The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-01
They Had Every Chance to Get the Prisoner at
First, but Lacked Determination
and Leadership.
Intelligent Police Management Subdues
the Crowd and Averts Trouble.
Scenes in the Crowded Corridor While the
Excitement Was High-GoOd Work
by Dawson and kurtz


trance door of the Jail and forced it open
with crowbar. Ever since Bssow was
arrested there have been rumors of
lynching party. but. as the days
passed and no attempt was made
to carry ont the threat. Sheriff
Langenberg came to the conclusion that
everythin had quieted down and that the
law would be allowed to take its course.
1t was but the calm before the storm. how
after it had started there was no attempt
made to keep the matter ouiet,
the mob descended on the jail,
and the howls and mutterings of
an enraged, excited crowd apprised
Sheriff Langenberg that his prisoner was
in danger of receiving summary Justice.
1t was understood that the mob was
formed near the Panhandle shops. which is
in the vicinity of Blanche Stations home.
and although it did not probably number
more than seventy-fve men and boys at
first, as it came surging down the
railroad track 1t gathered numbers,
and when the Jail was reached. where 1T
was Joined by another mob from the vicln-
ity of Railroad street. the crowd probably
mum bered $50. The first appearance of the
mob at the Jail was shortly after II o'clock.
Sheriff Langenberg and family had already
retired, and Deputy Sheriff Hamilton and
guard of one man were On watch. Some
body in the mob had taken the precaution
to bring with him q heavy crowbar. aud
with thisinstrument the outer door lead
ing into the Office was battered open.
Then the crowd surged into the little of
fee with curses and lmprecations and
yells of "Get hin,w Hang him.n Bring
him QUIT" etc.
SOME OF THE LEADERS.
One of the leaders was a powerfully built
man named Gates. who wore about his
neck flaming red handkerchief. He led
the mob from the Shelby-street dis
trict. Another, and probably the
most enraged leader, was Peter
Lehr. a butcher. residing at the corner
of Michigan and Noble streets, the man
who jerked Bissow from the patrol wagon
the day he was arrested. Still another
leader was skinny" Lewis. a young man
who carried in his inside pocket hammer
of small dimensions, which he used on one
or two occasions In trying to break open
the door leading into the cells.
When the mob first rushed in it was met
by Sheriff LangenDerg. who had been
awakened by the bursting in of the outer
door and the rnmblings of the crowd. The
keys were demanded of him. but he refused
to give them up. By some means,
however, big Yates got hold of
the keys and opened the door
leading into the iron cage. At that time
but one other door remained between the
mob and the shivering beast inside whose
life it sought. But at this very point the
mob demonstrated it's lack of leader
ship; Yates was afraid to pass over
the threshold of the first door, for fear
cage. While he was hesitating thus the
Sheriff got hold of the crow
bar, and tossing 1t through in
to the cell beyond, closed the
door and locked it. With that act ended
about the only chance the mob had of get
ting at Bissow. for shortly thereafter
Sheriff Langenburg quietly slipped out and
hid the keys where they were not likely to
be found.
BROKE THE MoB's COURAGE.
To break through the heavy iron
bars that confronted it was something
the mob was not looking for. and when
the keys were gone the back bone of it's
courage and excitement was broken. But
all the time there was q constant
yelling and blood-curdling tones floated
around; the mob pushed and painted;
and when the truth is known it was not
q mob, for real mobs. at least, q first-class
wild and woolly" product. does not plead
with officers of the law for a prisoner to
be turned over To its tender mercy. and
idly stand by and let the very best op-
portunlty for o real mob-like attitude 60
by as did this one. About 1880 o'clock
Capt. Charles Dawson and Sergeant kurtz
arrived on the scene of proposed bloodshed.
They walked into the Office, quietly
shook hands with each man as they passed
him, advised every body to keep cool and
not get excited. and in every sense acted
the part Of admirable and courageous Off
GERS. Captain Dawson saw at glance that
| it would only be question of time until
the mob could be quieted and dispersed,
| and he had the excellent judgment not to
aggravate or precipitate o clash by an
undue display of authority. He therefore
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