The state herald., 1908-08-21
RACE WAR ON
IN SPRINGFIELD
NEGRO ASSAULT FROVOkES
MoBS, ARSON AND MURDER
IN ILLINOIS CAPITAL.
TROOPS CALLED OUT
AGED AND PEACEABLE NEGRO
TORTURED TO DEATH BY
BlooDTHIRsTY RIOTERS.

Springfield, MA bloodthrsty mob,
bent on wreaking vengeance on the
negro inhabitants Of Springfield, be,
cause OF an assault committed Friday
by negro on white woman, started
through the streets Friday night, beat.
ing negroes and disregarding the sol.
diers of Troop b, First cavalry, or
dered out by Governor Daneen to pre-
serve order.
The governor by telegraph ordered
cut two companies of militia and one
troop of cavalry from Peoria. and a
troop of cavalry each from Blooming
ton and Pekin.
Negroes in various parts Of town
have been attacked by the mob and in
two instances the negroes have turned
with considerable effect upon their
assnilants.
In one mixup trooper attempted
to separate the cOmbutants and was
nearly overwhelmed by those in pur
suit of several negroes. a call for help
brought several other cavalry men to
the scene, but they were all disarmed
and their guns carried away by the
rioters.
Most Of the members of Troop b Of
Taylorville were placed on guard
around the jail, whence George Rich
ardson, the negro who is alleged to
have assailed Mrs. Earl Hallam, was
removed in the evening TO Blooming.
ton.
The rioters who had gathered in
front of the jail following the incarccr-
alton OF Richardson We're cnragcd by
the ruso practiCod by the sheriff In re.
moving him.
Finding that the negroes were gone,
the mob amused itself for a time by
] lOuting negro resorts In East Washing.
! ton street The amusement Of the
/ rioters was tragedy for the negroes.
many Of whom were roughly handled
and beaten with pieces OF their own
| furniture
In protecting a negro, Eugene w.
Chnfin. candidate for President on the
| Prohibition ticket, was struck ON the
head with a brick.
on Saturday, with one more victim
added to the roll of fatally Injured In
the race riots which began here Fi'
day night. Springfield spent the night
/ In anxiety.
Z BILE was modified. but not stillcd by tho
presence of $500 national guardBmen
l from various parts of the state under
command OF MajorGeneral Young, J.
/ n. c.
Saturday nights victim Of race pre-
judice was an aged negro. William
D0nipan. DOnlgnn was a cobblor and
respected rs q simple and inoffensiyo
I citizen. His shop was within two
] blocks Of the state house.
/ In the absence Of patrol, a mob set
fire to the shop and the venerable ne
gro was compelled by the smoke Ia
run into the street. His appearance
was greeted by shower Of stones aud
bricks. As he staggered under the
| fuRlllade, he was seized and his throat
cut. a rope was then run through the
wound and the victim bound 20 tree.
I There he was found later, uncnnsciuus
and all but dead. Doctor Tuttle, who
/ dressed the wound. reported that death
was a matter Of hours,
A witness TO the firing Of the shop
! turned In an alarm but when the fire
men appeared the blaze was out. II
had not gained enough hoadway aud
! had been eXtinguishcd by some Of the
cooler,honded members Of the mob.
A crowd gathered and threatened TO
storm the state nrmory, but was dis
porsed.
General Young was kept busy an
swCring calls for guards all night and
while he thought he had control Of the
situation, asked the governor for more
| troops.
when General Young heard Of the
! Donigan affair two companies Of In
! fnntry and n troop Of cavalry were
rushed to the scene, and at their ap,
! rruach the crowd ran hcltcrskeltcr
down the street and dispersed In all di,
rcctions when they reached the cnpl.
tol grounds Six arrests were made
Concident with the attack on Donl.
gan. less serious disturbance Oc
CURED In front OF the new state ar
mory. A crowd gathered and threat
oned 10 storm the place wherein were
! sheltered n number Of negro refugees.
Two companies Of the fourth infan'
/ try and Troop u Of the cavalry came
on the scene quick and charged the
/ crowd with bnyonotR leyolod, AZ In
the previous event. the mob fled pre-
clpilntoly nj the sight Of cold steel and
tho buslnoBsllko appearance Of the
/ men In Khaki
Soon troops had 10 be sent 10 Camp
Lincoln. whore n large number Of no
gfoCa were sheltered. and the negroes
were brought 10 tho arsenal a company
was sent 90 Sbauldlng, seven miles out,
| 10 protect colorod miners
Governor Donoen responded 10 Cen
orhl Young's call for troops by calling
out the Second regiment NJ Chicago
and ordering the Fighting Seventh
Of TINT city 10 hold itself In readiness
20 call for arms.
Over -Four Thousand Guards Out.