The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1882-11-10
MOB LAW IN KENTUCKY.


,aent rnh Dsdd and Ij'ouaded on Both Sides
CiNciNNArI o., November Ia kI.exington
Ny, special says; ..rhe troops guarding Neal
ANA ,roft, while On their way to The steamer
urnhite State, were attacked by mob. The
soldiers ii, ell and several were killed and wouu-
ded of the attacking party
Z ncinnati, November IA special dispatch
10 the Commercial from hsilan l, Kentucky says:
rms noon twenty-five men aud boys, partly in
toxlcated, seized an engine and car AMI went on
tn Cattlcsburg against the advice of sober men,
who last night gave up all hope Of getting the
prisoners from the military. When they reach
ell Caitiesburg they made no effort to capture
tue prisoners, who were safely placed on the
steamer Granite State. The crowd then has.
tened back to Ashland, and about twenty orthem
went to the ferry boat and by the use of pistols
compelled the captain TO put out TO intercept the
Granite State. Their attitude was so ridiculous
ana their case so hopeless that the affair would
have been farce but for the reckless discharge of
pistol in the hands Of one ofihe boys on the fer.
mont u was answered nj once by volley from
the soldiers The balls pit reed the b, he fer
ry boat and the escaping steam completely dis
aoied the mob. by this time great crowd had
gathered o. the banks Of the river and in houses.
The soldiers turned their guns on them and fired
without provocatior. Here mischief was done.
Only three W re wounde ! on the ferry boat VI lille
all the others on the casualty list were of the
pcaceab.e people on the shore.
Ihe following is n list Of the killed: George
keener, James Mcdonald Colonel Reppert aud
an infant in its mothers arms. Seven persons
were seriously wounded and thirteen slightly
wounded. Colonel Rcppsrt was highly respec.
ted citizen, 20 years old.
The citizens regard ihe6ring on the ferry boat rs
iustihabe but have no words to express their in.
dignation at the firing on peacenble citizeus.
IENISGroN, kY,Novenyber 2.-Mnjor Allan,
who cnmmnnd led the troops that escorted fpris-
oncrs Croft and Neal from Cattlesours TO this
city, mas made report regarding the attack by
Inc MOI upon the steamer Granite State. Major
Allan had for his command return tickets over
The Chesapeake aud Ohio Road and he intended
70 go back that way. but believing it to be unsafe
he made arrangements with the captain of the
Granite State, which went up TO Huntington that
evening, TO take them OH her return trip to Mays
'iiic. That night the troops, in expectation of
an attack from the mob from Ashland, were un-
der strict guard. At l0o'clock Wednesday noon
an order was given for the troops, to move down
the river front, Major Allan having learned in
the meantime that the mob from Ashland was on
It's way TO oCattlcitsburg The troops were march
cd down to the river front, the prisoners march
ing with guard detailed and with two com panies
to assist i'll guarding them the wharf and boat,
Inc rcnainder of the troops were posted on the
hill which commands the river front.
The different companies had barely been plac-
ed in position when the train arrived from Ash
land closely packed with n mob. This train
stopped i'll full view of the artillery and McCrary
Guards, y delegation Of twenty-five or thirty
men approached and called for Major Allan. lie
advanced iowa them about one hundred yards
III front ofthc troops. committee representing
the mob said to him that they came from Ashland
for the purpose of taking Neal and Croft peacca-
bly,, ii possible; if not then by force, that they
were2, 900 strong and could ovcrpower the troops
easily.
Their demand was pcremptorly refused and
l,. IL, =.
for the purpose Of upholding the law and in
obedience TO orders, and not to bulldoze or
impose upon the rights of any County. That
they did not desire q difficulty with anybody,
especially keniuckians, and would not partici-
pate in any difficulty unless il was forced upon
them and that if any difficulty occurred, the
responsibly for its results must res, upon the
mob.
The comm ittce then stated that if the troops
escaped from Cattlesburg with the prisoners they
would be met Mt Ashland by at least 1000 or =
500 determined men, supported by boat con-
tanning four cannon. The interview then ended.
The troops were withdrawn to the steamer Gran.
lite State under cover OF the cannon, which were
turned toward the mob until every s.liier had
embarked, and were the ndragged down the hill
and into the boat The boat then left for Ash
land with the troops and prisoners, ut the same
time the mob boarded the train and started TO
Ashland. When the poat arrived within few
miles of Ashland the train came i'm sight and ran
along the track which skirts the river front Mt
that point, at the same speed rs the boat: \
Ersat number of shots were fired from The train
nt the soldiers, but the range was too great and
the shots fell short. The shots were not respon-
ded to by the troops, the commanding officer or.
dcring that no shots be fired until necessary rs
Il means of defense.
Just SIS the Granite State approached Ashland
ferry boat containing, it is supposed, about one
hundred men, armed with muske:s. rifles and
shot guns, steamed from the land and approached
fhe Granite State, whsting q signal TO stop,
which the latter did not heed, but passed on.
When nearly opposite to the Granite State, apd
from 200 to 800 yards distant, great many
shots were fired from the ferry boat Mt the troops
woundng several of the soldiers. The command
was then given for the troops to return the fire
which they did, and quick spirited conflict en-.
suel for four or five minutes. The smoke stack
and hurricane deck of the Granite State were
well perforated by the bullets from the mob.
Four or five soldiers were wounded though not
seriously. The fire Of the troops was directed
entirely at the ferry boat containing the mob,
and not at the crowd collected on the bank
whch:.was very large and apparentl yvery enthu-
siasiic IN supporting the mob on the ferry boat.
In the engagement the ferry boat was
silenced, and after the mob on her had ceased
TO fire not single shot was fired by the troops.
The commanding officer while regretting hat
le was comPelled 10 take such StrohS ana ueau
ly mrans, feels'that they were forced upon him
and that the responsibility for the unfortunate
results rests entirely upon the men who attemp-
ted to take the law into their own hands.
Many shots were fired before and during the
conflict by persons OH the opposite II lie Of the
river at short range but il was by individuals
and not by any organized body and their shots
we're not returned by the soldiers.
y Row IN TmE CoURT ROOM st. Louis. No
vember 4.-lnth United States Court yesterday,
while cx. United States Senator John B. II ender-
son and Henry a. Cunningham were discussing
m order of the Court in case in which both
were concerned, Henderson remark ed that Gun.