The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-21
KILLED IN MOB ATTACK
Eleven Dead and Many Wounded
in Roanoke, Va.
MILITIA SHOOT THE RIOTERS.
The Soldiers We're Guarding a Negro
in Danger of Lynching.

A Negro I.ured Farmers Wife Into
Cellar AID Attacked Her In Robbery
She Wns Beaten Into In.ensibility-Re
gaining Consciousness Her story Arouse,
the Town-Cnpture of the Negro. and III
Wild Ride to Jnii-Gathering of the Mo,
The Mayors Effort for Peace, ana tn,
| Calling Out OF tho Miiitia-A Night At
tack Led by the Neighbors and Friend,
Of the Injured woman-The Militia Fe,
Back ma Fired. but Not Untii the Mol
| Had Used Explosives on the JniI-In tn.
Confusion the Negro Was Spirited Away
ROANOKE, Va. Sept 2O-This morning. about
| 10 o clock.a negro named Robert Smith went t
the city market and purchased some grapes
from Mrs. Sarah Bishop wife OF Henry Bishop
a Botetourt farmer. residing near Cloverdnlc
ten miles from this city. Mrs. Bishop had
driven In to sell produce. Smith had note
! purporting to be from a Mrs. Hicks ordering
the grapes. Telling Mrs. Bishop to follow him
he pretended to lead the way to Mrs. Hicks
residence. where she might get the money
| due her. Passing down Il stairway leading to
cellar near the Randolph street bridge. in
the centre OF the city. he entered side door.
Mrs. Bishop followed him.
| AS soon as she entered the room he closed
the door and throwing rope over her head
demanded her money. She gave him her
pocketbook. containing So. and begged him to
spare her life. Jnmindful OF her pleadings he
drew razor and made an attempt to cut her
throat. She grabbed the razor and threw it into
corner OF the room. Then ho began to choke
and beat her. She became unconscious and he
supposed she was dead.
Smith left the place. and the woman, becom-
ing conscious in about half an hour. made her
way to the market house. a block and hall
distant. and told her experience. In q short
time the police and citizens. on foot and on
horseback. wore searching for the negro He
was captured at IL o'clock By Detective W. G.
baldwin in the woods. half mile east Of the
city His first exclamation was: Il did not
hit the woman" He said his name was Robert
Smith and that he lived in Vinton. three miles
east OF here.
The detective. who was on horseback. made
the negro get up behind him and rode rapidly
into the city whore the surgeons were dress
ing the injured woman's wounds. There he
was fully identified by Mrs. Bishop by this
time the news Of his capture. had spread all
over the city. and large crowd had gathered
about the jail with the intention Of !yrchiuc
the negro
The detective approached the jail at a gallop
with his revolver in his hand. The crowd,
being without a leader. made way for him to
in Jail.
Mayor Trout and Commemorative Attorney
W. o. Hardaway then addressed the gather
ing. counselling obedience to the law. and
promising O speedy trial Of tho prisoner The
crowd dispersed. but later in tho day gath
cred about the Jail In great numbers. using
threats against tho prisoner.
About o'clock the situation became SO
grave that the Roanoke Light Infantry was
ordered out, and with loaded rifles and fixed
bayonets proceeded to clear the streets ana
sidewalks for one block in front Of the Jail. The
infantry consisted OF thrty-two boy soldiers.
The mob was disposed to be unruIy. and at
onetime a riot was i'm minent but the flrmness
Of the young militiamen and the promptness
OF the police averted for time the danger.
Two or three Of the ringleaders wore arrest
ed and locked up. 1t was reported that mob
OF men on horseback would come in from
Botetourt during tho night. and great anxiety
resulted. Mayor Trout, Attorney Hardaway,
Police Justice Turner. and other city officers
were at the jail all day watching the course Of
events.
The Mayor was determined to maintain the
dignity OF the law at al hazards. Mrs Bishop
had received deep cut on the back Of her
head and two severe blows over each of her
eyes. The prints Of the negroes fingers are
badly swollen. The doctors said her injuries
might result fatally.
With the coming OF night the mob rapidly |
Increased. Men from the railroads and shops |
hurried to the scene as soon as they had eaten |
supper. Mrs. Bishop has a son In the employ |
Of the Norfolk and Western Railroad. and the |
railroad men were anxious to assist in avene-
ING her injuries. Crowds came In from tho
surrounding country. Scores OF the neiehbors
of the woman arrived in the city shortly after
lark.
The authorities anticipating trouble had
asked for outside help and the military COM
oany at Salon. seven miles away. was ordered
o be In readiness to render assistance. and
IN electric car was provided for their trans
,ortation. The quick work OF the mob and
'odiers made 1t unnecessary to call for them. |
Soldiers patrolled the jail square. and the mob
torn ed and started In solid ranks up to this
Inc. but did not dare to cross it.
Tho leaders were quietly at work urging
'loence. and tho excited crowd WAS working
tsei up to the point OF attack. There were
ully 1000 men In the streets In the Vicinity OF
he Jail. but not more than 500 were bent u pom
attacking the JaiL
About 8 o'clock a voley OF shots and shouts
rom several hundred Threats were heard two
locks away on Salem avenue. The neighbors
nd friends OF Mrs. Bishop had assembled
nd were marching in Il solid column about
100 strong.
They were approaching the crowd already
ear the jail The appearance o! these deter
aimed farmers was the signal for attack. They
Mingled with tho great mass OF the mob and
nth wild yell made over the military lines.
he sentinels fell back before the approach Of
his angry crowd.
Mayor Trout and tho police had retired into
he Jail. and the military were drawn up in
ne OF battle at the Greene Memorial Church
n the corner OF Roanoke street and Campbell
venue. about seventy-lve yards west OF tho
Ill. Their rifles were loaded and their bayo-
cts were Fixed.
Suddenly the mob In front OF tho IRil began
18th wild yells to surge forward. There was
sound OF heavy blows. an explosion OF pow {
er. The mob oheered. and II SCENE as II the
ito OF the prisoner was sealed.
Suddenly there was n sound Of small arms ,
sAn, I'LL I,l - Il Al A 4