Troops Sent to Duluth by the Governor.
Type of event: Lynchings
Location: Duluth; St. Louis County; Minnesota; United States
Citation:
Duluth Herald, June 16, 1920, page 1, 14.
“Troops Sent to Duluth by the Governor”
Image text
Troops Sent to Duluth by The Governor
Acts in Response to Telegraphic Request by Sheriff
Magie
Two Companies Arrive at 8A.M. From Fort Snelling
Camp
Accompanied by Adjt.-Gen. Rhinow and Other
Officers
Answering a telegraphed call for assistance, made on the governor by
county, two companies of state troops arrived at 8 o’clock this morning
from Fort Snelling, where the National Guard is in camp. Since quiet reigns,
now that the fury of the mob is spent, it is likely that the troops will be sent
back to Snelling some time today. They are accompanied by Adjt. Gen. W. F.
Rhinow, who is consulting with city and county authorities as to what is
advisable to do. They left St. Paul at 1:30 this morning, the regular train
from there being held to take the soldiers. The two companies are H. of
Faribault, commanded by Senior Capt. W. P. Townsend, and comprising fifty-five
men, and Company I of Long Prairie, in command of Capt. W. A. Miller, and
consisting of seventy-five men. Both companies are of the Sixth Minnesota
infantry.
Hurry Call Sent.
When it became apparent last night that the police and what deputy sheriffs
who could be summoned in time, were unable to cope with the situation and
control the mob that stormed the city jail to get the Negroes said to be
implicated in the assault of a young West Duluth girl on the circus grounds the
night before, Sheriff Magie sent a hurry call to the governor asking that troops
be dispatched at once, as the situation here was very grave. The sheriff urged
upon the governor that the need was so apparent and pressing that no delay
should be countenanced in getting the troops here.
It looked then as though
the mob, infuriated to a degree never before seen in this part of the country
had
(Continued on page 14, second column.)
TROOPS SENT TO DULUTH BY THE GOVERNOR
(Continued from
page 1.)
lost all control of itself and that the limit of damage and loss of life might be far greater than the immediate object of the rabble embraced. The sheriff realized that with the rage of rioters at the point reached anything might happen and lawlessness of all kinds might break forth similar to the condition that existed in Boston when the police strike took place.
Response Immediate.
The response of the governor was immediate. He ordered Adjt.-Gen Rhinow,
who was with the state troops at Fort Snelling, to take two companies and
entrain at once for Duluth. The regular Northern Pacific train, which leaves
St. Paul shortly before midnight, was ordered held and the two companies
selected from the encampment were equipped and put on the train at the earliest
possible hour.
That the lust of the mob was satisfied when the Negro victims
were dead and the rioters then disappeared, the mob dispersing as if by magic,
is regarded as one of the amazing things of the night’s happening.
Instead of a continuation of rioting and further lawlessness of various sorts,
when the lynching – the object of the rioters – was accomplished the
members of the mob dropped their bloodthirsty attitude and melted away so
quickly as to make it a appear to people who arrived late upon the scene as
almost impossible that such tragedy had happened.
This relapse into the
everyday humdrum of life apparently has made the continued presence of the state
troops unnecessary, and unless there are further indication of trouble, they
will probably return to Snelling some time today.