St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-05
Bloody Battle Between a
Shepiff's Posse and Party
Of Lynchers.
Over Thirty Men Killed Be-
fore the Mob Secured Its
Victims.
After the Lynehing the Fight
ing Was Resumed With
Renewed VigOr.
Twenty Five More Men Re-
ported Killed in the Sec
Ond Battle.

JOHNSTON CITY, Tenn, Jan. 4.-The
report comes from Bakers Vile, N. G.,
that Calvin Snipes, the murderer of Isaac
Osborne. was lynched at that place this
morning. In the attempt eleven of
the sheritf's posse were killed and
ten of the mob. 1t was one of the
bloodiest riots that ever occurred
in North Carolina, and messenger,
just from there, says that both sides are
still fighting and that many people are
being killed. The whole country is
going wild over the war between law
and order and outlawry, and recruits
are arriving hourly from the adjoining
counties for both sides.
The facts which led up to the terrible
lynching atfray were as follows: Aaron
Wiseman and Calvin Snipes were part
ners in an illicit distillery IN Mitchell
county, North Carolina, and had told
William Osborne and Isaac Osborne,two
brothers, where the distilery was stu
aIed. William Osborn reported the dis
tillery to the officials at Bakersville and
helped them to destroy it. Wiseman
and SnipeS suspected Isaac Osborne
as the reporter. On the night of
Aug. 81, 1892. Snipes and Wiseman,
armed with Winchester rifles, went 10
the house of Isaac Osborne and called
him up. Mr.. Osborne came to the door,
and the culprits opened fire, Kidding
him with bullets. WiSeman and SnipeS
were arrested, but sufficient evidence
could not be obtained against WISeman,
and he was released. Snipes was bound
to The superior court on purely circum-
stantial evidence. lie was placed in
Jail. and, after being confined about two
weeks, confessed TO the killing in the
manner above related.
First Attack Repulsed.
For nearly two months plans for
lynching Snipes have been in progress.
Petitions were circulated by William
Osborne, brother of the deceased, to get
men to help him in the lynching, and in
this he was eminently successful.
Over 500 men signed his petition
and held themselves ready to move
upon Bakersville at any moment. The
sheriff, learning of this had summoned
a number of deputies, and on Monday
had about sixty guards at the jail to
protect the prisoner from the mob. That
night a small mob did make an attack,
but it was an unsuccessful one, and the
mob was soon put to flight by the
sheriff and his brave posse. I'm
daunted by ill success, stronger efforts
were made yesterday to organize a
stronger mob TO do the work. Men
from the down country districts were
slow. to organize, but by midnight
mob estimated at between
800 and 500 determined men,
heavily armed with Winchesters
and pistols, had assembled OH the out
skirts of Bakersvlle. and were ready to
begin their march upon the Jail. While
some of the mob were OF the laWieSS
nature, it is stated that most of them
were the best citizens OF the country,
who had became tired and sick OF the
way things had been done as regards
criminals.
Led the Mob.
William Osborne, brother of the muir
dered man, who had circulated the petit
tions, led the mob. John Osborne, an
other brother, was also amongst the
mob, and they both fell in the first at
tack. The mob, knowing how strongly
the Jail was guarded began firing pro-
mscuously. The sheriff and his force
were ready, and the pitched battle ell
sued.
Bakersville is the county seat of
Mitchell county. one of the widest dis
tricts in all this Southern mountainous
country. 1t is the district in which the
Illicit distilIer has piled his vocation
for years, and dehed all law
known to mankind. Murders are almos
of frequent occurrence and the value
CT mans life amounts to little more
than naught. Bakersville, its county
seat, may strictly be termed mining
town. IL grew like the wind when
mica was discovered in its vicinity
and the people that settled there were
not of the best. Some years ago the
mica industry died out, but its citizens
have not improved their reverence for
law and order. Twent weight miles
from even a telegraph station, its des-
peradoes revel in their crimes and hide
out in the mountain faStness and until
search for them is declared at an end.
The Last Attack
on the Mitchell county jail was made at
o'clock Tuesday night. The structure
is frame building, and not made to
withstand an attack. But the sh eritf,
with about seventy-ive deter mined
the law upheld or die, took their
stand there. The attack was ex-
pected all day. Tuesday the outlaws
of Mitchell McDougall aud Yancey
counties were assembled in the little
town of Bakersville, until the popula-
ton of 500 was OutdOubled. At o'clock
in the afternoon formal de mand was
made on the sheriff for Snipes and the
two Whitsons by a messenger of the
moo, who approached the Jail un-
der flag of truce. TO this the
garrison responded: 1--WE will die first"
Then they knew there would be fight.
The little force divided into three par
ties, one remained in the jail and the
other two occupying the sheriff's house
and the main building. Winchesters
were loaded and the fight on the final
struggle began.
The men were not held in suspense.
The night would be bright with moon
light, and it was useless for the mob to
wait for darkness. About shutdown
the first attack was made. AT least 500
men marched up the road. and then,
with howl. broke oil run for the jail.
The Garrfs on Was Ready
for them. HALT, or I'll give the order
to fire." rang out from Sheriff Moomaw's
mouth. No attention was paid to the
order. "Fire," rang out the order, and
seventy-dve rifles poured a direct and
flankIng hail of bullets into the deter
mined lynchers. They wavered mo-
ment as score of them went
down, but with the steadi-
ness of veterans, closed up their
ranks and rushed forward again under
the leadership of gigantic mountain
eer. who urged them forward with the
old ''rebel YELL" Again the rifles of
the besieged rang, out and this time
they were answered by concentrated
fire from the mob. The aim was deadly.
Every window on the exposed sides of
the building occupied by the defenders
was shot orS and a dozen men fell
wounded or killed. Their bodies ham
pered the deputies who were unframed,
,.,Ix f,..ry al AK