The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-09-22

4
scene of,the tragedy in this terrfble
drama.
The sight was horrible to behold
Dangling at the end Of small hemp
rope was the body Of the negro. His
face was bloody, distorted and eWollen.
A load Of shot had been fred into his
back, literally tearing his coat to pieces.
The rope was tied In q regulation hang
mans knot, and the negro'B feet we're
well above the ground.
Coroner Gray and q Jury repaired
early to the scene Of the lynehing, and
after viewing the body Of the dead man
rendered verdict that the negro came
to his death at the hands Of persons
unknown TO them. After the inquest
the officers were ordered to take charge
of the body, but tho aurging mass Of
aYenginR men, which had by this time
assembled, would not let them touch
him.
A coal cart passing near bY was
pressed into service and the body
thrown into it. 1t was then hauled 70
Mayor TrouPs residence on Campbell
avenue, It seemingly be the intention
of the mob to bury in his front yard.
At this critical moment Rev. w. o.
Campbell appeared upon the scene and
told the mob that such procedure would
never do. He spoke kindly to them,
and at last dissauded them from carry
ing out their plan.
The body during this time had not
been removed from the cart, so at the
suggestion OF some In the crowd they
took it over to the edge Of the river TO
burn It. Fences were torn down, store
boxes taken and some one cut down
several cedar trees near by. The
dry wood was laid in q large pit,
but arranged so 1t would burn freely.
On this heap the negro's body was laid.
On top of all the cedar boughs were
thrown. and then Just before touching
the match gallons of coal oil we're
poured on the dry wood. The match
was touched to 1t, and the flames from
the burning oil shot rapidly up. II
was an awful sight and all present felt
as If the fiend had met his just punish
ment.
II was not long before the crowd dis.
persed. All that was remaining Of
Smith at noon was few ashes, and
here aud there bone, but the fire was
still burning hercely and those standing
around said that it should burn till
there was not vestige left
After the smoke Of the battle had
cleared away fears for the safety Of
Mayor Trout and the determined men
with him were freely expressed by their
friends, as the indignation of the mob
seemed especially directed towards him
and the soldiers. While the crowd was
making preparations for the second
assault the militia were disbanded and
went to their homes. Mayor Trout
who had been wounded in the foot with
pistol ball in the melee was first car.
ried to the Ponce De Leon hotel, but
owing to the threats Of the mob he was
removed from there and taken to the
country, where he still is.
Shortly after his departure a crowd
went to the Ponce De Leon Hotel de-
manding the mayor. They.were assured
by the clerk that Mr.. Trout was not
there, but were not satisfied till some
of their leaders had made a search Of
the premises. Not finding him there,
the crowdrwent to Mayor Trout's resi-
dence on West Campbell avenue, where
tnorougn put Ltultless seatch was
made for him.
Acting Mayor R. A. Buckner has as
snmed charge Of the city government,
and has suspended Chief OF Police
Terry, Sergeant Griffin and Officer Nor
ris, pending an investigation in connec-
ton with the affair. A corones's jury
has been in session all day investigating
the cause OF the tragedy, but as yet has
not accomplished its labors. So far the
evidence adduced severely censures the
militia.
The town is quiet tonight, and the
streets are almost deserted.