The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-06-29
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Graphically Described by an EyO'wilnsll
mOjqr R0Sslera Courage,
Rtilgayd RlrA IN Philadelphia PFetl.
We found Charleston in great excite
ment over accounts Of an attempted out
rage by o negro at oRnnelton, q mimi
hamlet on the railway, about twenty.hy
miles to the eastward. The man had fed
but the whole country was up, and
seemed certain that he would bs run I
ground before many days, He wa
known to be somewhere within Q radiu
Of hundred miles, and the telegraph hR'
put a Gordon round about him through
which it was next to impossible for him I,
break without capture. AT last came lid
ings that he had been taken at PaFkers
burg and safely lodged in custody OF TIL
Marshal Of Huntington,
The train with the criminal was con
slderably behind the schedule time, anC
it arrived crowded with a mob Of miner
who had taken torclble possession OF 1t a
Cannelton, and were esCorting the Sheriff
OF Fayette county on his way 10 take thu
negro from the huntington authorities
Undoubtedly the Sheriff and his posse O
twenty stout men would be able to con
duct the prisoner safely to the scene O
his crime; but the mob had already con
VlCted and sentenced him,
As We approached Huntington the
train conductor came to me and said
"Sir, the mob intend to burn the negro
1t must not be allowed, It would dis
grace the State. Cant something be done
topreVent it2"
Eyes, Warn the Huntington Marshal
OF their intention. He will refuse to de-
liver up the prisoner.
He can't refuse. The law obliges him
to deliver the negro to the Fayette sher
III; and II he slould refuse, the mob
would take the man by force. They are
all sober, determined men, and armed tC
the teeth"
"Then this part Of West Virginia is Just
now under mob rule. Your only way Il
to appeal to the humanity OF the leaders"
VI have done that but they are i'm.
movable, But il you, q gentleman from
another State, should represent to them
the damage 1t would do US II 1t went
abroad, it might have some influence
with them"
COMPASSIONATE CONDUCTOR.
The conductor was, lie said, a Virginian,
and 30 not directly interested In sustain.
ing the good name ei West Virginia; still
he would be sorry to have the Contem.
plated barbarity committed, and would be
glad II / would do what could to prevent
1t. II involved an all'night excursion
with crowd Of desperate men, organized
to do capital crime, and l could not see
how anything | might say would swerye
them from their purpose; but when the
conductor again urged my going, and Of
tered to accompany mo, decided to Join
the law.breaking expedition. So in hall
an hour was seated In the car with the
leaders OF the mob aud the Inflated negro,
and on my way to Cannelton.
In the Train at starting were four cars
and about 200 passengers; but at every
station the mob received additions, and
before We had arrived at Charleston not
only every seat and standing place was
occupied, but the roofs OF the cars were 30
loaded down with people that there was
actual danger Of the crowd breaking
through and crashing down upon US. And
such a crowd! Ragged, filthy, In all sorts
OF costumes and redolent OF whisky, bad
tobacco and other vile odors. But the
leaders were cool, determined men, and
they seemed as intent upon having the
life OF that one wretChed human creature
"a II he had done each one OF them an
objectionable injury. What hope was
there OF reaching the reason or arousing
the better feelings Of such men-too call.
GUS to all appearance to feel either pity or
remorse2 The Marshal had seated the
conductor and myself in close proximity
TO the negro, who was heavily ironed and
surrounded by the Sherifl's officers; and
on the seat in front and facing us was the
Sheriff Of Kanswha county.
THE MAN NAMED RossLRR.
This man deserves a few words Of de.
scription. Though only little above the
medium height, he seemed a Hercules.
His chest was deep, his shoulders were
very broad, his arms long and muscular,
and he had that look Of conscious power
which usually accompanies great physical
strength. A glance was enough 10 show
that he was man OF more than ordinary
armness and resolution. Latter l learned
something Of his history. His name was
Rossler. He had served in the Union
Army throughout the war, and entering
1t as a private had risen TO the rank OF
major. Soon after the war closed, though
a Republican, he was elected sheriff in a
district strongly Democratic, and this OF.
flee he had now held for many years, to
the great terror OF evil.doors.
The conductor explained to him why
we were In such questionable company,
when he said: Say nothing to them now.
It will do no good till they lave taken the
man out Of the hands Of the Fayette Sher-
III. They will do that soon. II was all
understood before they left Cannelton."
In other words, the Fayette Sheriff and
his sham posse had gone on to Hunting.
ton to receive the prisoner, with the full
understanding that he should be taken
out Of their hands and barbarously muir.
dered by a mob. We soon had evidence
OF this understanding.
Abreast and by the side OF the prisoner
were three armed men, aud seated oppo-
site or standing near by in the aisle were
the remainder OF the Sherif's posse Of
twenty. This was the situation when hall
a dozen Of the mob gathered about the
prisoner, and one Of them said to the
Fayette Sheriff.
Az H. o. a 4 a
OF this man."
Then the Sheriff answered, as II repeat.
ing words previously Conned over: "This
is contrary to law, gentlemen. must
protest against IL 1yield only to sups'
rior foVCe."
Then, without another word, the men
guarding the prisoner gave up their seats