The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-09-24

not positively identity the man." but
he would lock him up. He was taken
to police headquarters.
Eat IL o'clock 1 was informed that the
mayor had ordered the Light Infantry
to hold themselves ready. At 3 O'clock
Corporal Loving asked me il had seen
Captain Bird and said they had received
orders to assemble at tho armory. l
received no notice until 1 hailed Cap
tain Bird and asked him il he had re.
ceived orders and he said he was then
on his way to see the mayor, as he had
notified ais company to assemble at
o'clock and the mayor wanted them to
meet at once. At that time there was
report circulated that Mrs. Bishop
had died. | took the Vinton dummy,
went to Tazewell avenue, and went over
and found that Mrs. Bishop was resting
quietly.
II returned to the armory just as Cap
tain Bird marched his company out of
the armory. Captain Bird then marched
his company to poles headquarters and
was asked by the mayor who was in
command OF the company. The mayor
orderedCaptain Bird to clear the streets,
which was done after some resistance.
This was about o'clock. I went
into the street as a conservator of the
peace and asked the people to dispense
l examined the code and found the or
der had been properly drawn and wit
messed. From that time on to o'clock
the crowd was very much diminished.
From to o'clock the crowd increased
rapidly, during which time circulated
among the crowd and asked them to
dfsperse and was satisfied that the
promises of the officers would be carried
out. The crowd seemed to be very de-
m n md tnn1
1t was evident to me there would be
further trouble.
81 telegraphed Captain Griffin to hold
his company in readiness for further
orders 1t was my opinion that would
not be In command until another com
pany was on the ground, forming bat
TALON. | at the same time wired Gov
ernor Mckinney that the company had
been called out. That message was
sent at the request of Captain Bird. At
7:45 Mayor Trout, who was at police
headquarters, said, l think you ought
to have that Salem company l wired
captain Griffin to come on the next
dummy
'On my way to the telegraph Office
met crowd coming up the street. I
telephoned headquarters that the mob
was coming. / filed the message to
Captain Griffin at ISL. then re-
turned to headquarters and found the
mob had broken through the picket
lines and were then in front of police
headquarters. When arrived at head
quarters Captain Bird had placed a
guard around the door. Mayor Trout
was endeavoring to address the crowd,
but did not succeed, for they drowned
his voice. heard Captain Bird eau
tioning the men to keep down the points
nd
to press against the guns.
'The picket line was formed at little
after o'clock by relief of fifteen men
In addition to the eighteen who we're
first brought from the armory. The
guard was mounted by Sergeant War
ner. The guard was stationed on the
south side of Campbell street at. the
intersection of Campbell and Commerce
streets. The picket line came up on
the south side Of the curb stones on the
north side of the street ana extended
about fifty feet west of the jail. The
line then ran on the south side OF head
quarters to the yard in the rear of the
jail. There were two men in the rear
OF the jail and two on the east OF the
jail in the courthouse yard.
II can't state what the orders were as
was not present. They were given by
Captain Bird. Sergeant Warner re-
ceiyed them and has them in writing.
After Captain Bird had instructed the
guard not to allow the men to press on
the guns the leader strengthened the
mob around the west side Of the Jail. |
don't know the name of the leader. |
then went into the police court room
and into the rear hall TO see how the
guard was stationed and found several
men on the steps leading up to the
entrance. AS returned into the lobby
l heard the first blows on the door.
After the lines were broken by the
mob. the guards on the street were
called in. Captain Bird placed himself
in front Of the window and said, You
men must get away from that door,
The captain sent for three men. Thew
were sent, 1 think, by Lieutenant
Hatcher.
Just as the three men men raised
the window Captain Bird again called
to the people outside, you men must
get away from there. have orders to
protect this Jail and will certainly fire
If 1t is necessary. If and compelled to
fire 1T certainly will be done.'
There was one stone thrown before,
and this was the second stone thrown
through the window. He said Men. give
you fair warning. My guns are loaded
with bullets; get back. get back Then
a shower OF stones fell upon the door,
Immediately followed by two shots from
the outside.
Before the last caution he had or
dered ready Then after the two shots
were fred Captain Bird gave the C nm
mand OF fire. l noticed particularly
that he commanded the squad ready,
aim,' and then at this time the rocking
Nf tta -.