Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 August 1908 — BULLETS FOR THE SOLDIERS [ARTICLE]

BULLETS FOR THE SOLDIERS

Two Patrols Fired on from Ambush, but No One Injured. Scattered sections of the city were in an uproar at different times during the early part of last night. Harvard park was again the stqrm center. Twice patrols were fired upon in that vicinity, but in neither case was any one injured. Over in the western end of town, in the vicinity of the state house and arsenal, there were several cases of revolver firing by rowdiea. The marauders traveled in groups of two or three, obeying the orders of militia patrols to keep moving, but as soon as they were ■ well passed the groups of soldiers they drew revolvers,fired into the air and fled down side streets, escaping in the darkness. Two small fires, apparently not connected with the rioting, added to tin. excitement and served to frighten the timid residents. As a consequence calls for troops were frequent and the militia had a hard night. A second attack was made on the militia from ambush from Fourteenth and Edward streets at midnight Lieutenant Case and, two privates of company A, Fourth infantry, were fired upon, the bullets kicking up the dust at their feet. oCmpany E, of the First infantry, was sent to the place, and as this detachment was about to return to headquarters another shot was fired, the missile striking the scabbord of Lieutenant Ridgeway. No one was injured and no arrests were made. George Cooper, one of the negro refugees at the arsenal, told a harrowing tale of bls experiences with his wife and two children. On Friday night when fire was spreading in the negro district, and windows were bong shattered by the howling mob. Cooper and his wife managed to escape in the darkness to the country. They walked till daylight, almost In a circle, they afterwards discovered, and then being near the village of Spaulding. they hid in a ditch till nightfall and one of the children, a baby, was taken The child cried Incessantly. ana slen white people were seen approaching the mother had to stifle its cries with her hand over the little one’s mouth. That night they left the ditch, still withput food, and started northward. They again saw citizens armed, and to avoid encountering them hid wherever shelter offered. At midnight they were still within a mile of the town, when troops were seen coming. The Spaulding people, it developed, had armed in fear of an invasion of negroes, but they returned to their homes when reassured by the troops. Ibe colored family later obtained shelter and food at the Spaulding jail. Governor Deneen states that upon proper requisition from the Kankakee authorities Private Joseph B. Klein. Co. A, Fret Infantry, who killed Earl Nelson, at Kankakee, Saturday last, will be turned over to the civil anthorities.