Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-08-15
TO QUELL RACE RIOT
Troops Being Rushed 10 Scene of Disorder Near Old Bome.
 stead of Abraham Lincoln.

5PiiAShSiu, III, nus iiooPs are being rushed to this city from all parts of the state. The negroes are leaving by train and on foot and the mob spirit seems still rabid, although the governor and military authori- ties say they have the situation well in hand. The First infantry of Chi cago was to-day ordered to start for Springfield on the first train. When they arrive the place will be protect ed by three full regiments. Unless the military succeed during the day in quelling the mob 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. More than seventy have received injuries, mostly from being shotin the feet and legs by the soldiers. who dispersed the mob. Many families have lost all their be- longings in the fires. Governor De- neen issued orders to-day that all who desired assistance or protection against possible recurrence of the riots can be Quartered at Camp Lin coin. The scene of the riot is within one-half mile of the old homestead of Abraham Lincoln, the only home he ever owned
 After burning many houses in the negro quarter the mob, which be- came more desperate as the night passed, finally gratified it's thirst for blood at o'clock this morning, when Charles Hunter was lynched aI the corner of Twelfth and Madison streets, right in. the heart of the so- called Bad Lands" Troops ar rived at the scene too late to prevent the 'lynching. Some of, the, members of the mob declared that the negro lynched had shot two white men. They said that in fight with the whites the negro was forced inso a corner at the saloon adn grocery on the corner of Telwfth and Madison. When retreat was cut off the negro is said to have opened fire, wounding two. Then came the crys Get the rope" The negro was dragged to the street. Here he was beaten and shot five times and then a rope was swung around his neck and the other end of the rope thrown over the limb of tree in front of the store.
 The dead:,
 Charles. Hunter (colored). 4
 Lewis Johnson (white), IT years old.
 James Scott (white), 70 years old.
 The negro was swung high off the ground. He was dead in a few mos ments.
 After riddling the body with bull lets, the mob began 70 dance around the tree. At this point a of troops from Decatur ar rived and commenced firing, causing the rioters to disperse in a hurry. By daylight the streets had practi- cally been cleared and the troops were in control of the situation. Gov ernor Deneen was at his office all night personally directing the mili> tia.
 Harry T. Loper, owner of the res- -aurant destroyed, said:
 
 T have been through one riot in in 'S3, the grea. est in this country, when 100 men were killed. It was to avoid loss of life hat II took those men out of town. Knowing this sheriff as I do, I know he would be killed before he would let the jail be taken. though: | would save the lives by removing the ,olored man.
 T would not shoot a single man 70 protect my place, and I only shot nto the crowd when in personal langer myself"
 Hunter was accused of having fir- d upon the whites and seeking pro- ection by dodging in and out of box ars along the right of way of the Illinois Central railroad. The negro vas cornered in stairway and shot eyeral times, then hanged to a tree md his body riddled. The lynching vas the first which ever took place in l his city.
 The contents of Loper's restaurant we're burned only hal ia block from he public square in the heart of the 'usiness district. Although trouble nay break out again at any moment he troops had the situation well in | and to-day.