The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-06-29

ence Of his MaksfY / would not give Of
Tense. would only ask you 70 think be
fore You do what you can not undo.N
There was no anger In his look, only I
lightning Of his lips, as he answered; "Fol
my part In this transaction, sir, / Am ready
10 take the responsibility. But am
only one Of 1900, every man OF whom has
sworn that this wretch shall die. We are
miners, sig, at work al day away from
home. We are forced to leave our wives
and children alone and unprotected. This
man violated the home OF one Of us. II
the law dealt with him the most 1t could
do would be to send him to jail for sixty
days. We must make an example OF him
that will strike terror among all Of his
kind. The safety Of our wives and chill
dren requires 1t 90, he must die and, sir,
Governor Matthews, backed by all the
military Of West Virginia, could not save
his life"
AT Charleston man entered the car at
Its forward door and began TO force his
way through the crowded aisle to where
the negro and we were seated. Rossler
rose instantly and, turning quickly TO me,
said; "You'd better get out Of the way
you may be hit. II Ia the brother OF the
woman, evidently coming to shoot the
prisoner"
The words were scarcely ont Of his
mouth when the rlngleader Of the mob
spraug to his feet, and vaulting over the
Intervening seats, threw himself upon the
newcomer and wrenching the revolver
from his hand, pinned him to the floor Of
the car, What followed l could not see,
except that soon the two rose TO their feet
and seated themselves beside each other
near the forward door,
All this time the negro had paid no at
tention to what was passing, Hel lay with
closed eyes, half reclining in his seat,
croning q low hymn, and every now and
then moaning: "Lord-dear Lord"
BRAVE RossLRR.
The blacksmith rose and pulled the bell
rope, Instantly the train slaCkened It's
pace and soon 1t came to a dead stand in
the midst Of q forest. With the first
movement Of the leader oil the mob Ros.
sler had risen to his feet, and now be
stepped into the aisle and stood directly
in front Of the negro, his hands in the
pocket Of his saCk'coat, but saying moth.
ing.
Soon the leader came toward us and
said to Rossler, "Plesse stand aside,
major. We want this man."
"Wh9t do you mean to do with him?"
asked Rossler.
"Hang him to the first tree"
"You can't do 1t here. am Sheriff of
this county, and 1t Is my business to see
the law respected in It."
ENapaa Tootn.n nnsJ A..
impatiently. mo nonsense. Stand aside,
or we shall have to force you. We are
five hundred to one, so stand aside"
"Not II you were live thousand 10 one,"
answered Rossler. " know my duty
You can't hang this man In this county.
II you attempt 1t, you will take the con.
sequenCes.n His voice was clear and his
manner collected as he said this, but in
his great dark eye was look which
plainly said he would be as good as his
word.
The blacksmith regarded Rossler stead,
lily with q sort Of grim smile, but he an.
swered with almost equal coolness 1--WE
all respect you, major, We wouldn't do
you harm, but we've promised that man
the brother OF the woman) to hang the
negro to the 6rst woods outside OF Charles.
ton. To keep our word we must do It"
"Then you will do 1t over my dead
body said Rossler, coolly taking his
hand in which was revolver from his
coat pocket; "and shall sell my life as
dearly as can. The price will be- yours
and perhaps q half dozen others. So
think OF 1t before you attempt to touch
the negro. Once over the creek into
Fayette | shall not interfere; here shall
as sure as you and / live"
While this was going on at least score
Of the rioters had gathered around their
leader, who now, stepping back a few
PAGES, held hurried consultation with
half.dozen OF them, Then he turned
again to Rossler, who still stood In front
Of the negro, the revolver in his hand,
and said: "Major Rossler, you're brave
man, and we respect you too much to do
you an injury. But there ls not another
man in Kanawha county that could make
US break our word"
"Then you will not murder the man in
this county"
ave will not hang him till we get to
Cannelton."
every we'll" answered Rossler, ~ will
take your word for 1t. only came along
to see you didn't do 1t here"
THE ACCOMPLISHMENT.
It was after midnight, but fully thou.
sand people were waiting at the station
when the train came to stop at Camel
ton, and as the mob In the cars poured
tumultuously out they set up yell that
shook the adjoining buildings and echoed
far away like some tumult from the infer.
nal regions. II was terrific but not 80 ter.
rife as the subdued, tiger.like growl that
sounded through the crowd when the me-
gro, an armed man on either side OF him,
stepped upon the platform. InstinCtively
he Tell back, trembling violently. But
this was but for moment only. He soon
Strengthened himself up, and then strobe
forward with firm and measured step to
the awful doom that awaited him.
The rest is better left 10 the imagina-
ton, though could picture the terrible
scene, all its details being burned deeply
into my memory that secluded spot on
the bank Of the Kanawha, the moon Just
sinking behind the distant hills, and its
slant glories silvering the peaceful river;
sombre branches OF the great oak under
which we stood swaying In the night wind
with q sort OF mourniul cadence, the surg
ing throng Of 1000 human beings, gazing,
silent and awe atruCk, up at the one
benighted soul about 10 pass into the still
darkness; and then-the dangling rope
and the appealing look on that poor fel.
lows face as he stood In the awful shadow.
But l turned away sick at heart, while his
soul CROPPED It's lonely way along the silent