Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1884-04-05
FIRE AND. FURY
THE REIGN or TERRoRl
Awful Scenes ia Cincinnati.

= W4u3 pC000o ~ t11tdoootis
The indignation over the Berne
verdict reached fever heat last Fri
day night at the close of the mass
meeting in Music Hall, when larg
er part Of the great crowd present
moved toward the county Jail, where
it was supposed Berner was incarce
rated. The main leaders of the mol
and they numbered several hundred
made their way to the entrance oil
the Jail, OH Sycamore street, and in a
very few minutes, broke down the
doors and were in the Office. Here
they broke down the double iron door
leading to the celi-room, and In a
few minutes the stairways leading
up to the tier of cells and the land
ings were thronRed with an angry
crowd. The riot alarm was sound
ed for the first time since the great
railroad riot in 1877, and
THE GREATEST EXCITEMENT PRE-
| VAILED.
All the streets leading toward the
jail were soon filled with people hur-
rying toward the scene. A riot alarm
from such neighborhood, particu-
larry at this time, was easily under
stood to be for trouble at the Jail and
the mob, at tirst so large, was soon
/ inn ftvt oi,.
reached several thousand in number.
On the way down several of the lead
ers stopped at lumber pile on the
little street north of the Jail and So
cured long, heavy scantling. This
was carried by several men, who us.
ed it rs Il sort OF a battering ram.
They begai, operations OH the north
outside door aud soon knocked hole
large enough to admit a mans body
in the inside door. On the arrival
of the policemen in response to the
alarm, shooting occurred, and at the
first shot young man sank to the
pavement. Having broken down
the front gate and gained access to
the stairway leading to the cell tiers
the mob crowded in thick and fast,
and about City Of them mounted the
stairs. The crowd inside constantly
increased, until finally some man
called to the crowd coming ia to stay
back, that there were too many In
already for any work to be done.
They obeyed the command, and did
not crowd in so fast.
With hammers and crowbars they
went to work. stimulated by the yells
and cries of the crowd outside.
From the tunnel or private way to
to the Jail the wild cries of the mob
in possession could be heard. A few
policemen were to be seen among
them, but it was evident they were
powerless. The small group Of men
In the tunnel, in charge of deputies
looked grim and desperate, as they
opened the doors to admit reinforce
ments. They had strict orders to
use no force in ejecting the crowd.
A BRAVE BOY.
While the officers were knocking
for admittance diminutive messen-
ger-boy appeared with q message for
Sheriff Hawkins. No amount Of
persuasion could induce him to trust
the message to any one else, and in
he went, while powders were flying
and great hammers were sending
sparks from the strong iron locks,
and delivered the message. He was
but q child, but many man would
have done less under like circum-
stances.
THE POLICE,
Who did not appear to have much
heart In the job-indeed, all express
ed themselves in sympathy with the
citizens -obeyed the orders given,
and, without using clubs or showing
q weapon, tried To force the attack
ing party down stairs, and finally
succeeded. The hrst crush was 4
rathoE good natured affair, and oc-
cured shortly after ten O'Clock. a
crowd, numbering possibly fifty men
entered by the front doors and got
upstairs and began the search for
the prisoner.
The sheriff, about eleven O'Clock
called for the militia, ordering them
to come by the way of the tunnel.
While waiting for the troops an ex-
citing episode took place. The mob
broke open both the front and side
entrances at the same moment, and
began pouring in. The police met
them, and the maces were brought
into play. Those who seemed to be
in the lead were seized and hurried
through into the tunnel, and held
there under guard and their weapons
taken away 1t was in the midst OF
this that pistols flashed In the air for
the first time. No one WAS safe,
powders were flying like hail in
among the defenders. Suddenly and