Evening journal., 1893-09-22
ROANOKE'S FURIOUS MOB.
PEACE-DlSTURBERS AT ONE TIME
THREATENED TO BURN EVERYTHING

Their Chief Meeting-PIace Was Around
the Undertaker's Establishment Where
All the Dead Bodies Are Lying in
state.
ROANOKE, Va, Sept. 22-After the
mob had captured the negro Smith yes
terday, people focked from every direc.
tion and cheered and shouted as the man
was dragged to hickory tree and hung
up TO limb in the fashionable residen-
tial part of the city. His body was rid
died with bullets, and some one placed
on the breast a placard with these
words:
This is Mayor Trout's friend"
Thousands OF people viewed the body
between dsybreak and o'clock,p and
many who looked upon it satisfied
their vengeance by placing a bullet in
the swinging corpse. Towards 9 o'clock
the body was cut down, and the coroner
went through the form of holding an
inquest. The verdict was that Smith
met his death at the hands of persons
unknown. After the jury had com
pleted its work, the body was turned
over to the officers, but they were una.
BILE to keep it from the mob. Three hun
dred or more men attempted to drag it
through the city, but Rev. DIR. Campbell
and Captain R. B. Norman pleaded
with them eloquently not to do so. They
desisted.
1t was taken to the banks of the
Roanoke river, about a mile away,
followed by an imense concourse Of
people, both white and colored. A pile
Of dry lumber was prepared and the
body placed on it, and then coal oil vast
poured on the remains. A great shou
went up from thousands Of throat
as match was applied and the blaze
shot up high in the air.
1t is believed that Mayor Trout went
to Richmond to have his wounded limb
attended to. Where Captain. Bird Is no
one appears to know. He may have gone
to his old home in Maine SO great is
| the indignation toward Mayor Trout
that it was at one time suggested that
Smiths body be buried in his yard, but
Rev. DR.. Campbell and others persuaded
the mob not to do so.
Having failed to find Trout and Bird
the mob held street caucuses. 1t was
| suggested by some that the city be
burned to the ground, and the situa-
tion became so alarming that Acting
Mayor Buckner published an address
urging the people to disperse to their
homes and not cause further trouble
The appeal fell on deaf ears.
AS the day wore on the mobs center
was in front of the undertaking estab-
lishment where seven of the dead bodies
lay. The crowd here numbered thou,
sands, and Richmond was telegraphec
to hold the howitzers in readiness Il
come to Roanoke with guns at moments
notice. At so happened that nearly all
of the dead and wounded were in the
employ of the Norfolk and Western
Railroad, and the mob were prevailed
upon to appoint committee to visit
General Manager Sands of the company
and ask his advice as to what shoulC
be done to revenge what the people
claimed was wrong done to them.
The committee asked Mr.. Sands whai
he thought of the idea Of a general mass
meeting to discuss what SHOULD be done
He advised against this in the stronges
possible terms and the committee left
him in rather a sullen mood. The gran,
central mass meeting did not materialize
I but in its stead there were several gath
erings this afternoon of persons 0
different classes to discuss the situation
At all of them wise counsel prevailed
and il was decided TO do no violent act
The Grand Lodge OF colored Odd Eel
! lows passed resolutions deploring tn
affair and calling on the people to quietl
snhmit 70 rrhaf had nccnrrad