The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1888-12-13
THE BIRMINGHAM RIOT.
Statement or An Eye Witness To The
Riot,

Statement or An Eye Witness To The
Riot.
Memphis Avalanche.
Mr. David Bell, OF Louisville, KY,
arrivedin this city last evening from
Birmingham and is registered at Gas
toms hotel. He left Birmingham
yesterday morning at Z o'clock, and
was there during the riot Saturday.
night. In speaking of the matter to
an Avalanch reporter last night he
said cit was the widest, maddest
and saddest night that Birmingham
has ever known. The news of the
finding of HAYES wife in the lake and
how horrible her body was mutiated
reached the city about 1890 o'clock
in the afternoon. The story spread
rapidly, and men gathered in groups
Of from dozen to fifty to discuss it.
There was but opinion, and that was
Halves should be killed. The Off
GERS in charge Of him endeavored to
counteraCt public sentiment by circu-
lating the report that he had been
spirited away from the Jail and was on
his way to another county for safe
keeping. This report had a good ei-
tect for several hours, and cooler
heads busted themselves with coun-
selling the Preservation of law and
peace. For awhile it seemed the
threatened violence would be averted,
but when it became known that
Halves was still in the Jail, public fury
broke out afresh and scores of men
openly declared that they would have
Halves life at the peril Of of their own
The crowd increased until it number
ed five or six hundred, and they were
q respectable class of men. The mayor
and sheriff promptly warned the men
that if they attempted to take Halves
there would be blOodshed. | walked
down to the Jail early in the afteroor
and saw that it was heavily guarded
by determined-looking set of men
In addition to the guard on the
grounds about the Jail a strong squad
was placed on top of the Jail and the
windows OF the new courthouse II
course of erection just opposite were
| picketed with men armed with repeat
ing rifles and shotguns. The appeal
OF the councillors for peace and tn,
officers were all in vain, and when TIT
mob started for the Jail they mean
business, though but very few of then
were armed. They made a rush OF
the Jail and were net with a deadl,
volley of lead. OF course they fed
few OF them returning the fire will
pistols. A number Of the killed ant
wounded were brought to the hote
where | was stopping, and the scene
around there were terribly exciting
Men not in the mob swore vengeanc,
against the officere who had shot dow
the citizens, and for time it looked
as if the whole town was going to ris
en- mass and march to the Jail.
they had done so the consequence
would have been terrible. The trOu
3 BILE is not yet ended, and the indica
, lions were, when | left there thi
] morning, the killing of the citizen
. would be avenged. have never seel
people more excited, and | fea
! the will inaugurate a regular reign O
terror.
! "The sheriff should not have sho
I those men. He should have made hi
t men fire blank cartridges, for one rounC
az least, and if that did not have tn
3 desired effect, then the serious worI
I could have been begun. The crime
OF Halves are the most henious ! hay
ever heard Of, and no death woul
, have been to horrible for him.
think the people Of Birmingham vii