The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-09-27

the wounded.
Several ministers of the gospel, prominent
among whom wore Rev. W. F. Hammer, Rev. DR..
w. Q. Camp sell and Rev S. L. Rice, were on the
ground from the first bcstowing the solaccs of re-
lig'on to the men in their dying moments.
THE UNDERTAKINGS.
The scene ut the undertaking establishment OF
Oakley n Woolwinc was CHASTITY one One by
being prepared for burial. The dead men there
Sheets HaP.B Tye G nes Settles
and John r. Mills.
The awful evidences of tho terrible tragedy
the station house, near the street track, were
large pools of blood and brains. Bullets were
picked up in the streets, and their marks can be
seen on telegraph poles and on the fences along
cyclone. The windows in the mayors Office are
were broken out by stones. The pancs OF glass
In several OF the windows in the courthouse
were broken out.
1t was rather remarkable that no one in the Jail
or stationhousc was injured, for as soon as the
fatal volley was fired BY the sodicrs the building
was fairly riddlcd with bullets.
One fact that makes the affair all the more to
be regretted is that Especial grand jury had
murderer. HustiIgs Court was in session and
the word OF the commemorative attorney, the
given solemnly to the masses OF citizens at the
Jail that the Negroes trial would be immediate and
as the laws of the land would allow.
Frank r. May. r. H. Angel, r. +. Boswell, a. S.
w. P. Dupuy, p. w. Hun and Van Taliaferro.
1t was openly demanded last night that an In
oughly or there would be moro violence 1t is
evident that thousands of citizens will demand
TO know on whose head rests the responsibility
OF the death of eight men.
Thursday was the saddcst day in the history of
Roanoke, day franght with many pcrils and
exciting scenes, which not even time itself
cracc from the memory of those who passed
through the awful sccucs
When the first bright aud peaceful rays of the
glorious autumn SIN fell on the quiet city,
7 hMshcd in elccp Thursday morning the mutiated
dangling nj the end of hcmpcn rope from the
hickory three near the corner Of Franklin
road and Ninth avenue II. W. silent and alone.
Several parties would occasionally visit the
spot through curiosity and relic hunters stripped
upper portion of the ncgros body of clothing,
carl wing away email shrcds as ncmcntocs OF the
awful night and the tragic end OF the wretched
cause OF all the trouble.
As was stated in THE TINES, the lynching was
done by a body of about one dozen determined
men. followed by the same mum Der of boys and
other spectators. When the moose was adjusted
around the neck of the condemned wretch he
cried out, "Oh, Lord, have mercy on men and
was at one strong pull of the rope launched into
eternity to stand at tho Judgment bar OF is God.
As the morning advanced the number of spec
tators who gathered on the spot to witness The
CHASTITY scene increased and by the time the cor
onei's Jury arrived on the spot there had assem-
DR.. Henry V. Gray. the coroner, early in the
morning summoned the following Jury to hold
chant, OF the firm of hughes " Camp; f. q.
Williams. OF F. o. Williams \ Co., slate and tin
roof manufacturers; w. A. Banks, j. A. Curry,
carpenter; w. II. Simmons and E. w. Staples
These gentlemen repaired to the fatal spot,
viewed the ghastly body OF the victims and made
all possible inquiries into the particulars of the
matter.
Finding it impossible to obtain any reliable in.
formation concerning the perpetrators of the
lynching the Jury returned the following YER
diet:
IAN inquest taken al and near the corner of
franklin road and Ninth avenue southwest, In
the city OF Roanoke county of Roanoke, State of
Virginia. on the 2lst day OF Scpte mber, 1893, be-
fore Henry V. Gray, coroner of said city, upon
the view of the body OF Thomas Smith, there
lying dead, the Jurors sworn to inquire when,
came to his death, upon their oaths do say that
the aforesaid Smith came TO his death ON the
night of Sep cmocr n, 1873, between the hours
of 10 and o CLOCK a. M, by being hung by the
neck to n tree until he was dead and by persons
unknown to this jury"
Soon after the coroners jury had left the scene
the body was cut down by sid Pritty, according
to The orders or the authorities, and 1t was in
tended to bring it TO an un ertakcr's establish
ament to be prepared for burial This was not
allowed and the angry crowd grew terrible in its
they would drag the remains to the residence of
Mayor Trout and hang them in the yard and then
bury them in front OF the residence.
Strong men caught hold OF the rome and
dragged the body across the street. AID would
have carried cut their threats hnt for Rev. w. c.
y. III,
made earnest speechos to the multitude and i'm
pored Them in the namo OF common humanity
raseous undertaking. AT last they agreed not TO
do so, and Mt Captain Moormsn's snggestion n
wagon was called, tho mutilated body of the
victim pat in and was driven on toward the river
amid the deafcning cries OF 400 people, saving
Take him and burn him."
On, on went the mad mob bent On their sick.
cning scheme towards the Roanoke river until
they reached II spot about five hundred yards
above the narrow guasc railroad bridge where
nj, 1a ala
enact the deed they came there for. Several
cedar trees were cut down and piled up, making
placed he dead body on the lynchcd negro.
y detail was sent out after oil and light wood
winch soon returned with two gallons OF coal
oil and several goods boxes, which were added to
the pile, and in Il short time the arrangements
were complete At 10 o'clock to tn. minute
the match was struck ard fire set 10 the pile OF
iniiammable material which sent its lurid flames
and dense volumes of dark smoke high toward
the heavens.
The flames ronrcd and cracked, lcapng high in
the ar, whiic all around stood 1000 people, men,
women, boys and children, on foot, in buggics
and carriages and on horseback, and numbers of
them shouting over the horrible scene. In n
snort while al was over and all that remained
on earth OF Thomas Smh h, the would he muir
uercr, was pile of white ashes and few bits OF
bone
Hundreds of the visitors gathe. cd close around
the human bonfire and cast in pieces of wood,
determined to add something toward the crcma
non Smiths sister, girl II years of age, stood
by and witnessed the terrible fate OF her brothers
remains.
The mob dispersed. leaving in SOU ads and
alone, most OF them coming back To town aad
renewing their threats against tho military the
mayor and all the city officers There were calls
for an Indignation meeting to he held in tho after
noon al the Academy OF Music and also ut night,
nut the subsequent conciatory action of various
citizens and committees advised against such
meetings.
Calls were issued for railI oad mems meetings
Masonic and Red Mems NEE iings, and meeting
or the employees of the Rc7nokc Machine Works
TO he held mt the shops later in the day
the conservative and cOncillatOry ground
taken "a; ali OF these meetings did mach 10 ailay
nirit htnh