Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1892-05-07
MOB VIOLENCE.
Ten Thousand Men Surround the
Nashville Jail,
Tho Jai'or overpowered and Eph Grii.
xard Taken From His Cell, Dragged
Through the streets to n Bridge
and Swung on.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, May 2.-Fridsy
night mob of three hundred men cane
In from Goodletsville, and Gov. BIZ
chanan, with the aid of the police, sue
ceeded in persuading them at first, then
driving them back. Two men wer
mortally wounded, Charles Rear and
A. b. Guthrie, the latter of whom lived
In Nashville, and was the engaged lover
of Mary Bruce. Both are dead.
At 5 o'clock Saturday morning the
mob marched off defeated. They rested
four miles from the city, and waited for
reinforcements. People swarmed into
Nashville from the surrounding towns
and country. Fully six thousand
strangers came in, and stayed on the
square during the morning. They came
frSM twenty towns, and swore to lNneh
Eph Grizzard and Chief Of Police Clack
and Police Sergeant Davis, who shot the
two men Friday night Every man was
given orders to be ready at given sig.
nal. A deputation of citizens, headed
by prominent wholesale grocery mer'
chant of Nashville, waited on Mayor
Guild, and served this notice on him;
eve do not want to shed single
drop of blood. We have come for Eph
Grizzard, and we are going to have him.
Take away your police, or we will shoot
them down like dogs"
EARLY in the day wealthy merchant
of Goodlcttsville, mounted goods box,
and after describing the awful outrage
of the girls, which brought tears into
the eyes of thousands, told them to be
ready Men cried and sobbcd like
babies, and frcnzied cries went up. Hut
the leaders held them back for rein.
forcements. The huge crowd was
swellcd to ten thousand by sympathz-
ing citizens of Nashville. Pistols were
openly carried, and truck wagons were
loaded with shotguns for the final 1t.
tack.
At ten minutes before 2 o'clock, Dr.
Davis called order on the public square
lie stated that committee of thre
would be appointed to demand EPh
Grizzard Who would volunteer? A
A dozen men stepped forward. Then
the crowd started with shout toward
and down Front street. .-
In the rear of the Brandon Printing
Co.'S building halt was called, and 9
committee of three was sent to the jail
The lock of the immense iron gate had
been broken the night before. Entrance
was easily effected. Jailcr Willis wa
met in the hall.
Thousands of people watched the
scene from the tops of adjoining build
ings. After the keys had been secured
one of the committee told Jailer Willis
hat he would go in and get Eph, while
the other two held him and prevented
other prisoners from escaping. Cheer
after cheer rose from the mob outside
Remember your wives, your daughter
and your mothers" was the cry.
Then the committee Of three appeared
and between them was the black head o
Eph Grizznrd, At the sight OF the blacl
ficnd, mob and spectators alike burs
forth into an cXultant cry. Around hi
neck was n rope. A wild rush wa
then made for the square, those abou
him slapping his head with ope
palms, and Eph crying: "Quit hittin
me I'll CO." lie was jerked down an
dragged over the rough cobblestone'
his eyes and tongue protruding.
From the square the mob rushed tot
Cumberland river suspension bridge. tn
Negro was thrown over the bridge, an
dropped fifteen feet. He was hauld IL
again, and dropped again. This tim
his neck was broken. Fifty shots wei
fred into his body. Fifty thousand PEI
pie viewed the swinging body.
Cries then went up for Chief of Polio
Clack and Sergeant Davis, who shot IL
two men the night before. "lian
them" was shouted but they could nj
be found. Both had disguised then
selves and fled to the country. Had II
two officers been caught nothing coul
have saved them.