The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1872-01-11
Rape, Riot and BlOOdshed,


For several days Of the past week the
daily papers were largely filed with the
details Of horrible affair at Rochester,
New York, 1t seems that a negro man
named Howard outraged little white
girl, and so injured her that her life was
despaircd Of. The negro was arrested
soon after and committed to jail; but
this did not satisfy the citizens, who as
scmbled in large numbers and manifest
ed determination to lynch him. The
police proving unable to restrain and
control the mob, several companies of
the military were called out, cannon
planted in the vicinity of the Jail, and
other preparations made to retain pos
session Of the prisoner. It does not APP
pear that there was any disposition to
shield or protect the guilty wretch from
the penalty due TO his horrible crime,
but decided resolution by the civil au-
thoritics to maintain the supremacy of
the law and punish him in accordance
with its provisions. The excitement,
however, continued to increase and the
mob to grow in numbers until the sec.
ond day, when some of the more tur-
bulent, as is alleged, commenced pelt-
ing the military with stones. at which
a charge Of bayonets was ordered ;-but.
instead of charging, a portion of the
troops fired upon the crowd, killing
two persons outright and wounding
several others. One of the victims of
this hasty action was citizen Of promi-
hence and responsibility, in no wise con-
nected with the attempt to lynch the
negro, but who happened to be in the
vicinity at the time. This
only seemed to increase the excitement.
and additional efforts were necessary to
keep the now Infatuated mass from ac-
complishing their purpose. But the au-
thorities were finally successful. and
succeeded in restoring order without a
further efiusion of blood.
The indignation against the military
for firing on the people without suffi-
cient provocation was general in the
city, and wherever a soldier subsequent
+ showed himself outside the ranks.
he was knocked down and roughly used.
If the published accounts are not gross
y exaggerated it was an ugly affair,
and tire atened consequences as fatal as
lie riot which crimsoned the streets of
New York with human blood last sum-
ner.
The following dispatch tells what ul-
became Of the negro:
ROCHESTER,. Jan. 5.-The negro How
nd was taken secretly TO the Court
House, and pleaded guilty. lie was
sentenced to twenty years hard labor,
md is now in Auburn penitentiary. He
was very happy to get safely within the
walls, putting his thumb to his nose and
making fun with his fingers to the
,rowd outside, as he went up the steps
Of the main hall.
Commenting in reference to the out
age and the riot, the New York Her.
lid says:
On this subject there is one point
which forces itself into painful promi-
renee, and which, in its consideration,
'annot be overwhelmingly, the pro-
which rightly or wrongly calls
'orth the passion of mob. We cannot
Illustrate this better than by the history
IF the deporable events of Tuesday
md yesterday at Rochester, There are
some nameless crimes whose commits
sion awakens the horror of every man
" woman worthy of the name; crimes
It whose depth of unnatural wicked
less humanity stands aghast, no matter
o what class or station the perpetrator
nay belong. But the aversion and hOr-
or which sickcn the hearts of the most
'efned take form among the vulgar and
in maddened rage and
hirst for swift and bloody revenge.
While we admit that this state of mind
'apidly fermening into murderous ac-
ion throws rather sinister light over
our civilization, which is ever supposed
o be able to protect itself against crime,
We cannot help recognizing that the
Hildness of the passion of the popu-
ace has its roots in sentiment Of hon
st human nature. In the case before
Is another, and, though abstractedly
alsc, vet fearfully strong, element en-
cred into what we have termed the
overwhelmingly, that the atrocious
criminal had around him the curse of
ace. He is negro. TO say that this
should have no weight in the case is fu-
lie; we are speaking CT facts. With
III our levelling and pulling down of
egal inequalities to place the colored
nan on q level with white men, the fact
'emains which no supplement of civil
lights can annihilate-the idea that he
belongs to an inferior race. You can-
lot legislate away sentiment, or If YOU |
ry it you will fail. A crime i'm one of
uch scorned race appears more crimi-
;al and revolving than in one of any
,ther, and it would be hard even for
he most rational white man to deny to
himself that such is the case.
A Radical BugabOO Exposed.
An unknown man came into Sedalia,
Missouri, few days ago from Saline
ounty, in that State, and told dread
III story of the bntchery of negroes by
he KnklnX of that county. Five moor