Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-03-16

patched for axes, csovbass and picks.
These we're soon procured from . neigh
boring blacksmith shop, and the mob %.
to work to break in the big iron gate in
from. of the prison. Il 10 q massive con.
cern, AID the instruments made n, i'm
preston on IT, In the meantime smother
squsd attacked the side gate on Ma,ais
street ard effected An entrance.
Several promiscuous shots were fired,
when six or seven men ran up stairs. Be-
fore they got half va7 up door vas
slammed and footsteps were heard running
Along the gallery.
There they are." yelled one enthusiast.
"Hurrsh. tiger" ssi J another. and the cry
was taken By thoee in the lobby.
The door leading to the gallery vas
thrown open and the assassins we're ssen
disappearing down the winding staifwa
leading into the colored yard Of the female
department. Not word was spoken then.
but . half dozen men quickly ran the
length Of the gallery, and In quiet but
very determined manner descended the
staiss.
The six men did all the shooting. They
found the prisoners cfouching iu the vom.
ems department.
saved their lives BY concealipg themselves
in dog house, where they escaped Atten-
ton. Sunseri weishs over 800 pounds, but
managed to make hmself email for this oc-
casi,n. GaspasdO MaYchesi, the boy, was
saved by some Of the mob who took mer-
cy on his tender years. He was concealed
between two mattresses.
The other Italians were scattered around
the yard. Upon ge.iog sight of the mob
they set up
A Yell ior Mercy.
Thei, cries were heard through the divi-
sion, and they made break for the end of
the yard toward Orleans street under the
gallery. Their object was evidently to get
into the laet cell. but whether any Of them
did or not cannot be said.
Suddenly avoice said :"Give II to them y
and instantly three guns aud pistol
belched forth and rain Of lesden bullets
fell. Gerschi, who is lame and who wss
the last Of the fleeing men, received one
load in the back Of the head, and. turning
8 complete somersault, fell on his face and
never moved again.
Them Morastefio aud Jim Caruso fell.
Their backs and heads were
Literally Rtcdled with Bullets.
Romero, with . cry OF anguish, crouched
down on his knees, with his head buried
between his knees. He was shot to death
in that s,ti.ude. He was the only one who
had his hist on, and Notwithstanding the
ha. was ridded with bullets, it never left
his head. His black Priace Albert coat
wxs torn to shreds by the bullets.
la the meanwhile another section of the
mob had broken into the cell where Ma
chex was confined. He heard the men
coming, rushed from his cell. which was
open. and toward the chapel but WAS finally
cornered in the closed gallery of the con-
demned ptison. Here Young nan hit kim
over the head with rife which brought
him down. II was reported that he was
dead and the crowd was about to leave him
when some one suggested as an extra pre-
caution that be be disposed of aud bullet
was fired through his brain.
1t being impossible 70 hang Maches II
WAS decided to lynch Poiizzi and BAgnetto
{, satisfy tn. mob on the outside, which,
seeing none of the shooting had grown i'm.
patient, and demanded victims. The street
for sQusres around was filled with people,
among whom we've large number Of
woman and children. The angry crowd
wanted vengeance on the 10 ltslians, and
showed some opposition when il was
announced that only four had been killed.
which was the first information given to
the mob. A loud demand was made thst
the promise to lynch some one should be
kent.
At IL o'clock. few minutes after the
shooting, the side door On MsIias was pushed
open, and several of the armed men ap-
peared, pushing before them Polizzi. the
half crszed Sicilian, who offered 10 turn
states evidence, but who went crazy while
do so. He was ghsstly
White With Terror,
and was evidently mad. He was without
coat or hat, wore a red hsnneI shirt, aud
bis black hair WAS dishevellej.
Ths crowd called 10 the armed men to
lynch him, sni he was dragged down to the
corner OF Msrais sod 81. Anne streets.
The sd was 50 dense there that it was
Difficult. to force H way through it. Some
portion of the au Hence we're women, aud
from the balconies rear men and women
watched the scene with opera glasses.
At the corner was a gsunt lamp post
Some ore threw rops across the heads of
the cool and collected men who were push
ing the prisoner along. and vhen the cor
ner va. reached man scaled ths post and
threw the rome around it. There was 81
ready no3e at the other end, ard this
WAS hastily and imperfec.ly adjusted about
the neck Of tha Italian.
Then ready hands at the other end tugged
at the line and the body was hoisted in the
sir, the face, white ss chalk, being turned
upward to the bright sky above, but the
rope did not hold &. first and the body
clipped down to the pavement again.
Only for an instant. however, did it re-
main there. In couple of seconds strong.
er hands drew it taught sgsip, and soon the
body Of the unfortunate ASSASSIN was
dangling from the poet.
As soon as i. was high enough to make
the range Of shots go upward and over the
heads OF the people, 4 dozen loud reports
rang ou.. and the blood gushed from
Polizzi's face, and macy shots literally rid
died bis body.
Then the rope with which he had beer
hanged was wrapped securely about the
post, and Polzzi's body was left hanging
in the broad daylight.
Just before Polizzi's had been b,ouah
| forth Capt. Cole, with dozen blnecosts in
= police van, came tearing up Ma.as street
They did not go farther than the corner ol
st. Anne, however, for there they we're me
by the tbrong Of citizens, who aDsrily shoot
their fists at the officers and ordered then
away. Ore of the leaders Of the mob in
| formed the polica that they had last 6vt
| minutes to lesve, IL they valued their lives
The officers made TO objection to the threat,
Of the mob, and jumping in o the pAao
wagon dashed OF at the height Of thei
speed.
This was the only effort made to suppress.
the riot and II was very feeble one. The
greater portion Of the crowd had con1rega
ted on st Anne street, which Is in the fes,
Of the prison. to witness the lynching OF
| Polizzi The latter vas still quiverint
when the cry went up that they we're ly nch
| ing smother man On the other side Of th,
PRISON in front Of New Orleans street
vhefeupon the entire mob surged in ths
| direction.
| II was found that the man who was be
iug brought out vas Antonio Bsanetto, ont
of those acquitted yesterday. Some on'
ascendsd tree in the Orleans park an,
threw = rope around = convenient limb
when Bsgne,to was swung up.
The mob wanted the others out to lynch
bu. they were we're told shst enough ha,
been done and there would be no NOR
doue.
The killed were Manuel Polizzi, Pietr
| Monsstro, Antonio Scanedi. Joseph B
| M.checa Anfnnia Maychesi Aneon;o r.. 70