The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1893-09-27
RIoT I'd ROANOKE. NJ.
Battle Between tie Authorities and
Af,h-r-t.... rzs,,,

sew
Af5b-Nine Killed.
ROANOKE, Va. Sept. 22.-This CITY
was the scene Of a battle between the
authorities and a mob. which resulted
In terrible bloodshed. The trouble
arose over the deed Of a negro, who as
saulted and nearly killed Mrs. Henry
bishop, wife OF wen-to-tlo farmer of
Botetourt county.
Mrs. Bishop was at the market with
q load of produce. and Smith bought a
box of grapes. He asked her to 90 with
him to get the money, and, taking her
to a house near by, locked the door and
bound her. Then drawing a. razor. he
demanded her money She gave it up,
which amounted to less than 81, and
while doing so jerked the razor from
his hand. The negro choked he i,
threw her down and pounded her head
with brick. leaving her for dead.
Mrs. Bishop, shortly afterwards, re-
gained CONSCIOUSNESS. and, returning to
the market, told Of the outrage.
Inc nend was Shortly afterward cap
tured by Detective W. w Baldwin and
lodged in jail here
A crowd gathered around the Jail
and kept on increasing as night ap-
preached. at 5o'ciock the Roanoke
light infantry marched to the Jail by
orders of Mayor Trout Guards were
posted and the streets in the vicinity
cleared. About dark the crowd was in
creased by 100 men from the vicinity
of the woman's home, headed by Mrs.
Bishops son, fireman on the Norfolk
and Western railroad
Several thousand men gathered with
in short time. Mayor Trout and Com
monwealth Attorney Hardaway adj
dressed the mob, assuring them that
the full penalty of the law would be
enforced If the negro's guilt should be
established
This seemed to eatisfy them for the
time; but a few remained to watch the
jail to see that no effort was made to
move the prisoner. But the crowd by
8 o'clock had begun to be turbulent,
and made an effort to get at the side
door of the Jail, where the militia and
Mayor Trout had retired. Suddenly
shooting was commenced by the mob,
and the mayor was shot in the foot
The militia were then ordered to return
the FIRE, and a volley from about 25
rifles was poured into the black mass
of humanity.
Mayor Trout, who, as first lieutenant,
led his company in the memorable
charge at Pickett's division. at Gettys-
burg, led the militia.
Round after round followed in quick
succession, and in a few minutes the
avenue was clear OF everything save
the bodies of the dead and dying.
There We're fully 5000 persons in the
vicinity of the jail when the militia be-
gan firing, but the greater part of them
were only there to see what was being
done. At the first volley thousands
fled, and several were knocked down IN
the rush. AS soon as the dazed crowd
realized what had happened attention
was turned to the dead and wounded.
Every drugstore and the Office of every
physician in the city was Immediately
turned into a hospital.
There was SO much excitement that it
was long time before any idea of the
casualties could be obtained. AS soon
as the dead and the wounded were be-
ing cared for, the excitement and in
dignation was again at fever heat, and
the mob swore vengeance on the militia
and the mayor and started again for
the jail, but the cooler heads prevailed
upon them to keep away.
During the excitement caused by the
volley. Smith was taken from the Jail
by an officer and secreted.
The dead and wounded were given all
the attention possible, but the militia
and the mayor continued at their posts
of dnty at the jail.
All night the mob searched for the
negro and early in the morning he was
found. He was at once strung up and
his body riddled with bullets. The
body was then taken down and burned
in the presence of over 1000 enraged
citizens.