National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-22
The Mild and Gentle Bourbons.

In Florida, where dwell what Jefferson
called an enterprising minority" of men
who, by superior physical force and
trick of the weapon" control public
affairs, there are stern and inexorable
ministers of the law who chain negroes
to the floor of a Jail to keep
them from breaking through the
walls. This is found to be especially
necessary where the negroes add to the
alleged land conveniently manufactured)
atrocity of chicken stealing, the hideous
enormity of appearing as witnesses IN
congressional contested election cases.
There are, as our readers are aware,
two contests for seats in Congress i'll
Florida. The law provides for the
taking of testimony before United States
commissioners, for use by the Congress
on the hearing and determination of the
case. The Florida Bourbons have en-
gagged in most villainous methods to pre-
vent the collection of proofs of their
abominable swindling and violence IN
elections. A common thing is to have
specially damaging testimony suppressed
by false accusations against the witnesses,
followed by their arrest and incarceration
in Jail. Foursuch witnesses were some time
ago imprisoned where they would be
powerless to harm the bold Bourbons
who had braved the penitentiary in order
to seize a seat in Congress for one of their
friends. The following, from a Demo-
cratic journal, the Quincy (Florida)
Herald, of March II, shows what became
of them:
Shortly after four o'clock yesterday morning
such of citizens as reside in the vicinity of the
county Jail were startled by wild alarm of fire,
while loud and frenzied outcries of a number of
colored women who had already gathered pro-
claimed that some more than ordinary calamity
was about to transpire. As near as can be learned
by the time the first white person reached
the spot smoke and flames were pouring
rapidly from the upper northeast window of the
jail, and the interior of that portion of the building
was probably wholly abiaze at that time. Four
negroes were confined in the upper west room,
two of whom were chained TO a bull-ring " in
the middle of the floor, and their imminent peril
of a horrible death created the utmost conserna-
ton among those outside the building. The jailor,
NOWHERE To BE FOUND.
Mr.. A W. Snider had in his possession the keys
to the lower door, which he opened Immediately
he being among the very first arrive The door of
the cell containing the prisoners still locked,
and no person, save the jailor. could open it.
Every effort made to tind him, but to no avail
The doors being of iron, resisted the efforts
made to batter them down. At last it became evil
dent that nothing could be done to aid the suf-
feTers. No one outside could aid them those in
side were powerless.
FRIGHTFUL FATE
As the flames gradually spread to the room con-
tanning the prisoners their prayers, groans, and
cries of agony were heartrending in the extreme
Appearing at the window in plain view of the
crowd they implored wildly for help, but none
could give them aid. The clanking Of their chains
was plainly heard, and at last the cries were
hushed, and with . crash, as the floor gave way,
they sank into the horrible hell beneath. Up to
this time no trace of them has been found. The
names Of the unhappy victims of this terrible dis
aster are Cain Boue, Nose Johnson, George Thomas
and George Coklin.
The manly editor of the Herald closes
his account with the following indignant
demand for an investigation:
The origin of the fire is yet profound mys-
terry. 1t is a case which demands prompt and
thorough investigation. If the burning of these
unfortunate men was the result of criminal negli-
gence the part of the jailor, he should be prop
erly dealt with according to law. If it the act
of an incendiary, it is crime black and damnable
and no punishment too severe could be meted out
tn the wicked perpptfators