The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-10-29
Mayor Bowles Interviewed

In view OF the fact that a number o
statements have been made regarding
the trouble which resulted in the lynch
ing of three negroes here on the NIGH
OF the 18th inst, a reporter of the NIR
GINIAN sought Mayor Bowles and asked
him a number of questions, which viii
place a number of rumors in IA new light
The interview is as follows
At what stage of trouble on Saturday
of the riot in Clifton Forge did you heal
of it?
About the time the wounded mer
were brought in.
Some people criticise the authorities
for not sending the prisoners to Coving'
ton: why was not that done?
| telegraphed the Attorney for the
Commonwealth to come Immediately
and bring the Sheriff with him to assist
in the transfer, but was advised by many
good citizens that to take them out OF
the jail under the excitement then eX-
listing would result in more blood being
shed. 1t was therefore determined be-
tween Justice Thomasson and myself to
hold them here and to remain with the
guard at the office, which is only a few
feet from the Jail, and to do what we
could to keep down excitement.
1t has gone out through some report
ers that the lynchers held meeting in
the Mayors office; is this true?
This is as far from the truth as any.
thing can be. Up to within three OF
five minutes of the attack on the Jail
there were in the office only the guard
Justice Thomasson, myself and perhaps
dozen citizens, all being there for the
purpose of keeping down excitement 1t
is true as published that a vote was
taken on the question of lynching the
prisoners, but it was taken in front OF
the Mayors office, and not in it. 1t is
quite evident from the concert of action
on the part of the lynchers, their COM
ing together at a particular time,-that
some prior meeting had been held else
where, and that the time for meeting
had been arranged beforehand.
Some think that guard of twenty OF
thirty men would have been able to
prevent the lynching; what is your
opinion?
Oh, yes; l find persons now who knew
just what would happen, and even tell
what they could and would have done
[ sought diligently for this kind Sat
urday night but 10 they could not be
found. do not think, however, that
any reasonable number of guards could
have saved the prisoners without a ter
rible sacrifice of life. The men were de-
termined.
The number Of men engaged in the
lynchng have been variously estimated
from 800 to 500; what do you think of it
There must have been at least 500 in
the crowd OF course | could have nc
idea as to the number actually engaged
in the lynching.
Do you think there were many citi
zens of the town engaged in it,
There must have been very few, il
any, as the moon was shining brightly
and | should have known some of them
You have seen itstated in published &C
counts that they were railroad and
rolling mill men, have you not?
Yes and all can say to that is thai
they were strangers to me.
Some papers are already attributine
this lynching to race prejudice; do yor
think there is any grounds for thi'
charge?
I think there is no foundation in fac
for that view. If a party of white mel
had come here and acted as did the ne
groes, and the trouble with them had re
suited in the killing of Bowling and thu
wounding of Wilkinson, they would
have shared the same fate. | have seer
no disposition on the part of the people
to oppress the colored people, and as +;
rule they get along well together. Ant
it is due to the colored people livins
among us to say that as a rule they arr
peaceable, and many of them are goo(
and thrifty citizens who have accumu
lated considerable property.
Criticism is made against the author
tiles for requesting troops to be sem
here do you think there was just cause
to suspect that an attack would bt
made on the town?
l did not.
Do you object to stating why you re-
quested the troops to be sent?
Because could not afford to set VI
my individual opinion against host O
good and intelligent citizens, and espec
tally against the opinions of those wht
were in position to learn the facts, an(
r1,o o1o 10 Il IN II 6
necessity.
1t is also stated that an hour later yor
wanted to countermand the order fol
troops is this correct?
1t is true, and because | became thor
oughly satisfied that the reports were
untrue, and for the additional reason
that [ had ascertained that Clifton
Forge was fully able to take care of her
self.
1t has been stated, and capital is be
ing made of it, that the conflict was be
tween citizens of the town and the ne
groes /; is it a fact that citizens attempt
ed to arrest the negroes?
1t is not The trouble was entirel,
between the officials and the negroes
The town has three police officers, ant
it was an officer who attempted to ar
rest one of the negroes in the beginning
of the trouble. The citizens afterward
engaged in the difficulty, had been sum
moned by the Sergeant to assist in max
ing the arrest, and thus became officer
themselves. No citizen, as a citizen, hat
anything to do with the trouble.
Depot Agent Appointed
Mr.. ]. Gardner Woodward left yestel
day morning for Covington, where h
takes charge of the depot agency at tina
place. We are sorry to give Mr.. Wooc
ward up, but presume it is for his bes
interests. He is an old railroad ma
and well understands the business. II
will remove his family as soon as he ca
secure house in Covington.