On Saturday there was a troubled sort of peace, but at the same time
mass migrations of people out of and into of the city was taking place.
Fleeing out of Springfield were an estimated two or three thousand Negro
residents. A fair number never did return. Those who fled went on foot,
on horse back, by truck, and or by train. Some blacks found sanctuary at
Camp Lincoln and the State Arsenal. The State
Arsenal was the State headquarters of the National Guard and this was
where a good number of soldiers were stationed. In addition to that mass
exodus of people out of town there were two distinct groups coming into
Springfield. Curiosity seekers and tourists arrived because many of the
state's newspapers carried the news of the race riots in headline fashion.
The other group consisted of some five thousand troops of the Illinois National
Guard who were brought here from various communities throughout the state
and were eventually able to restore order in the Capitol. They were stationed
around Springfield and headquartered at the State Arsenal. It was amazing
that they were able to get organized and began to control the crowd as fast
as they did late Friday and early Saturday.
