Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-15
MURDER AND ARSON
IN RACE WAR RIOTS
Three Killed, Seventy-FWe In
jured at Springfield, III.
CITY IN REIGN OF TERROR
Troops From All Over the State
Rushed to the Scene.
NEGRO LYNCHED BY MAD MOB
Restaurant Wrecked, Twenty Houses
Burned and Street Scenes Reminis-
cent of Days Of Commune.
CITY IN REIGN OF TERROR
Troops From All Over the Stat'
Rushed to the Scene.
NEGRO LYNCHED BY MAD MOB

From all over Illinois troops
are being rushed to Springfield,
where a race-war reign of terror
prevails. Last night the authori-
ties were helpless and the city
absolutely under mob rule. Dur
ing the rioting following a GRIM
inal assault by a negro upon a
white woman two white men
were shot and killed, a negro
lynched, seventy-hve persons in
jured-a number fatally-and
many dwellings burned. Three
regiments of infantry are now
patrolling the city. White wom-
en- and children are fleeing to
places of safety, and negro refu-
gees are urging those of their
race in surrounding cities and
towns to arm and return to
Springfield to give battle to the
whites. The situation is ex-
tremely grave, and another out
break is looked for at any mo-
ment.
SPRINGFIELD, I'LL. August 15.-Two
white men were killed, negro lynched.
more than seventy-five persons injured
and two score of houses. mostly occupied
by negroes, were burned last night as
the result of an attempt by a mob to
lynch a negro who had assaulted white
woman.
After a night of riot, arson and slaughter
troops are being rushed to this city from
all parts of the state. negroes are leaving
by trains, on trolley cars, and many Of
them on foot, and the mob spirit seems
still to be rampant, although the governor
and military authorities claim that they
have the situation well in hand.
The 1st Infantry of Chicago was to-
day ordered to mobilize at once and start
for Springfield on the first train that
could be made up to carry it. When
this organization arrives the town will
be protected by three full regiments.
Another Clash Imminent.
Despite the claim of the authorities that
the mob is held in subsection. there is
every chance of another clash between
the white and colored people. The
negroes are we'll armed and are showing
a spirit of determination. The white peo-
pie are in an ugly mood. and farmers and
men from adjoining towns are constantly
arriving.
W. II. Bowe. chief clerk in the county
treasurer's Office. is one OF these. He was
precariously wounded in anther fight at
18th and Mason streets, three blocks from
the scene of the lynching. Mr.. Bowe was
set upon by a number of negroes. one of
whom shot him through the body. The
bullet grazed the liver and infiirted a dan
gerous wound.
The county official was then robbed and
beaten and would have been killed had
not one of the negroes recognized him
and persuaded the others to desist
An operation was performed on Mr.
Bowe this morning.
The dead are Charles Hunter. co.ored
Lewis Johnson. white. seventeen years
old. \ number of the wounded have
slight chance of recovery.
Dispatches from nearby cities and towns
say that many negro men who arrived to;
day from Springfield are trying to arouse
the people and urging them 10 go back to
Springfield and fight Many have been
arrested and weapons taken from them
Lincoln Lies Nearby.
Unless the military succeeds during the
day in quelling the mob much more eff
fectually than has been done up TO the
present time il is feared that the nigh,
yet occurred.
The scene of the race riot IS within
half a mile of the old homestead of Abra.
ham Lincoln. the only residence ever
owned by the martyred President. The
house now is the property of the state
a monument here marks the grave of the
emancipatOr. A statue OF him stands il
the capitol.
The riOting was precipitated by ar
assault committed early yesterday morn.
ing by a negro upon Mrs. Mabel Hallam
wife of street railway conductor
While the woman slept alone IN hel
home on II pOpulous residence street
awaiting the return Of her hus band, tn.
man broke into the house. dragged hel
into the rear yard and assaulted her.
Crowds Menace the Jail.
Before noon George Richardson. a
young negro was arrested by tn,
sherif's force and charged with th'
crime. The victim partially identified th'