The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-10-10
Doors Battered to Pieces with Heavy Rails it
the Hands Of Nsddsped Mem Who Would
Brook No Interference.
Prison Guards, Police and Fire Depart.
ment POwerless to Prevent the Crime.
Dragged from HIS Cell While Praying in
Terror and Hung to an Electric Railway
Trolley Wire in Nude Condition.

the enoes ne wore, swings the dead DodY
of Joe Coe. q negro of twenty. Around
the scene hangs crowd of about o thou
sand people. mainly drawn by curiosity.
Now and then q shout of exultation is
heard. as those who did he deed still
linger, proud of their work.
Coe was put there by q mob, who
avenged wrong done to o little child.
Last Wednesday Coe called at the house
of Mr.. Yates, on North Eighteenth street,
saying he was q garbage man come
to inspect the premises. Mrs. Yates
allowed him to enter the yard.
Not lOEg after little Lizzie Yates, five years
old, come running to the house. shrieking IN
agony and blood streaming from her. The
her, identified and jailed.
Public sentiment had been wrought
highly by the execution Of Edward Neal.
This tension was added to when report
became current that the negro's victim
had died. Coe was confined In the
city Jail. but the people did not know il.
1--WE will lynch the nigger,n was soon heard
on every side. and it was evident that be-
fore nightfall that the days comment
would terminate in tragedy.
GATHERING OF THE MOB.
Night came on with an ominous quiet.
Few people were in the streets There was
no intimation of the trouble in G,ght. Sud.
denly, about 9:30 o'clock, there came con-
fused sounds Of tramping and hurrying
along the paved streets toward the county
Jail. and in q remarkably short time
the Jail was surrounded. There was no
organization apparently. No leader seemed
to control the crowd. Yeils filled the air.
hundreds shouting at once what to do. No
assault was made on the jail for many mo-
ments, the mob standing irresolute, wait
ing for some one to lead. In the meantime
a few policemen and force of deputy sher-
IFS that officiated in the Neal hanging were
concentrated at the jail The mob was hov.
erinG about the east entrance, clamoring
for some one to start the trouble. A rush
was made for the south-street door of tho
Jail.
1--WE will get in here. shouted the leader.
'Stop.' said o glittering six-shooter in
the hands of Captain Cormaek. So the
leaders halted.
"What do You wanti" asked the Captain.
I'VE want that - nigger,' was the
reply, "and we will get him. Get out'of
the way"
IF you take a step this way Pnkill you."
said the Captain, as h showed the pistol
under the spokesman's nose.
Persuasively silent, the little round hole
in the barrel, backed by true officers iron
nerve, did the work, and the crowd aban.
doned the Harney-street door. Then
sledges were brought and the east door
was assailed. This was built of strong
steel lattice. Once inside four more
steel lattice doors must be broken through.
between the crowd of angry men, who
having tasted blood tLirsted for more.
I'VE will get tho niger, now" went MP
from the crowd as solid blows rang on tbs
solid doors. IL was useless. No sledge
would tell against that door.
About block away Is the power-house
of the cable street-railway company. Near
lt are huge piles of rails and long heavy
bars of steel. In minute half dozen Of
these were borne by sturdy hands up the
hill. While this was being done the tele.
phone wires had been cut and there was no
communication with the jail.
WOULD NOT LISTEN To BOYD
Ex-Governor Boyd pushed his way
through the crowd to the Jail door. and be-
fore blow from the battering-ram was
struck he asssyed to speak to the crowd,
'It will be disgrace to Omaha" he COM
menced. II Implore You to be quiet and
desist from your unlawful Efforts Let the
law take It's course; let"
His words were cut Off by n man with
sledge, who said: You are not Governor
| here. Get out, 60 attend TO your opera
house, and smash the steel rail changed
against the steel door The latter yielded
slightly. A mighty yell went up from the
| maddened men, and again and again the
battering-ram was hurled against the door.
| Steel cannot stand every ything. and In five
| minutes tho door was open. Then there
was short parley ana tn second door
was assailed.
| puny police force of ninety men was gath.
| ering, but concentration was impossible.
| The officers were lost IN the crowd. Some
| one suggested that the fire department. be-
| called out. and the hose turned on. But it
was not that kind of mob. The firemen
| came and laid their hose, and the crowd
| simply carried away the lines and drove
the firemen away. They were after the
negro.
Bang. bang. came the sound of steady
blows from inside the Jail as tho crowd
worked on the steel doors. Ii did not take
| the crowd long after the second door was
passed to effect an entrance 10 the huge
steel cage in which sixteen cells are
located. There, wrapped In a blanket.
covered the trembling wretch for
| whom the lynchers sought howl OF
WIG eXultatlon was sent u Dy the leaders,
| who called for tools 10 cut their way into
the cage. Yell after yell of triumph went
| up from the outside and soon sledges
and cold-chlsels were in the hands
| of those nearest the cage. As the
! clang of the blows rang through
| the Jail and into the court-y ard
the crowd kept up its howl In the mean
time the police. under Chief Seavy, under
took 10 mass at the jail entrances The
| crowd seIng the move, picked up the police
and carried them TO the edge of the yard.
There they stayed. Then the work went
on.
PRAYED AND CRIED IN TERROR.
Inside the cage the segro begged and
pleaded. He insisted that he was charged
with burglary. "D-n you. we'll burglary
you" came the response. He prayed. and
cried. and rolled on the floor in terror.
His shrieks for mercy were answered with
blows that brought his executioners
nearer. At last the cage was opened.
Then with one last yell of terror the negro
| was seized by the hands of men eager for
| his blood and thrust through the corridor.
| Here men 20 identify him were called for.
| It was determined 10 make no mistake.
| Soon pressed forward those who know him,
nd lad ltu,l.