The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1908-08-27
THE BAYSIDE TRAGEDY FEAR RIOT RENEWAL
Negroes Of Springfield, ILL.,, Coz
tinue to Flee.


NERVOUS TENSION EXISTS
Slow. Progress Is Being Made by the
Local Authorities in Their Efforts to
Fix the Responsibility for the Late
Rioting.
Springfield, ILL.,, Aug. 21.-The To-
cal authorities have begun the task
of overcoming the handicap on their
efforts to fix responsibility to the re-
cent riot, caused by the failure OF tAe
coroner's inquest to hold any one re-
sponsible for the death of Scott Bur
ton, the 6 lynched last Friday
night.
The open verdict of the coroner's
jury was a blow to the hopes OF the
states attorney and other officials
who saw in it a confirmation of the
suspicion that witnesses to the rtottng
would fail to recognize leaders OF the
mob when called upon to testify In
public. Of the four witnesses upon
whom Coroner Woodruff had depended
for the success of his first riot Inquest,
only one appeared on the stand. That
witness displayed an unusually poor
memory when confronted with inctsive
questions, and the absence Of the
other three made the coroner's task
futile.
Testimony Hard To Get.
This condition existed despite the
appeals of the commercial ~organiza-
lions and Governor Deneen that law
loving citizens volunteer their testi-
mony regarding the riot and its lead
ers. There was a generous response
to the appeals SD far as the secret
grand jury proceedings are concerned.
but few persons seem willing to risk
the enmity of the lawless element Of
the community by appearing in the
open as defenders of the strict letter
Of the law.
The grand jury went ahead with its
Investigations Thursday, but there
was considerable less enthusiasm re-
garding its work than was displayed
two days ago. The departure Of all
except two regiments Of the state mi
litia caused a renewal Of the threats
that there would be something doing"
after the soldiers had gone, and this
feeling was reflected in the anxiety
which was manifest in all circles of
the city.
Negroes Stand in Fear.
In fact a renewal of the rioting Is
expected momentarily and the negroes
especially fear that once the mob Is
started again no power Of the state
can prevent the most serious trouble.
Only the Seventh regiment of infan-
try and eight troops of the state cav
airy regiment are on active duty. The
Second, Fifth and Third regimental
organizations broke camp, reducing the
military force to about one thousand
men,. Not more than a third of these
were on active duty and the decrease
in military display and regulation was
noticeable.
Sale Of Liquor Prohibited.
The regulations OF the city officials
regarding the early closing of all bus
iness houses and the prohibition of
the sale of liquors within the city Inn
its are still in force.
Thursday morning was almost de.
void Of alarms. Some firing was
heard in the outlying eastern sections
Of the city but ervou militiamen
were responsible for it. One sentry
challenged the shadow Of a tree stirred
by the wind and shot when it refused
to malt, and another fired four times
at a pile of refuse which failed to
keep moving" There were proba-
bly, half a dozen demands for troops
at the various headquarters, but in
none of the cases was their presence
needed ,
Work was resumed at the Tuxhorn
mine which had been SHUT down be-
cause Of the refusal of the whites and
negroes to work together.
Negroes Continue to Leave.
Negro refugees continue to leave
town in increasing numbers. Neigh
boring villages and hamlets, however,
are in many instances refusing the ne
gro a haven and most of the negro
people who departed were bound for
communities at a distance from this
city. Many Of the negroes selected
Missouri as their destination.