The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-10
The Omaha Jail Assaulted and
the Doors Battered Down.
A NEGRO LEPER DRAGGED OUT.
He Is Beaten to Death and Then Hung
to an Electric Railroad Wire.
The New Orleans Tragedy Over Again.
Ex-Governor Boyd vainly Iseseeches
the PeopIe-Police and FireInen Un-
able to Save the Prisoner.

OMAHA, Oct. "A mob of several thou
sand men tonight surrounded the Omaha
jail. overpowered the police, battered down
the doors and dragged out and killed Joe
Coe, negro ruffian.
OMAHA, Oct 9.-P1blic sentiment, which was
wrought up highly here today by the execution
OF murderer Neal, was raised to higher pitch
Wnen the report became current that little Liz
zie Yates, the 5-year-old victim of a lustful as
sault BY Joe Coe, disreputable negro, had died
1--WE will lynch the Niger" was soon heard on
every side, and il was evident the people N cant
what they said
Tonight there suddenly came the sound of .
great crowd of men hurrying along the paved
streets toward the county jail, and in remark
ably short time that building was surrounded.
There was no organization apparent and no
leader seemed to control the crowd.
feils filed the air aud hundreds shouting at
once what to do. The mob stood irresolute for
some time, aud in the meantime few policemen
and force of deputy sheriffs was concen-
trated. A rush was then made for the South
street door of the Jail, but the crowd was
stopped by glittering revolver in the hands OF
Police Captain Cornack, who asked what they
wanted
"we want that damned nlgger, was the reply,
sand we will get him. Get out of the way"
III you take step this way /
will kill you,' said the captain, and
his nerve had due effect. The crowd skunk back.
Then sledges were brought and the east door as
sailed. This was built of strong steel lattice,
and once inside four similar doors must be
broken through. Nothing daunted, they at
tucked the door with sledges, but it was a hope
less task. The crowd soon rushed down to the
power house of cable road and dragged up
several steel rails, while others cut the tele-
phone wires.
Then Ex-Governor Boyd pushed his way
through the crowd to the door and shouted: 1T
will be disgrace to Omaha, and implore you
to be quiet aud desist from unlawful efforts.
Let the law take its due course His words
were cut off by man who shouted: "You're
not governor here. Get out. Go attend to your
opera-house," and smash went a steel
rail against the steel door. In five minutes
1t was open, ,and the second one was assailed dur
ing this time Omaha's police officers, to the
number OF ninety men, were gathered, but con-
centration was impossible. The officers were
lost in the crowd. Some one suggested that the
fire department be called out and the hose
turned on. but it was not the kind of mob that
melts. The firemen came and laid hose, where
upon the mob carried the hose up and drove the
fircmen away. They were after the "nieger"
1t did not take long after the second door had
been passed to effect an entrance to the huge
steel cage, in which the calls are located There
wrapped in a blanket, covered the trembling
Wfetcn, IOf WDOm the lyncnerS sought howl
OF wild exultation was sent up by the leaders,
who called for tools to cut into the
cage. Yell after yell of triumph went up
from the outside as sson as the sledrss
and cold chisels were in the hands of those
nearest the cage In the meantime the police.
under Chief Seayey, undertook to mass at the
Jail entrance. The crowd surged up, picked up
the police and carried them to the edge of the
yard. There they stayed. Then the work went
on inside the cage The negro begged and
pleaded, and insisted that he was charged with
burglary. "D-you, we will burglary you,"
came the response. He prayed and cried and
rol ed on the floor in terror
His shrieks for mercy were answered with
blows that brought his exeeutioners nearer At
last the door was opened, and then with one
last yell of terror the negro was seized by the
hands of men eager for his blood and thrust
through the corridor. Here men TO identify
him were called. For il was determined tn
make no mistake. So on pressed those who
knew him, and his doom was sealed
Coe got thousand curses and blow for
every curse. There is a driveway fifty wards
long leading from the Jail to the intersection of
Seventeenth and Kearney streets. This is paved
with rough granite, and over it the
unfortunate wretch was dragged by his captors
Since he had reached the door he had not spoken
a word, and in all probability was dead by the
time the street was reached.
rope was thrown over the trolley wire of an
electric carine and in minute high in the air
there swung the lifeless form of the black mon
sters