The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-10
BY The ROPE ROUTE.
An Omaha Brute Lynched by a
FrenZied Mob.
Jail DcGrS Battered Down With Steel Rails
and SledSeS.
In Spite Of Police the Crowd Took the
Doomed Man and Strung Him to
TrOlley-Wlre.


OMAHA. Oct. 9.-Public sentiment, which
was wrought up highly here to-day by the
execution of murderer Neal. was reused to
higher pitch when the report became cur
rent that little Lizzie Yates, the five-year-
old victim of a criminal assault by Joe Coe,
a disreputable negro, had died.
Eve will lynch him." was soon heard on
every side, and it was evident the people
meant what they said. Tonight there sud-
denly came sound Of a great crowd Of
men hurrying along the paved streets
toward the County Jail, and in remarkably
short time that building was surrounded.
There was no org anizatiOn apparent; no
leader seemed to control the crowd. Yells
filled the air, hundreds shouting at once
what to do. The mob stood irresOlute for
some time and in the meanwhile few
policemen and a force of deputy sheritfs
was concentrated rush was then made
for the South-street door of the Jail, but the
crowd was stopped by a glittering revolver
in the hands of Police Captain Cornack,
who asked what they wanted.
I'VE want that man," was the reply,
"and we will get him. Get out of the way"
''Ii you take a step this way Pllkill you,"
said the Captain. and his nerve had due
effect.
sLEDGEs WERE BROUGHT.
The crowd retreated. Then sledgrs were
brought and the east door assailed. This
was built Of strong steel lattice. and once
inside four similar doors must be broken
through. Nothing daunted. they attacked
tie door with sledges, but IL was hopeless
task. A crowd soon rushed down to the
power-house OF the cable road and dragged
up heavy steel rails, while others cut all the
telephone wires. Then Ex-Governor Boyd
appeared, pushed his way through the
crowd to the door and shouted:
ut will be a disgrace to Omaha, and
implore you TO be quiet and deSist from
your unlawful efforts. Let the law take Its
due course"
His words were cut off by a man who
shouted: You're not Governor here. Get
out; go attend TO your opera house" and
smash went the steel rail against the steel
door.
In five minutes the door was open and the
second one assailed. During TINS time
Omaha's police force of ninety men was
gathered, but concentration was impossible.
The officers we're lost in the crowd. Some
one suggested that the Fire Department I've
called out and hose turned on, but it wasn't
the kind of mob that melts. The tiremen
came and laid hose, whereupon the crowd
carried tile hose up and drove the tremen
away.
ROLLED IN TERROR.
1t did not take the crowd long after the
second door was passed to effect an en-
trance to the huge steel cage in which the
cells were located. There, wrapped in a
blanket. lay the trembling wretch for whom
tile lynchers sought. howl Of wild ex-
ultation was set up by the leaders, who
called for tools to cut into the cage. Yell
after yell of triumph went up from tile out
side, and soon sedgeS aad cold-chisels were
in the hands Of those nearest the cage. In
the meantime the police, under Chief Seavy,
undertook to mass at the Jail entrance. The
crowd surged up, picked up the police and
carried them to the edge Of the yard, where
they stayed. Then the work went on. ln-
side the cage the negro begged and pleaded.
He insisted he was charged with burglary.
"We will burglary you, came the re-
sponse. He prayed and cried and rolled on
the floor in terror. His shrieks for mercy
were answered with blows that brought his
executoners nearer. At this time the door
was open. Then, with one last yell of ter
men eager for his blood ana thrust through
the corridor Here men to identity him
were called for-it was determined to make
no mistake. So on pressed those who knew
him, and his doom was sealed.
COe got a thousand curses and blow for
every curse. There is a driveway fifty
yards long leading from the jail to the
intersection OF Seventeenth and Harney
streets. This is paved with rough granite
and over this the unfortunate wretch was
dragged by his captors. After he reached
the door he did not speak a word and in all
probability was unconscious, If net dead,
by the time the street was reached. A rope
was thrown over the troley-wire of an cleo
trio car line and In minute high In air
there swung the llfeess form oil the colored