Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-04-09

yOsAA6 AAoA WIZ OAA0O OuoS IL 0nO JUL:
Come on, follow me, and hang Berner!"
Although there might have been an in
tenti0n to organize mob, this was the
first time it found vent in q de-
cided expression. The cry was
soon taken up and spread rapidly. The
crowd around the Jail soon reached TO-.
600 people. There seemed to be about
200 men in the lead, who took the in
itiative in all steps, but said little. As
soon as it was learned in the Jail that
there was mob outside Sheriff Hawk
ins called up Fire Marshal Bunker by
telephone and riot alarm was sounded.
The sheriff and posse made all prepara-
tions to repel an attack. On the way
to the Jail the mob secured long,
heavy scantling and used it as
q battering ram. They began
operations on the north outside door
and knocked hole large enough to ad-
nit mans body, through which the
mob crowded thick and fast and about
fifty mounted the stairs. There they
were met by detail of police and the
sheriff, and were forced back into the
jail Office. By this time the mob outside
had procured long, heavy
board and placing it in the
iron railing in front of the Jail
pushed it through window into the
second story. With this they broke
out the entire sash and inside shutters
aud scrambled into the apartment OF
Jailer Brady, This successful move en-.
couraged the crowd, who made a rush
for the south door leading to tho street
from the second story, which is here
level with the pavement. This soon gave
way, and the mob went through in great
plumbers. The sheriff force consisted of
thirteen men. When themobe entered these
withdrew into the jail proper, leaving
between them and the mob the heavy
grated IRON door which separates the re-
ception. room from the cell-room. This
is at the foot of the stairway leading up
to the cell.room. The reception>room
was jammed, and the mob kept calling,
"Give us Berner! Give us Johnson!"
and SO on through the list of murderers
confined in the Jail. There seemed to
be no leader. Finally a tall, muscular
negro began to give orders and the mob
quickly obeyed. A space was cleared
and the plank used as batteripg gram
was brought to bear against the iron
door. Behind the door stood Sheriff
Hawkins and his men with drawn re-
volvers. The sheriff sold calmly that
it meant death to enter that door.
The crowd wavered q moment and
hesitated, then the colored leader
gave the word to swing the plank. lie
was instantly obeyed and the gate trem.
bled with the shock. A mighty shout
went up. Asecond stroke from the bat.
tering ram made the gate weaken per-
ceptibly, a third loosened it's bolts, and
it few open. Sheriff Hawkins had in
structed his men not to fire, as he did
not wish to spill blood. He attempted
to address the mob but they flew by him
up the winding iron stairway to the cell
room. They sought Berner, but soon
discovered that he was gone. Then
they went to the cell of johnson, one of
the murderers of the Taylor family, at
Avondale. Tho Mortified prisoner suf-
fered more than death as he looked on
the determined men outside. A power
full plank was brought up to batter down
the door of the cell, but the small space
prevented it's use with effect; besides, the
deputy sheriffs caught hold of the plank
and prevented it's being used. Mean.
time Chief of Police Reilly, hearing that
the men were in the jail, entered through
the courthouse and through the tunnel
from it to the interior of tho jail. With
this combined force the men were put
out of the corridors about the cells and
the mob seemed to be repulsed.
Not a shot was fred up to
this time by the forces within
the Jail. The stairway was again in the
possession of the sheriff's forces and
struggle began for the iron gate. The
colored ring leader was seized by Lieut..
Dunn, struck on the head and dragged
inside. Then the gate wss closed.
Several others we're arrested about the
same time. The battering ram broken
in two served as brace for the
gate. The mob seemed to be re-
pulsed and the story went out
through the crowd inflaming it to more
serious efforts. Endeavors were eredonbled
at all the entrances and the southern
gate to the jail yard was broken down.
Meantime Sheriff Hawkins sent an or
der to Col. Hunt, commanding the First
Regiment of militia to report to him in
the Jail with all the men possible. Only
forty men were on duty and those 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 guarded
by Officers Phil Num- and Won Seq
germ: As the soldiers appeared by
threes, with gums pointed, Officer
Won Seggern threw up his hands
and shouted: ':For Gods sake,
don't shoot here; you'll kill your
friends!" Without needing the warning,
the command s'fire'' was given and q
volley went rafting through the tunnel.
Officer Mum fell, pierced by four balls.
Won Seggern was shot in the side of the
head. Several of the militia were
shot by their own guns. This
for two hours 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
officials within managed to extinguish
the flames. The carpenters room fur
nished some wood and that also was
fired, bat as the Jail is mainly stone and
iron this effort was futile. The crowd
threw powders and fred pistols
promiscuously at the windows
and the militia meantime fired
from the windows ct the crowd. Sheriff
Hawkins tried to control this firing by
ordering that no more than one man
fire at time, and then only to fright
en-, not to kill; but the Man were un..
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