The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-06
THE RAKERSVILLE RIOT.
Conflicting Reports as to the Affair at the
County jail.

JOHNSON, Tenn, Jan. 5.-Twenty-eight
miles from any telegraph station, in the
heart of the mountains, is the little town
Of Bakersville, n. c. Mountain dew
makers have for years piled their vocation
there. only now and then being temper
nrily disturbed by the revenue officers
They have been brought up to have little
If any respect for the law, and murders
have been ofthe most frequent occurrence
Calvin Snipes, Aaron Wisman and Will
liam Sneed last August were partners in
sn Illicit distillery. Isaac Osborne and
William Osborne discovered the distiliery
and reported it to the revenue officers at
Bakersville. The owners suspected the
OSborues rs the infOrmers and decided on
plot TO murder them secretly. WiSman
and Snlpes went 10 the house of Isaac
Osborne on the night of Aug. 27 and
called him up. Osborne came 10 the door
aud they opened fire with shotguns, rid
ding MIN with bullets. Wisman was
tried before justice Of the peace, but sufIi-
clent evidence,could not be obtained against
Hlnl, so his discharge was ordered. Snipes
MAS tried and bound over 10 court After
being in Jail a few weeks Snipes confessed,
ceiling the whole story. When WiSmanu
heard this he left the country.
A-NSA SAAlAN iit ilAhtNGA hHC DIOIheIS OF
the dead man have been untiring in their
efforts to arouse the public to vengeance.
William Osborne never ceased circulating
petitions until be fell dead Yesterday
morning while leading the party which
was stnrminE the Jail. To his petition he
secured nearly 500 names. For several
days the sheriff has been fully informed
and had selected twenty OF the most de-
tprmiued men IN the county TO assist him
IN guarding he prisoner in his charge 4
small party attempted TO storm the ia!l
Monday night, but they wese eusilv beaten
hack by the sheriff and posse. Osborne
reoOubiCd his efforts on Tuesday, and by
his courlers succeeded in getting mob Of
nearly 400 men together near the city
The sheriff, knowing what was comiul-
doubled the number OF his guards saw
tnat their arms were IN perfect order, and
look every pTeCaUlOu to beat off an At
tack. X WAS after midnight when the
mob was ready 10 move upon the i,Ii
Firing commenced soon after and a DjtChea
battle followed Immediately between the
mob and the deputies. Almost at the firsj
Volley William Osborne. who led the At
tack, was Killed. In ii few minutes Tohp
Osborne also fell dead. The battle RACED
until IL o o'CloCk a. II. Nearly half The
number OF deputies had fallen dead and
several of the others had been badly
wounded. Then the mob, with A veil IF
triumph, entered the Jail. battered down
the cell door and led the unhappy Suipes
away 10 his doom. He was given no
chance 10 say word, but was ridulsd with
bullets from hundreds OF weapons.
The mob is still under arms. but in
spite OF the intense excitement. it is no;
believed that there will be any more blood
shed, unless "A call is made on the governor
Tor troops. II troops are summoned every
mountain moonshlner for miles around
VIII be on hand TO repulse them as they
have no respect for any ythiHg but local law.
and VIII resent outside attempts TO force
them into submission. As lar as they ar,.
concerned the case Is closed, as both the
sherlff's posse aud the mob are regarded
a. having done Their duty Ia dying with
their boots on
MARION, y. C., Jan. "a courier has
just arrived here from Bakersyilic. WHO
states that the mob, instead OF dispersiu-
rs expected, remained upon ths ground \
handful of the sheriff posse also RENAME
under arms. and they are being reinforced
All through the morning they continued
10 receive aCcessions 10 their ranks, aut! b-