street while, at least, four uniformed police officers watched. They then distributed the cigarettes and silverware amongst themselves as souvenirs. William F. Lee, a looter at Loper's restaurant, laughed as he recalled: Outside, the mob overturned Loper's car and lit the gas tank, destroying it. They threw the tables and chairs into the fire, making a bonfire with flames that reached as high as they third floor of the building. The mob danced around the bonfire in "frenzied delight and fiendish glee." Mayor Roy Reece arrived at the scene and begged the mob to disperse, but they threatened to "throw him to the fire too!" The mob held the mayor hostage for two hours before friends of his were able to extract him and bring him to safety. When a wagonload of police finally arrived, the mob dragged them from the wagon, confiscated their clubs and tore their insignia from their uniforms. Firemen also arrived, but the mob cut their fire hose with razors. By the time the 10 militiamen arrived, to a crowd now numbering about 5,000, they found "no disposition on the part of civil authorities to assist them." However, the militiamen conceded that they were "helpless" because, prior to leaving the State Arsenal to come to Loper's they only procured one box of rifles there, but found no ammunition in the building. In addition, Governor Deneen forbade the militia from using their Gatling gun and, for reasons never explained, the ammunition wagon that was assigned to come to them, never came. The few soldiers who were armed, were overrun, and their weapons were confiscated, by the mob. Once the crowd dispersed, a white 19-year-old rubber-necker, Louis Johnston, was found dead in the basement, with a shot in the neck. He was the first casualty of the events. Loper managed to escape the crowd, taking his family to Michigan for safety, where he would learn that the "riot" had voided out any insurance claim he might have sought. Loper would later say, of his decision to help the Sheriff: Around this time, Governor Deneen called for an increase of militiamen; realizing local authorities were overwhelmed. The "Levee" Around 10:00pm, the crowd moved to Washington Street, chanting, "Curse the day that Lincoln freed the niggers," "No niggers in Springfield," and "Kill 'em on sight!" They went to the Lyric Picture Show, also owned by Loper, on Spring and Edwards,