The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-09-22
Plumber and SET His House on Fire
Let Us Have Peace.

we nave TO chronicle, THIS morning,
one of the most diabDlical and terrible
affairs that has ever been perpetrated in
this community, even used as we are to
tragedy in all.its forms, riyaling in at
rocity any of the stories which come to
us in almost every exchange from our
unhappy, bleeding State, showing in the
most vivid colers the horrors of the ne
gro rule whicHis now rioting in carni-
val of hlspd from one end of the State
to the er The circumstances, which
we CLEAN from various sources, are as
follows: About three o'clock yesterday
morning, Mr.. r. A. Alexander, apeace-
full, quiet gentleman, who lived on the
fernando road, about three and a half
miles from town, just this side of Cane
creek bridge, was aroused by hearing
his name called by some one at the Win
dow of his bed room. He asked who
was there, and the answer was ''some
one who wished to see him on particular
business" Without suspecting any
treachery, he arose and struck light,
and as soon as he did so two shots were
fired at him by the party at the window.
Mrs. Alexander; who was in the bed,
sprang up, terribly frightened, and rush
ing to the door, threw it open, and, max
ing her escape, ran toward the house of
the nearest neighbor. As soon as the
door was open d, another shot was fired
at Mr.. Alexander. this time five buck
shots taking effect. He did not fall,
however, and while trying to shut the
door, four negroes armed to their teeth,
sprang into the room and seized him.
He struggled manfully with the miscre-
ants, but in vain. One of them placing
pistol against his breast, attempted to
fire it, but in the Struggle the muzzle of
the weapon was knockedup and the shot
did not harm the intended victim. One
of the brutes struck him over the head
with gun or club felled him to the floor
and then with sticks and a piece of stone,
beat him terribly about the head. He
still struggled, however. and attempted
to rise to his feet, even after the cruel
punishment he had received, but as he
rose shot fired by some one from with
out, struck him in the head and brought
him down. He became senseless from
loss of blood and pain, in which situa-
ton he remained until he was found by
the neighbors, whom Mrs. Alexander
had reused and brought to his aid.
Meanwhile the demons, afe' dispos-
ing of Mr.. Alexander, commenced an
indiscriminate plunder of the house,
taking everything they could get their
hands upon, and completely cutting it.
Then to cover up their dcvilish work,
they got some straw and bedding. and
p;ling it upon the floor, set the house
on fire aud made theirdeparture, leaving
Mr.. Alexander sen seless and helpless at
the mercy Of the flames.
Mrs. Alexander, after making her cs-
cape, went to the house of a neigEbor,
whom she reused, and who, with help
rom others, repaired to the scene, where
hey found the devils gone, and affairs
N the condition we have described
Owing to the dalnpness Oh the infianna-
bic material used by them to ignite the
house, the fire had not made much head
way, and was easily checked. Mr.. Alex !
lnder was Immediately attended to, and
received surgical aid, but we are inform
ID that it is impossible for him to sur
i've, and he is, probably, ere this a
victim to the infamous
md horrible Radical rule, which is, even
low, arming and drilling the negroes,
md preaching to them such deeds as
would make the devil blush.
Mr.. w. J. Saint, the neighbor who as
listed Mr.. Alexander, along with some
,thers, from the description of one of
he negroes, as given by Mrs. Alexander
rrcstcd one Nose Crockett, brought
i'm to the city and deposited him
n the First district station-house.
Col. Beaumont was notified of the
flair at an early hour, snd very prompt
Y went out to the scene, taking q force
long with him. Up to writing, Crock
tt is the only one arrested, but Col.
}eaumont will, no doubt, have the bal
nee of them before many hours rolls
'ver their iiendish heads. A vigilance
should then be allowed to
Al