Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-12-10
y AWFUL CARNAGE.
The People OF, birmingham Riseu up
in Mob Violence.
They Demand Vengeance Upon the Man
Who Committed the Most Brutal
Crime i'll Alabama's History.
Gun-Twenty Citizens Shot Down, Many
of Whom Will Die. >,
A BLOODY RIOT.

BIRMINGHAM, ALA, Dec, 9.-The dis
covery of Mrs. Halves, her terribly man
gled body and the blood-stained clothing
of the missing child reused the people of
this city to pitch never dreamed of.
Long before darkness set in the people
began to gather, first in groups, then in
crowds, and the crowds uniting formed
mass of surging humanity, all bent on
one object, that of vengeance upon the
man who had committed the most brutal
and bloody crime i'll the history of Ala
bama. -,
Sheriff Smith, well knowing the temper
,Of the people, had placed Il strong guard
Aat the jail and had placed i'll their charge
Ia gattling gun.
1 As midnight approached the people
centered about the jail.
At last their anger became uncOntrolla-
Bile and at l2:l5 an attack was made on
the Jail, defended by Sheriff Smith and
his sturdy little force.
4 hoarse warning came from the inside
"Stand off or suffer the consequences. -
For an instant the mob hesitated, then
those in advance pressed on by the crowd
in the rear
|. ..... MADE A DASH FOR THE JAIL.
HILL, cttllle Tie COululGIll lTOlil ILt
sheriff, followed an instant later by the
fatal word, "'fire. -
+ The deadly rattle of the rifles and re
.volvers i'll the hands of the guards was
.deepened by the heavier discharge of the
Calling gun
An answering fire came from the mob,
llIssa1in their blindness none of the shots
sBssfe well directed and none took effect e,
There were over 500 rounds discharged,
and when the smoke had cleared away,
what pitiable sight was there.
Bathed in their own blood lay at least
twenty Of Birmingham citizens, some
of them the best. Horror stricken at the
fearful work,
TIE MOB REITERATED.
e. No less than five Will die and seven are
seriously wounded.
Among those reported fatally shot are:
MAJOR KENNEDY, a prominent Repub-
lican politician, shot i'll both legs,
4. J. SHIELD, shot in the bowels, sup
posed fatally.
:" CHARLES BAILY, shot in the forehead
with the Calling gun, doubtless fatally.
C. f. TATTE, a miner, badly wounded.
1. c. CURD, occupation unknown, shot
in the groin with a Winchester rifle.
J. w. GILMORE, shot in the groin, will
die.
A man named SHRYER, Il brakeman,
shot in the back, supposed seriously.
As soon as the wounded were removed,
and before the mob could collect again,
the Birmingham Rifles and ZOuaves took
possession of all the approaches to the Jail.
Halves was unconcened during the
riot.
HOW TIE PEOPLE REGARD IT.
TL,NN npp q The
Americans special from Birmingham,
Ala, says: The defendants of last
night 5 wholesale slaughter are quoting
in behalf of its perpetrators that the
blood of the martyr is the seed of the
church. They declare that the killing was
done by sworn officers of the law in
the solemn discharge of their duty and
that this example of unterritied intent to
uphold the statutes in their majesty, Will
prove a valuable though tragic lesson to
mobs in the future. The public, however,
are not disposed thus philosophically to
look upon the terrible tragedy, and nine
citizens out of ten. in this fren-
zied city are in open denuncia-
ton of the awful crime. Men were
shot down who were neither mObberS nor
rioters to mob vengeance. Their dead
bodies when examined were not loaded
down with artillery, and none present
saw any Of those killed do
ANY ACT OF VIOLENCE
or commit any offense that could be con-
strued either as a crime or intent to COM
nit crime. ThrocSmOrton had no pistol
and was endaavorng to induce the crowd
to withdraw. To-day all through the
long hours of the Sabbath the blood
of the martyrs has crimsOned almost
nd ba limit Of Win
leuce is openly advocated for those
who last night fired the fatal
bullets. 1t is generally believed
that the recklessness and haste of
the sheriff in giving the command
to fire was assassination and it is stated
on all sides that the immense gathering
was not for the purpose at all of forcing
the Jail, but rather out of curiosity.
There was never any real danger of as
saults. -". -
The Age-Herald to-day gave'its read
ers several extra editions, and with wise
foresight, shaped its editorials and local
articles with. view to allay eX-
element and If possible prevent
any further trouble. There is no
calm, however, in the public mind and
excitement is far greater than twenty
four hours ago. In the light of last
night 5 terrors the Halves affair
HAS ALMOST DISAPPEARED,
and the Indignation expressed is directed
against Sheriff Smith and the posse who
let go the fearful volley. To-day the
city is military encampment.
The civil authorities have prac-
tically stepped down and out and
Colonel Tom Jones of Montgomery with
the thirteen military companies, is abso-
lutely in charge of affairs. The jail is
guarded by state troops with picket
lines extended several squares in every
direction and at each approach there
frowns the countenance of Il Calling gun.
Mounted scouts are sent out in the city
and at regular intervals acquaint Colonel
Jones with the condition of the public
mind and the prospects of an armed
rising by the people. The fire
bells sound military alarms and soldiers
in uniforms and armed with Winchester
rifles have desolated the principal streets
and driven back the thousands who have
all day been
LOOKING TOWARD THE JAIL.
The military was ordered out by Gov
ernor Seay from Montgomery, and with
the chief executive Colonel Jones is in
regular Geographic correspondence. In