onto the porch, out into his yard, and "across those [yards] of his neighbors for a distance of fully 100 feet." It was unknown how the fight transpired, but Ballard was reportedly "cut to ribbons" with a sharp weapon, presumed to have been a razor: After he was cut, Ballard allegedly "staggered back to the porch." Reportedly, Emma had been "a terror-stricken witness from the porch, and did not realize the severity of Ballard's wounds until he, weak from loss of blood, fell to the ground." Ballard would be labeled a hero who "undoubtedly prevented an outrage [rape]" against his daughter. Search for intruder The commotion failed to catch the attention of Ballard's firemen sons, Charles and, 24-year-old, Homer, who were also in the unlocked house, until Emma and Blanche allegedly called out to them. Homer and Charles ran outside, reportedly in their undergarments, and "gave chase" to the intruder, who had allegedly crossed the street and turned north, "toward the watch factory." Rather than continue to chase the assailant, Charles and Homer retreated back home, reportedly to help with their father. As they were helping Ballard off the ground, Ballard allegedly raised his head and pointed to a man standing in the "space between the two houses on the east side of Ninth Street." Ballard reportedly told his sons, "There's the negro now. For God's sakes, get him boys, for he's killed me." Charles and Homer left their father again, and the two "young athletes" chased the man who ran "northward." Some of Ballard's neighbors, who'd been alerted by Emma's calls, reportedly joined in the pursuit. The assailant, who had allegedly entered the Ballard home through the unlocked front door, reportedly outran those chasing him, with his speed noted as being "fleet of foot." Though some newspapers would report that the assailant outran the posse because he had "too much of a [head] start." The assailant reportedly ran north on Ninth Street (Homer Ballard would later state that he chased the assailant "north on Grand Street") and "disappeared in the grounds of the Illinois watch factory." However, other reports claimed that the assailant was seen "crashing into a tree" on the watch factory premises, but "staggered and continued on" until he disappeared among factory park trees. Ballard's family then brought him inside their home and tried to help him, but could not "stanch the gust of blood." Ballard could