River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-02-25
RIOT IN OTTUMWA;
NEGROES IN PERIL
MOB ONLY LACKS LEADER TO
LYNCH BLACKS.
CROWD SURROUNDS JAIL
Horrible Assault on Invalid Wife Of
Travelling Man Fires Citizens
to Frenzy - Several
Other Attacks.

Ottumwa. Ia, Feb. 22.-The citizens
of Ottumwa last night were on the
verge of adding another bloody chap
ter to the history of race riots in the
United States. A mob of men and boys,
which increased from 100 to more
than 1000, gathered around the city
Jail thirsty for vengeance upon an I'M
identified negro who committed a GRIM
inal assault upon a white woman here
early yesterday morning.
Three negroes have been taken to
the city Jail as suspects and one to the
county Jail. A demonstration was
made by the mob as the fourth man
was brought in, but there was no man
daring enough to lead in the work that
the crowd wanted to do.
John Junkin, a negro suspected Of
the murder of Clara Rosen two weeks
ago, was taken out of town secretly by
the police following the early manifes-
tation of the mob spirit. The recently
organized vigilance committee aided
the police. Company G of the Fifty
fourth regiment of the National Guard,
under command of Capt. Schamp, was
held in the barracks for the call to ac-
ton.
Cause Same as Springfeld's.
The cause of the uprising is the
same as that which started the Spring
field Ill) mob on its murderous, pill
Laying nights of terror last summer.
Mrs. Charles M. Johnston, the invalid
wife of an Ottumwa travelling man, was
in bed with her four-year-old child at
three o'clock in the morning, when
she awoke to find negro bending over
her. Before she could scream for help
the black seized her by the throat and
began to choke her. Despite her weak
ness as the result of recent opera
ton, Mrs. Johnston fought desperately.
She tore herself loose from the big
hands and cried out. At the same time
the child screamed. The negro became
alarmed and decided to put an end to
these difficulties in the way of accom-
plishing his purpose. There was a cur
tain pole an inch in diameter, which
was used as a window prop, within
T6dCus uG nOSIO dOOOu tl11o Gnu
beat the woman until she became UNI
conscious.
How long the negro remained with
the body of his victim is not known.
The cries of the child finally aroused
the neighbors. They found RMS. John
ston lying on the floor unconscious. By
her side was the curtain pole, stained
with her blood.
Mob Soon Formed.
The news spread rapidly and the
quiet streets soon sounded to the feet
of men running. The police called out
the vigilantes, and a half hour after
the assault was committed armed
posses of men were on the trail of the
fleeing negro. Members of the citi-
zens' guard were posted in places
where riots were feared. The homes Of
the negroes were placed under watch.
While no demonstration occurred in
these quarters the city jail became the
point of attraction for the excited men
who formed the nucleus of the mob.
The trail of Mrs. Johnston's assail-
ant was followed by bloodhounds to a
deep ravine near Rutledge mining
camp, three miles from Ottumwa, but
there lost The mines were searched,
with the help of miners, but the man
had disappeared in remarkable way.
Other posses of men searched other
parts of the country all day and far into
the night.
While this work was going on the
crowd around the city Jail continued to
grow in size. Threats were made free
ly against the negro, Junkin, and the
police became alarmed for his safety.
Toward night they took him out of
the Jail by rear door. He was placed
in an automobile and taken to Chilli
cothe, ten miles west Of the city, where
he was put on board a Burlington pas
senger train and taken to Abba and
locked up in Jail. With this man out
of the way the police began to breathe
easier, but their troubles started again
when the posses began to bring in sus-
poets captured in the surrounding
country.
Crowd Lacks a Leader.
When the fourth man was brought
through the lines the mob again
showed it's spirit.
Come on, boys, let's get some one.
The police are fooling us" cried man
in the center of the crowd. There was
a movement toward the JAIL Cries
came from other parts of the great
crowd. 1t was the moment for the
leader and the battering ram, but the
leader was not there and the moment
passed for the time. The news of the
searching parties which came in fire.
quently served to quiet the agitation
of the crowd. 1t was reported that
Mrs. Johnston, who has been an In
valid for years, was dying as the result
of her injuries. That famed again the
flame of desire. There were many men
of sober minds in the crowds. These
argued with the more violent to give
the police a chance first. 1t was felt
as the night wore on that the danger
point of concerted action on the part
of the thousands had passed. Still
there were evidences of unrest in the
more isolated parts of the city where
the low class of negroes have their
homes, and it was toward these spots
that police directed attention.
Mouse Stopped Golf Match.