The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-20
THE CLIFTON FORGE TRAGEDY.
Scenes of Bloodshed and Ex-
element.
Grave Fears That the Negroes Would
Seek Revenge Sunday Night for tho
Lynching Kept Strong Guard
Around the Town-MilitarY Called
Out. but Sent Baols-Aii Quiet Last
Night.
BY a Stan Correspondent.


of Sundays TINES will not be surprised
to learn that Clifton Forge was he
scene Of the execution Of three negroes
by Judge Lynch Saturday night.
The fight between the band Of negroes
andlposse of white officers was far more
desperate than the brief reports by tele-
graph gave any idea Of The particu-
larsof the sad affair, as gathered by a
representative of THE TIMES, who arrived
at Clifton Forge Sunday evening, are as
follows:
Charles Wesley Miller, John Scott
andjhis brother, Robert, Jim Barton and
an eighteen-year-old boy named Miller
Morton were the participants. although
the 9atter is reported not to have used
his pistol. These parties worked in the
iron mines at Big Hill, Botetourt county;
about ten miles east of Clifton Forge.
On Saturday morning they visited the
citystogether, passing Glen Wilton and
Iron Gate, whore they informed friends
that they were going to Clifton Forge
for blood, " "for fight" and intended
to paint the town red." On their ar
rival the four first named filled up on
mean whiskey, and Miller visited u pho
tographio gallery, where he had his pic
ture taken with revolver in each hand.
they kept close together and were very
noisy and profane. Miller made him
self so conspicuous in this line that
Special Officer James Quinlan placed
him under arrest, whereupon Burton
andsthe SCOTS drew their revolvers and
informed the officer that unless he re-
leased Miller they would kill him.
he obeyed them and went in search
of Capt. Paul Gleason, chief of police,
and the negroes in the direction of Iron
Gate, one and half miles east. A
small number of citizens were deputized
as special officers and others followed
in pursuit OF Miller and his comrades,
overtaking them about midway between
the two towns. where halt was called
and demand for their surrender made.
Tho negroes at once opened fire and
shots followed each other in quick sue
cession. Philip Boiling brakeman
on the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad,
was killed, and Fred Wilkerson, another
brakeman, fell with bullets in his hip,
groin and abdomen. Burtons leg was
broken by a shot, Morton received q
bullet in the back of the head, and
Robert Scott fled to the woods, the
blood streaming from his body.
Boiling and Wilkerson were borne
tenderly from the field and large
crowd organized for the capture of the
desperate colored men. Burton, on ac-
count of his broken leg, could not
travel far. and was soon captured
Later John Scott and Miller were found
hiding behind trees, and surrendered at
the muzzle of several Winchester rifles.
Morton was easy game and was taken
without trouble, making neither threat
nor effort to shoot The four were car
ried to the city prison and locked in.
Nobody at Clifton Forge needed TO be
told that Judge Lynch would arraign
the prisoners and execute them as soon
as the mantle OF darkness fell upon the
place. just before 10 o'clocl, some
three hundred men gathered. near tho
city hall, and in respectable manner
informed Hon. Thomas P. Bowles, the
mayor, of their intention He pleaded
with them and they listened respect
fully, informing him that his position
was we'll taken. When the MAYOR
ceased speaking the leader of the mob
submitted the proposition to lynch the
four negroes to his followers and o roar
of ayes satisfied the mayor that they
were doomed. He then asked the
leader to go quietly about the work in
hand and not to allow his men to yell or
fire off their pistols, as ladies and child
rol III tuo lmlneulaC6 vicinity were
screaming from fright
Two large sledge hammers were
brought into requisition and the outer
and innor doors of the prison were soon
battered down. Ropes were quickly
placed around the nccks OF Miller and
Scott. who were handcuffed together
when put in prison; and amid yells and
the firing of pistols they were hurried
up "Slaughter-House Hollow" to tree
about half a mile distant. Here Miller
asked for time to make his will and
Scott to pray, which was granted.
The ropes were thrown over limb,
the doomed men drawn up from tho
ground and the ends quickly secured.
Volley after volley was fred at the
bodies, which were riddled with bullets,
over forty finding Judgment in Miller's.
The crowd returned to the Jail, found
cart in the yard and placed Burton in
1t, informing him Of the fate of his COM
rades and that the same awaited him.
He cody informed the spokesman that
he did not care a d-n how soon they
hung him. he was carried to where his
two comrades were swinging from a
limb and hanged on the same tree. His
body was filled with bullets also.
Miller begged for Morton's life, and
declared that he was forced to accom-
pany him aud did not fire q shot. He
was released, given a hat by one Of the
lynchers to wear, 40 he was bareheaded,
and told to go. He did not leave the
city, however, and carries bullet I'M
der his scalp.
On Sunday night tho report was
spread over the city that the negroes
at Glen Wilton, Low Moor and Iron