The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-09-28
ROASTED THE RAVISHER
ENRAGED CITIZENS OF ROANOKE MAKE
SHORT WORK OF SMITH.
Took Him From the Officers, Dragged Him
to Death and Burned His Body to Ashes.
Nine Men Killed by the Militia
Last Night.

ROANOKE, Va, Sept. 21.-The negro
Thomas Smith, who assaulted Mrs.
Henry Bishop last night, was lynched
this morning. He was found by mob
where the authorities had secre ted
him and dragged to his death. Not
content, the infatuated mob carried his
body to the river and there in the
presence of a throng of thousands of
wildly excited leople the negro's body
was incinerated. The squad of men
hanged the negro in the residence por-
ton of the city at O'Clock this morn
ing and then riddled his body with
bullets and placed placard on it saw
ing, This is Mayor Trout's friend
After the inquest the mob seized the
body and dragged il through the
streets to the river. The body was
placed on pile OF brushwood and
more brushwood on the body leaving
only the head bare. The pile was
then saturated with coal oil and
match applied. The body was con
sumed within an hour. The cremation
was witnessed by several thousand
people.
One time the mob threatened to bury
the negro in Mayor TronU's yard.
There is much Indignation against the
mayor and militia. Many threats of
vengeance have been openly made.
Captain Bird, commander of the
militia, has left town. Moyor Trout,
despite his wound, also disappeared,
and President Buckler of the city
council is acting mayor.
Excitement is running high now.
Citizens are talking of holding an in
dignation meeting and threats are be-
ing made to burn the town unless sat
Crowds throng the streets and all
public places. There is an immense
crowd in front of Oakley Il Wool wines,
undertakers, where several of the
dead bodies lie The number of killed
was exaggerated last night, and it is
now found that only nine men are
dead.
Revised List of Dead-S A Wick,
VIM Sheets, Chas w Whitemeyer J B
Tyler, Geo white, w E Hall, W j
Jones, John Mills, Geo Settles.
Wounded-O g Fulls Qatally), Will
Eddy, Geo o Monroe, Frank Wills,
Thes Nelson, Leroy White, j b Nc
Gree, - Shippard, E Small, j F
Powell, E Wayland Geo Leeds, Wal
ter P Huff, Mayor H E Trout. H
Campbell, Edgar Whaling, G H Figall,
g H North, o B Toylor, Hall, David,
Ruggles, N E Sparks, Il E helms, Chas
Molten, VIM Berry and an unknown
colored woman.
1t is asserted by members of the
military company today that they
frequently warned the mob to kee p
away from the Jail under penalty of
being shot, Captain Bird told them
he was under orders to protect the
prisoner, whose life the mob so eagerly
sought, and come what may, he would
not allow him to be taken by the mob.
To this the mob replied with boots and
derisive ieers. The rioters became
frenzied at the determined stand taken
by Captain Bird and his men, and
finally the crowd of excited men made
rush for the side door of the Jail
The captain directed the men to
drive the would be lynchers back. At
this moment the mob opened
fire on the soldiers. This APP
peared for moment 10 startle
the men and the captain, but the
was only for a moment when he cody
gave the command: Ready, aim, fire.
The company obeyed instantly and
poured volley of bullets into that
part of the mob which was trying to
break down the side door of the Jail.
The rioters fell back before the fire of
the militia, leaving men writhing in
the agonies of death at the door.
There was lnll for moment. Then
the word was quickly flashed through
the throng in front Of the jail and
down the street that a man was kill.
ed. There was an awful rush to wards
the little band of soldiers. Excited
men were yelling like demons. The
fight became general and ere it ended
nine men were dead Many were
wounded Efforts are now being put
forward to calm the excited people, but