms were
hoaxes and some the result of ner-
vousness on the part Of the citizens.
Out of all the rush and hurry the sole
tangible result was the arrest of two
befuddled negroes whose libations
had been strong in the early evening.
This incident however, furnished a
typical shocker, nothing less than that
the troop had dispersed a mob which
had cut a white man to shreds. cut
and slashed him so horribly that the
body was unrecognfzab1e. The rumor
was traced from a private soldier to
a captain Of militia, from him to .
liyeryman. from the latter to q travel
ing man who thought that he had
heard a shot and there it was lost.
What had really happened was this.
A few negroes at Fifteenth and Ash
streets had requested that the usual
patrol include that neighborhood in
its beat. The troopers on their counts
heard loud voices and fired two shots
their angry debate. an investigation
followed The ''mob" was then ar
rested.
In another instance a whole regi-
ment Of soldiers was brought into ac-
ton when a can of molasses exploded
and drenched a negro who was MAX
| ing a cautious purchase at a north
side grocery. The negro was standing
| at the store counter when the ex-
dripping from his face. hands and
clothing, he ran screaming from the
store through back yards and over
| fences until he reached his home.
There he cried that he had been
killed. that the store had been blown
up, and that every one was dead.
The sound of the explosion and the
cries of the negro. alarmed the near
est military camp, and several COM
panies of infantry got into quick ac-
| ton. When they reached the store
| the grocer was laughing so hard that
| he could not tell Them what had hap
pened. So they epllowed the trail OF
molasses and came at last to the
dripping negro. The clothing was
| stripped of his body but there was
no signs Of a wound. Then the
| grocer, who had recovered his COM
| posure rushed in and cleared the myB-
| terry and the soldiers wearily faced -
ward their quarteTA