The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-10-19
THREE NEGROES LYNonED
AT Clifton Forge, vn.-Tho Mob Mcct.
With hut Little ltcslstnncc,

VIVA A'us hifsAS Ahosh"seaNSs
CLIFTON FORGE, VA, Oct. ls.-A
frightiul tragedy took place between Of
ticers and colorcd men ono and half
miles from this place yesterday after.
noon, in which two men lost their lives
and several wcro severely wounded.
a party OF colorcd men came hcrc this
morning from the Big Hill Mines, eight
miles down tho Richmond and Ale.
ghcny River division OF the Chesapeake
& Ohio railroad, with the avowed pur-
pose OF creating disturbance.
After coming to Clifton Forge they
filled themselves full OF whisky at cor.
orcd bar and then began to create
trouble. An officer attempted to arrest
one OF the gang, when the others pre-
sentcd pistols, compelling him to dcsist.
Tho party then leitin tho direction from
which they came.
Tho town sergeant, with posse, fol-
lowed and overlook the colored men
near Iron Cato, where they called them
to halt. \ bloody battle took place, in
which 7. A. Bowling was killed and
Fred Wilkinson was shot in the abdo-
men, the ball glancing around tho lin
Ing, aud in tho knee. Both were men,
bers OF the posse and brakcmcn on the
Chesapeake & Ohio railroad. Tho for
mer was from Albcmarle county, but
lived hero with his family, and the lat
ter from Bedford county. Wilkinson
was brought here aud will recover.
The news OF the fracas spread like
wild-.ire, and in short time fifty men
were securing the mountains near by
where the colorcd gang took refuge,
hunting them down. among them being
Il former Texas cowboy named Savage,
who did valiant service. In Il few hours
all OF the colorcd men we're brought
here and placed in Jail, after a desperate
struggle for their lives, and after rccciv-
ing several wounds The names OF the
prisoners are: Charles Miller, notori-
Gus character from Bedford county,
who was shot three times before being
captured; William Martin, from Madi-
son county, shot twice; Bob Burton,
shot in tho leg in the first fight, and
John Scott, OF Gooclland county,
brother OF Bob Scott, who is supposed
to have been killed by Savage while
attempting his capture in the noun
tains.
About 1880 o'clock last night mob
OF 500 men surrounded the Jail and took
Charles Miller, John Scott and Bob
Burton from Jail and hanged them to 4
tree thrcoiourths OF a mile from town
and then riddlcd them with bullets.
There was only slight resistance to
the mob, the police force being limited
and the Jail weak structure. A con.
icssion was asked ior BY the mob, but
the prisoners denied their guilt, OF
which, however, there is no doubt.
William Morton, mere hoy, WAS re-
leased.
There is considerable excitement here
tonight over rumorcd uprising OF the
negroes in consequence OF last nights
lynching The mayor has tclcgraphcd
Governor Mckinney to send the Month
cello guards here as a measure OF pre-
caution. The reports caused suspen-
sion OF services at the churches TO-
night, but the rumors are regarded by
cooler heads rs unfounded. There are
large numbers OF negroes ut tho mines
OF this section.
The entire town is in arms and pick
cts are posted in every outskirt a
squadron OF men are on the way here
from Ronccvertc, W. Va, and will ar
rive at | ! p. NJ.
There has been no direct indication
OF an outbreak, but the greatest excite
mcnt prevails.