Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1913 — VALPARAISO STUDENTS ENGAGE IN RIOT [ARTICLE]

VALPARAISO STUDENTS ENGAGE IN RIOT

Officers Use Their Guns to Restore Order—Many Arrests of Rioters Made. The Valparaiso Vidette of Friday evening’ gives the following account of a riot of the students of Valparaiso University which took place Thursday evening: A riot ensued last night when hundreds of students attempted to raid Memorial, opera house. City and county authorities were on the scene to receive, the clamoring university boys. Bricks, bottles and clubs were the weapons of the mob, while the squad of officers met the attack with swinging clubs "and drawn revolvers. Windows in the opera house and jail were broken, those in an interurban car were smashed with clubs, and an arc light at the Methodist church corner was knocked out by a brick. Windows and furniture in the Reddington resort on South Franklin avenue were broken, men were badly bruised and bleeding, and two students went to the hospital with broken arms. Nine were jailed, and Officers Stansell and Ritz were knocked down with clubs. The trouble began early. According to reports, one man with a dinner bell, which he procured at East hall, called the crowd together. Then' the march began to the business district. Five hundred strong the students mached through the streets. They were content for a time to shout and sing and race in mad confusion. Rushing along the sidewalk on Main street they ran over Marcus Breihdlz, and the old man was badly bruised. On Lafayette street they took charge of a tool wagon belongnig to Dille & Harris, contractors. On this the leader took his stand and was hauled over the streets till the crowd came to the front of the opera house. They were met by Manager

A. F. Heineman and Ernest Butler, who asked theiu.to leave. A young man from down town got into an argument with one of the number and brandished a club; then the riot began. Fight after fight ensued. Officers snatched from nut of the mob their first prisoner, a man by the name of Cooper. With his garments nearly torn off he was landed in Jail. Later McDonald was caught, and soon after Brown and Hull were captured. ; The first shots came from the guns of the officers when a rain of beer bottles came across the street in their direction from the opposite side of the thoroughfare. Every man whipped out his guns, and there was a rush of the crowd for safety while the shots were fired into the air. This act seemed for a while to have the desired effect, but some of the leaders of the university crowd amassed their men and marched aUay to the north. West of the Methodist church they found many bricks. With a fiendish de sire for revenge, they gathered them up by the score, and at this time one was thrown into the arc light on the corner. In the midst of the trouble, a false fire alarm was turned in, to which the company responded. This, it is thought,Twas a ruse on the part of the students to attract attention, that they might have more advanage. >

At all times plain'clothes men were on the heels of the angered students and kept the officers at Memorial theatre posted as to their movments. Running into the first telephone, one of them warned the amusement place of the impending danger, and when the mob returned it was met with determination by the officers. Now came the fusillade of bricks and stones at the ‘Jail and theatre, and again the shots rang out as the disorderlycrowd went rushing by hurling missies. Two windows in the jail were broken and one In the opera house. The excitement became intense. Officers were at a high pitch of anger; numerous threats were heard, both on the part of citizens and students, and it looked as though blood would be shed. “All Valparaiso people get out of the crowd," shouted a deputy; “we are going to shoot to kill,” and the crowd began to disperse, slowly but surely. In the west windows of the Jail sat men armed with heavy guns, and Sheriff Llndall carried a shotgun, with determination outlined in his features. Officers began to surge through the crowd ordering all to their homes, and some were arrested who refused to obey. While conditions were becoming normal at this point, trouble was brewing ' farther south, where a crowd was in conference on the corner of Monroe street and Franklin avenue. A little later the officers were called by telephone to the Reddlngton result, where it was re-

ported that the mob was demolishing the building and its contents, and Chief of Police Stansell and his men hurried in. that direction. At the Pennsylvania crossing they were met by a group, the members of which were signaling their comrades of the approach of the officers. In the attack on the student body at the Reddington house Gregg Stansell was knocked down with a club. The offenders soon were hurrying across the fields in the direction of the university. This morning the streets bore the relics of the wild night. Brick bats were strung far along Franklin av<s mie, and broken sticks were numerous. Ih the early hours students began to come down town, in hopes of seeing their friends in jail, or of being instrumental in obtaining their release. The officers remained firm. No one was allowed to enter the jail except those in authority. Mayor Spooner was appealed to, but could give little or nothing of a satisfying nature. Those in Jail are J. H. Dixon, John Orllff, Chauncey Farrell, John H. Brown, V. L. Cooper, William D. Darby, Loren Hull, J. A. McDonald and Haumbaski. Some of the students under arrest assert that they were Innocent bystanders. Friends of Dixon and Orliff secured the services of Attorney F. R. Marine to defend them. When Mr. Marine attempted to enter the jail he was refused admittance. He at once petitioned the court that he be allowed to talk to his clients, and Judge Bartholomew heard him at the noon hour. Affidavits were sworti out today for ten alleged violators of the law. One of the number is still at liberty. Two charges are preferred, one for disturbance of a publie meet ing and the other for rioting. Bonds were fixed by Judge Bartholomew at SBOO each. Prosecuting Attorney W. J. Fabing asked that the bonds be placed at $1,500. The hearing will be held late this evening.