The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-04-03

n lCPOIG vi Gue SITeeG GnlS morning
stated Berner had been re-captured
and hung at LoYeland. This, how
ever, proved groundleSs. Another
story Is that Berner, in running from
the crowd at Loyeland, ran into the
Miami river and was drowned. This
Is not improbable, as the night was
very dark, and no trace can be found
of him.
The whole county has been secured
by excited citizens, and if he is found
alive he will most certainly be
lynched.
Officer Mum died at four o'clock
from the effects of his wounds.
BERNER's CRIME
was that of assisting Joe Palmer,
colored, in the cold-blooded murder of
his employer, William II. Kirk, on
Christmas eve, for the purpose of rob
berry. Both he and Palmer confessed
the murder, but the jury found him
guilty only of manslaughter. And
this, with the fact that there are about
twenty other murdererS now
in Jail here, is what inflamed
the public mind. The feeling has by
no means been allayed by last nights
tragedies, and is growing not only
against the murderers but also
against the militia, upon whom the
whole responsibility of the loss of
life is placed.
Sheriff Hawkins had repulsed the
mob without bloodshed, and was hold
| ing them aloof when the militia en-
tered and fired in direct opposition to
general protests. The people do not
rest easy under the fact that Officer
Mum lost his life in trying to protect
the lives of worthless murderers.
The crowd around the jail soon
reached ten thousand people. There
seemed to be about two hundred
men in the LEAD, who took the initiative
in all steps, but said little. AS soon
as it was learned in the Jail that the
mob was outside, Sheriff Hawkins
called up Fire Marshal Bunker by tele-
phone, and the riot alarm was sounded
The sheriff and posse made
all preparation to repel an at,
tack. On the way tC
the Jail the mob secured long heavy
scantllng and used 1t as a battering
ram, aid began operations on the
north outside door and knocked a hole
large enough to admit mans body
through which the mob crowded thick
and fast, and about fifty mounted the
stairs. Here they were met by de
tail of police with the sheriff, and
forced back into the Jail Office. By this
time the mob on the outside had pro
cured a long, heavy board, and, plac
ing it in the iron railing in front Of
the Jail, pushed it through the window
in the second story. With this they
broke out the entire sash and shutters
and scrambled into the apartment Of
Jailer Brady. This successful move
encouraged the crowd, who rushed
for the south door, leading to the street
from the second story, which is here
on level with the pavement. This
soon gave way, and the mob went
through in great numbers. Tht
sheriff's force consisted of thirteen
men. When the mob entered these
withdrew hastily into the Jail proper
leaving between them and the mob the
heavy grated iron door which
separates the reception room from the
cell room. This is at the foot OF the
stairway leading up to the cell room
The reception room was damned, anC
the mob kept calling, "GiVe us
Berner !" "Give US johnson !" and
so on through the list of murderers
confined in the Jail. There seemed tC
beno leader. Finally, tall, muscular
negro began to give orders, and the
mob quickly obeyed. Space was clear
ed, and the plank used as battering
ram was brought to bear on the lror
door. Behind the door stood Sheriff
Hawkins and his men with drawn
revolvers. The sheriff said calmly
to the crowd that it meant death
to enter that door. The crowC
wondered moment and hesitated, anG
then the colored leader gave the word
Swing the plank" He was instantly
obeyed, and the gate trembled with
the shock. A mighty shout then went
up, and second stroke from the bat.
tering ram made the gate weaker per.
ceptibly. A third lOosened its
bolts, and it flew open. Sheriff Hawk.
ms had instructed his men not tC
spill blood, and he attempted to adj
dress the mob, but they flew by him
up the iron stairway to the cell room
They sought Berner, but soon discov,
cred he was gone; then they went tC
Johnson's cell, one of the N urderers OF
the Taylor family at Avondale
The Mortified prisoner suffered more
than death as he looked on the deter.
mined men outside. A powerful
plank was brought up to batter down
the door of the cell, but the small
space prevented it's use with effect
Besides deputy sheritfs caught hold
| of the plank and prevent
ed its being used. Meantime,
| Chief of Police Riley, hearing men
were in the jail, entered through the
court house and through tunnel to
the interior of the Jail. With his
combined force the men were put out
of the corridors and cells and the mob
seemed to be repulsed. Not shot
was fired up to this time by the for
ces within the Jail and the stairway
was again in possession of the sher-
ifs forces. Then a struggle began
for the iron gate, and the
colored ringleader was seized by
Lieutenant Dunn, struck on the head
and dragged inside, after which the
gate was closed. The battering ram,
broken in two, served as brace for
the gate, and the mob seemed re-
pulsed, and sorrow went out, spread
ing through the outside crowd, only
to infame the assailants to more
serious energy. Their effors were re-
doubled at all the entrances and the
southern gate to the yard was soon
broken down. Meantime the sheriff
sent an order to Col. Hunt, command
ing the first regiment of militia, to re-
port to him in the Jail with all the
men possible. Only about forty men
were on duty, and these went to the
jail, passing through the court house
and the tunnel already mentioned.
Here occurred the first bloodshed.
The farther end of the tunnel was
Mum and Vonseggern. As
the soldiers approached by threes,
with their guns pointed, Officer Won
Seggern threw up his hands and
shouted: For Gods sake don't shoot
here; you'll kill your friends!'' With
out needing the warning, the COM
mand to fire was given, and a volley
went rafting through the tunnel.
Officer Mum fell, pierced by five bull
lets. Won Seggern was shot in the
side of the head, and several Of the
militia were shot by their own guns.
This Yolley had the effect of clearing
the Jail, but for two hour.
thereafter efforts were made on the
outside to destroy the whole building
A barrel of coal oil was poured down
into the lower part of the Jail, and set
on fire, but the officers within managed
to eXtinguish it. A carpenters office
furnished some wood, and that also
was fired. but as the Jail is mainly
stone and iron, this effort was futile