The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-10-22
a rR1eHTTUr TRAGEDY.
In Which Number Of Lives are
Lost

In Which a Number of Lives are
Lost.
The most frightful and Hateful TRAGEDY
which ever occurred in this part of Vir'
ginia was enacted on the outskirts oil
Clifton Forge on Saturday and Saturday
nights last. The sad ending had its be
ginning in Clifton Forge shortly after
noon. Sometime Saturday morning six
negroes came to town from Big Hill
Hines, near Glen Wilton, making
threats that they were coming here ''to
take the town. which threat was con-
fessed by the negroes aftertheir capture.
The party was composed of Chas. Miller,
the leader Of the gang, from near Cen
treville, Bedford county: John Scott,
from Goochland county; Bob Burton,
from Amherst county VIM. Morton,
from Madison county; Bob Scott, from
Goochland county, and Ben Newton, I'm
known residence. They visited bar
on railroad avenue, and then went to
Grif1ith's, where they had themselves
photographed, Miller, the leader, with a
pistol in each hand, his arms crossed on
his breast. and with three others
displayed in his belt. He wore a broad
brimmed cowboy hat, and assumed
the appearance of a regular wild west
desperate. T hey visited several
stores where they made purchases
OF wearing apparel and other articles
They reappeared on railroad avenue
where they became boisterous, begin
ming by taking some chestnuts from a
colored youth and throwing them out,
which raised a quarrel A little farther
down officer Quinlan attempted to ar
rest one of them, when the rest drew
revolvers and caused his release. They
fore they would be taken. 1t is
difficult to obtain the details of what Oc-
Cured Immediately following, but Ser
geant Gleason started after them as they
made their way out of town, across the
bridge on the road leading to Iron Gate,
collecting posse as he went. Quite IL
number of persons accompanied him,
whose names we have been unable to
obtain. Among them. however, were p
A. Bowling and Fred Wilkinson The
pursuit continued until the party had
reached = point in the gap a short dis
lance this side of Iron Gate, about a
mile from the corporate limits of Clifton
Forge. Here the negroes were called
upon to halt and surrender. They re-
fused and opened fire upon their pursu-
ers. A general fight took place in which a
great many shots were fired and in which
Bowling was mortally wounded, Fred
Wilkinson badly but not fatally shot, land
Bob Burton, one of the negroes, had his
leg broken by bullet Others of the
negroes were wounded, no doubt, but
as they made their escape to the
mountain, at whose foot the fight oc-
CURED, it is not known certainly wheth
er they were shot at this place, or in sub
sequent fights in the mountain
Messengers were at once despatched
to Iron Gate, where a message was sent
to this place for a train, which was at
once sent for the injured. This was the
first news our citizens had that there
was any trouble. A large crowd went
down on this train and others followed
on foot. The wounded. including the
negro Burton, were placed on the train
and brought to Clifton Forge. Bowl
ing breathed his last about tile time he
was placed on the train. He was shot
through the fieshy part of the upper
arm, the ball missing the bone and pass
ing into the body under the arn-pit. 1t
is said that the bullet passed entirely
through his body Bowling was un-
armed and went into the crowd with
rocks in his hands. 1t is reported that
he struck Charles Miller with rock after
the negroes had their pistols pointed at
him and others. He was well -developed
man physically and very fearless. He
was son of DR.. Bowling, of the Scots
vile neighborhood in Albemarle county,
and had been breaking on the Chesa>
peake and Ohio for sometime. He was
married and lived in this place Fred
Wilkinson was shot through the upper
part of the calf of the right leg, a flesh
wound, and also through the groin, the
bullet glancing and passing around the
abdomen inside the skin. His wounds
are serious but not fatal. He is also, a
brakeman, and comes from Bedford
county. He is doing well at the Wick
am House. The negro Burton was plac-
ed in jail, where his leg was bandaged.
1t is settled that Miller shot Bowling
and Burton wounded Will1 inson.
Meanwhile, band of citizens was or
ganized from Clifton Forge and Iron
Gate, who, with the officers, were scour-
ing the mountain side in search of those
who escaped. They went on horse and
on foot, and were armed with Winches-
tiers and pistols. It is not known what
occurred in the mountains. Various
stories have been told, but it is certain
that resistance was made by the negroes
and that one or more fights took place
in, which the negroes were worsted.
About five o'clock three of them were
landed in Jail here, and a representative
Of the VIRGINIAN elected from the priss
oners that Charles Miller had been shot
three times and VIM. Morton twice
Whether these wounds were received at
the first encounter, or whether inflicted
afterwards in the mountain, is not Ger
tain.
These three, with Burton, who was
previously brought to Jail, accounted
for four of the six. 1t is reported that
Bob Scott received a severe wound in
the first encounter, and the general be-
lief is that he is lying in the mountain
dead. Ben Newton is supposed to be at
large.
In view of the fact, especially that the
killed and wounded of the posse were
railroad men, and that a large number
of railroad men reside here, it was more
than natural that strong feeling against
the prisoners should have existed; and
it was quite apparent all evening that
an attempt would be made to lynch
them. A fact unknown at the time and
known to but few yet, may be stated
here. The lynchers had an armed guard