The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1908-09-05
IT WILL NOT SOON BE CURED
Claims Against the City for Loss of
Life and Property.
Story of the Outbreak and It's Results
Governor Deneen Prompt in
Calling the Militia to
Preserve Order.

NpflHTllelu, ILL.,, sept. l.-llaNlnS
had two weeks of excitement caused
by the rioting and attacks upon the
cOlored people and their homes the
city of Springfield is awakening with
headache. 1t will be lasting aud
there will he constant reminders that
it is present. These reminders will
be tax bills to meet claims against The
city for loss of life. damages to prop
erty, investigation by the grand jury
and the maintenance of the natitnal
guard, $500 of which were on duty
in the city for short time. Already
claims have been presented against
the city for S25,41S.S4. 1t is estimated
that there will be other claims that
will bring the aggregate ccst to 800
GOO, for loss of property and life on V.
The deaths as a result of the riot or
its consequences are eight and the i'll
jured eighty-one. Under the riot law
relatives may collect S. Coo from the
city for each life lost. upon showing
that death was caused by the riot.
Guard Mobilizes Quickly.
Never in the history of the state was
the national guard assembled more
rapidly and more effectively than
when 1t was called to Springfield. The
story of its summOning is story of
decisiveness, an illustration of indus
try and an evidence Of the effective
ness with which Governor Dcneen
acts.
AT o'clock Friday afternoon, Aus.
IA, Colonel r. J. Shand assistant adj
jutant general, was sent by Governor
Deneen to Sheriff Charles Werner to
inquire into the situation rlmOrS Of
anticipated trouble having reached the
chief executive. Sheriff Werner stated
that he did not expect any difficulty
in handling the crowd, but in case Of
emergency it might be advisable to as
semble one of the local companies at
the arsenal Later he changed this re-
quest to two local companies and the
Calling section, with the suggestion
that one company be sent to the coun-
ty jail at 8 o'clock.
Take Prisoners TO Bloomington.
men whom the mob were DESTROYS Of
securing We're transferred to Bloom
ington. This transfer did not prevent
Il crowd from gathering around the
jail. Finding the place we'll guarded
and having satisfied themselves that
the prisoners were not in the iail
through i committee which was per-
mitted to go through the building, the
mob directed its attention to the res
taurant of Harry Lopez, situated five
blocks from the Jail Sheriff Werner
asked that the Calling section be sent
to the. restaurant The men went with
out hayonets and with orders from the
sheriff not to fire.
Sheriff Asks for More Troops.
The crowd had grown to such pro-
portions at 9 o'clock and wore such a
threatening aspect that the sheriff
asked for more troops. The second
company of Springfield soldiers was
sent to the county Jail. Owing to the
short time they had to assemble there
were not more than dozen infantry
men In Company c. These were
placed on guard east Of ire jail with
orders to prevent the mob from getting
at pile of bricks. Under the COM
mand of Lieutenant Ward Murray
they were compelled to submit to in
suits, to dodge bricks and stand guard
ut the risk Of their lives without re-
talating in any way upon the crowd
which hemmed them in, Sheriff Wer-
ner having given orders that under no
circumstances should they he per-
Initted TO fire.
Governor Up All Night.
Governor Deneen was in the eXecu-
& LIZ IL III .-I-L