Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-09-16
NEAR PANIC IS CAUSED
BY REPORTED
THREATS
SLEUTHS ON Scene
EVERY PREcAUTioN is TAKEN
TO PREVENT REPETITION OF
CONFEDERATION WHICH CAus-
ED DESTRUCTION OF AMPHl.
THEATER AND PIKE.

Fearing that trouble of some kind
might be started on the La Sale
county fair grounds, the officers OF
the association met last night and
decided to lock the grounds at s
o'clock, and to drive out all specta-
tors. The decision was agreed upon
after a day Of more or less terror,
following the big fire, and for fear
that the torch tend. whom they be
lieve fired the amphitheater, may re-
appear and WELD his burning brand
again.
A Rock Island railroad detective.
was secured by the officers of the as
sociation a short time after the blaze
has been on the grounds continually
since then sitting down evidence in
hope of locating the fiend.
sIeuths sprinkIed Over Grounds.
The fair grounds were literally alive
with detectives yesterday. Two In
spectors, to see that there were no
violations of the state pure food laws.
Mr. and Lewis and Mrs Emerich of
Springfield were on the grounds all
day. Inspectors Cox and Adams OF
the secretary OF states Office were
also on the grounds looking for vio
lators of the state auto laws. De-
tective Emerich has been on the
grounds all the time, looking for vio-
lators of the state gaming laws.
Rumors Spread Terror
A rumor gained circulation late
yesterday afternoon that the big
stables were to be burned last night
One of the fair followers was heard
TO inform buddie that they say the
barns are to be burned tonight" This
threat was conveyed to the fair Of
ficials, who asked that deputies trace
Gown the report The mon who
made the statement and all others
who were of suspicious looking
character were picked up by the po-
lice and given a thorough grilling.
The report, however, could not be
traced down, and proved to be moth
ing but an unfounded rmnor
Keep Close Guard on Stock,
Not wishing to take chance, the
fair officials notified all the stock
owners they could locate. These
men organized and agreed upon al
plan to guard the inside Of the build
ings. One of the caretakers was
placed ust inside each entrance of the
barns, with a heavy club in his hands,
ready to beat down any invader, Spe
cial deputies we're secured by the fair
officials and two we're placed around
the outside of each building with or
ders to patrol the exterior.
At 10 p. m. all the barns were lock-
cd, and the four guards at each struc-
ture spent the entire night guarding
the patrolling assigned to them. Ter
rife loss and great damage would
have followed the firing Of any of the
barns
Fair officials are inclined to be-
lieve that the destruction of their
property was plainly the work of an
incendiary. DR.. Dana M. Palmer,
commissioner of public health and
safety, and Sheriff Curt Ayers are
inclined, however, to believe that the
blaze started from crossed electric
light wire, or from cigar stub which
had been dropped in the grand stand.
No Report on Dips.
Ne report was made to either the
police or the sheriff's Office of dips
who worked at the county fair yes
terday afternoon, according to the
officials today. One man is reported
to have lost $50 and another 81 thru
their workings. The report reached
the police on the fair grounds in an
indirect way yesterday and several
suspects were picked up and question
ed but were allowed to go free.