Gilpin observer., 1908-08-20
NEGRO ASSAULT FROVOkES
MoBS, ARSON AND MURDER
IN ILLINOIS CAPITAL.
TROOPS CALLED OUT
AGED AND PEAcEABLE NEGRO
TORTURED TO DEATH BY
BLooDTHIRSTY RIOTERS.

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 Deneen to pre-
serve order.
The governor by telegraph ordered
out 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
assailants.
In one mixup a trooper attempted
to separate the combatants and was
nearly overwhelmed by those in pur
suit of several negroes. A call for help
brought several other cavalrymen 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 incarcer-
alton of Richardson were enraged by
the ruse practiced by the sheriff in re-
moving him.
Finding that the negroes were gone,
the mob amused itself for time by
looting 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.
Chafin, 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 Fri
day night, Springfield spent the night
in anxiety.
Apprehension Of more serious trou
BILE was modified, but not stilled by the
| presence of $500 national guardsmen
| from various parts Of the state under
command Of Major-General Young, /
N. C.
Saturday nights victim of race pre-
| judice was an aged negro. William
| Donigan. Donigan was a cobbler ant
respected as a simple and inoffensive
citizen. His shop was within two
blocks of the state house.
In the absence of a patrol, a mob sci
fire to the shop and the venerable ne
gro was compelled by the smoke tc
run into the street. His appearance
was greeted by shower of stones and
bricks. AS he staggered under the
fusillade he was seized and his throat
cut. A rope was then run through the
wound and the victim bound to tree
There he was found later, unconscious
and all but dead. Doctor Tuttle, wht
dressed the wound, reported that deatf
was a matter Of hours.
witness to the firing of the shoI
turned in an alarm but when the fire
men appeared the blaze was out. L
had not gained enough headway ant
had been extinguished by some of tn,
cooler-headed members of the mob.
A crowd gathered and threatened t.
storm the state armory, but was dis
persed.
General Young was kept busy an
swering calls for guards all night, anC
while he thought he had control of tn,
situation, asked the governor for mor'
| troops.
When General Young heard of tn,
Donigan affair. two companies of in
fantry and a troop of cavalry wert
rushed to the scene. and at their ap
rroach the crowd ran helter-skelte
down the street and dispersed in all di
rections when they reached the capi
tol grounds. Six arrests were made
Coincident with the attack on Doni
gan, less serious disturbance oC
Cured in front Of the new state ar
mory. A crowd gathered and threat
ened to storm the place wherein wer
sheltered a number of negro refugees
Two companies OF the fourth infan
try and Troop B Of the cavalry cam
on the scene quick and charged tn
crowd with bayonets leveled. As II
the previous event, the mob fled pre-
cipitately at the sight of cold steel an,
the business-liko appearance of tn
men in khaki.
Soon troops had to be sent to Cam
Lincoln, where large number of ne
groes were sheltered. and the negroe
were brought to the arsenal. A compan
was sent to Spaulding. seven miles Out
to protect colored miners.
Governor Deneen responded to Ger
eral Young's call for troops by callin
out the Second regiment of Chicag
and ordering the Fighting Seventh
of that city to hold itself in READINGS
to call for arms.
| Over -Four Thousand Guards OuY