Springfield 1908 Race Riot: The 1907 Dorris Touring Car Destroyed by Mob and Ad

This ad shows a 1907 Dorris Touring Car and their agents throughout the United States. Harry Loper is listed as an agent for Springfield, Illinois. Loper used his Dorris Touring car in 1908 to help Sheriff Werner remove African American prisoners accused of assaulting Whites, from the jail to safety in Bloomington, Illinois. This action outraged many of Springfield's White citizens and Loper's car was destroyed and the 1908 Race Riot began.    The first photo features the car in an ad from Reisch Brewing Company's Gold Top Beer, that shows Harry T. Loper in his Dorris Touring car.