Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-03-30
OF CONFUSION AND HORROR.
" hat Maddened Mob Did Under the
Command OF a sable Leader-WhO
Was Responsible for the Taking OF
the Lives of Innocent Men:

Special 20 the REGISTER.
CINCINNATI, March 29-Last night the
crowd around the Jail soon reached ten
thousand people. There seemed to be
about two hundred men in the lead who
look the initiative in all steps but said
little. As soon as il was learned at the
Jail that the mob was outside, Sheriff Hsw-
kins called up Fire Marshal Bunker by
telephone and the riot alarm was sounded.
The Sheriff and his posse made all prepa-
ration to repel the attack. On their way
to the Jail the mob secured a long, heavy
scsntling and used il as q battering ram.
They began operations on the north out
side door and knocked hole large enough
to admit mans body, through which the
mob crowded thick and fast, and about
fifty mounted the stairs. Here they we're
met by detail of police, with the Sheriff,
and forced back into the Jail Office.
The Jail Broken Open
By this time the mob outside had pro-
cured long, heavy board and placingxit
on an iron railing in front of the Jail push
ed il through a window into the the sec
ond story. With this they broke out the
entire sash and inside shutters and scram-
bled into the apsrImentOf Of Jailor Brady.
This successful move encouraged the
crowd who made a rush for the south door
leading to the street from the second story
which is here level with the pavement.
This soon gave away and the mob went
through in great numbers. The Sherit's
force consisted of thirteen men. When
the mob entered these withdrew
hastily into the Jail proper leiy-
ing between them and the mob
The heavy grated.iron door which separates
the reception room from the cell room.
TEis is a. the fOet Of the stairway leading
I'D to the cell room, The reception room
Hss jammed and the mob kept calling give
us Berner, give US Johnson and so on
through the rest Of the murcererS confined
in the Jail.
Leader Found.
There seemed to be no leader. Finally
,sll n uscular negro began to give orders
snd the mob quickly obeyed. Space was
cleared and the plank used as a battering
ram was brought to bear against the iron
door. Behind the door stood Sherit
Hawkins and his men with drawn reVol-
yers. The sheriff said, calmly, that 1t
mt ant death 10 enter that door. The crowd
wayered a moment aud hesitsted, then the
colored leader gave the word: Swing the
plank" He was instantly obeyed, and as
the gate tren bled With the shock, Almighty
shout went up. A second stroke from the
battering ram made the gate weaken.
third loosened the bolts and it flew open.
Sheriff Hawkins had instructed his men
not to fire, as he did not wish TO spill
blood. He attempted to address the mob,
out they flew by him up the winding iron
stairway to the cell room. They sought
Berner but soon discovered he was gone.
Then they went 10 Johnson's cell, one OF
the mulderers of the Taylor family OF
Avondale. The horri6ed prisoner Suffered
more than death as he looked at the deter
mined men outside.
Johnson's Life Trembling In the Bal
ance.
\ powerful plank was brought up to
batter down the door Of the cell, but the
email space prevented it, besides the deputy
sheritfs caught bod OF the plank and pre-
vented it'being used. Meantime Chief OF
Police II lly hearing the men were IN the
is,l entered through the Court House
and through q tunnel from it 10 the
interior of the Jail With this combined
force the meu were put out OF the Corrl.
Iurs about the cells and the mob seemed
10 be repulsed. Not shot was fired up 70
this time by the forces within the jail.
TIE stairway MAS agaln IN possession OF
the sheriff's forces aud the struggle began
for the iron gate. The colored ringeader
was selzed by Lieutenant Dunn, struck on
the head and dragged inside. Then the
gale Was closed. Several others being ar
rested soout the same time the battering
ran was broken in TWO, which served as
brsce for the gate, the mob seemed re-
pulsed, and the story went out spreading
through the outside crowd only TO in
flame them 10 more seriOus efJrt. Their
efforts were redOu6.ed at all The entrances
and the southern gate 10 the ] all YAH Was
broken down.
The First BIoodshed.
Meantime Sheriff Hawkins sent an order
to Colonel Hunt, com handing the First
Regiment OF militia, TO report to him in
the jail as soon as possible. Only
Sd ut forty men were on duty
.rG they vea: to the Jail, passing through
he c. urt House tunnel already men
toned. Here occurred the first bloodshed.
Toe further end of the tunnel was guarded
oy ofti -ers Phil. Mum and Won Seggeru. As
he soldiers approached by threes with
guns pcinted, Officer Won Seggern threw
up his hands and shouted, For Gods sake
don't snoot here. You will kill your
friends" Without heediDg the warning,
the command to fire was given, and vol
ley went rolling through the t1nneL OH
Ger Mum fell, pierced by four balls.
William Won Ssggs-n was shot II the
side OF the hesd. Several OF the mil
itia were shot by their own guns. This
yoIley had the effect 10 clear the jail, but
for two hours thereafter .tfhrts we're msie
on the outside 10 destroy the whole build
irg 4 srrel Of COsl oil was poured down
into the lover part Of the jail srd set on
ire. but the officers within managed 10
ex x'ingUish il. The carpenters office fur
pishsd some wood and that sOoa was fired,
but as the ilil Is ~ sin. =. stone aud lroa this
etiur was futile. The crowd threw boul-
ders, fred pistols PROM s"uOlsly AZ the
windows and the UilitIs meantime hted
rom the windows st the crowd. Sheriff
Hawkins tried 10 contro! this firing 0y or.
dsrinE that not more than one man should
fi-a 81 oaA time. then ooly 10 frighten, not
10 kill. But TIA men were uncont-ollshle
sud fred at the crowd, doing deadly work.
Lister TIE crowd broke into the Veteran
armory aud Ns,tridge's gun store snf got
cTuRd had so Ibinnei out that 10 further
NIiUus alts n pI was made, and At halt past
tA.ce this morning quiet Was res ;ored.
Berner's Crime,
Bsrner's crime was assisting Joe Palmer,
colored, in the cold Dlooded murder OF his
employer, William II. Kirk. Christmas
eve for the purpose Of robbery. Both be
and Palmer confessed the murder but the
Jury found him guilty Of manslaughter.
This with the fact that about twenty other
untried murderers are in the Jail Is what
infiAmes the public mind. The feeling has
BY no means been sllAyed by last nights
tragedy and is growing not only against
the murdsrers but against the mili:s
upon whom the whole responsibility OF the
loss Of life is placed. Sheriff Hawkins had
repulsed the mob without bloodshed and
vas holding them at bay when the militia
entered and the firing Of the soldiers was
in direct opposition to the protest of officer
Yor Ssggern. The people do not rest easy
under the fact that officer Mum lost his
life trying to protect the lives Of worthless
murderers.
Colonel Hunts Story.
Colonel Hunt, commander OF the militia,
gives this version of the firing On the mob:
When We snsesvored to pass through the