The Bessemer indicator., 1893-01-07
THIRTY MEN SHOT DOWN.
Frightrul Results OF Attempt to
Lynch Three Men In North
Carolina.

A desperate battle was fought at Bakers
vile, North Carolina, on Tuesday, between a
sherifrs posse and mob of 800 men who
were determined to lynch three murdcrers.
About thirty men were killed in the fight.
Last August, Calvin Snipes, Aaron Wise
man and Williem Snecd were partners in m
Illicit distillcry. Isaac Osborne and William
Osborne scented the dlstillery and reported it
to the revenue officers at Bakenville. The
owners suspected the Osborne brothers and
laid plot to murder them secretly. On the
night Of August %, Aaron Wiseman and Cal
win Snipes went to the house Of Isaac Osborne
and called him up. Osborne came to the door
and they opened fire with shotguns, riddiing
him with buck-shot. Wisemsu was tried be-
fore Justice of the peace, but sufficient evi-
dencc could not be obtained against him and
he was dismissed. Snipes was tried and held
to court for the murder. When Wiseman
heard of this he left for parts unknown.
For fully two months plans for lynching
snipes have been in progress. Petitions were
circulated by William Osborne, brother OF the
deceased, to get men to help him In the lynch
ing, aud In this he Was eminently successful.
Over 500 men signed his petition and held
themselves In readiness to move upon Bakers
Vile at any moment The sheriff, learning Of
this, had summoned number of deputies,
and on Monday night had about thirty guards
at the jail to protect the prisoner from the
mob. That night small mob did make an
attack, but 1t was an unsuccessful one and the
mob was soon put to flight by the sheriff and
his brave posse
Undaunted by Ill success, stronger efforts
werc smade to organize stronger mob
to do the work. Men from the country
districts were not slow to organize, and be-
fore night Tuesday there were 700 men in
town ready to attack the Jail.
VIM. Osborne. brother of the murdered
man, who had circulated the petitions, led
the mob. John Osborne, another brother,
was also among the number, and both Of them
fell in the battle which followed.
AT 4 O'Clock In the afternoon formal de-
mand was made upon Sheriff Moomaws for
Snlpcs aud the Whitsons by a messenger from
the mob, who approached the jail under a flag
of truce.
To this the garrison responded, "Wc will
die first" Then they knew there would be u
fight. The little company split up into three
parts, one remaining in the jail and the other
occupying the sheriff's house and the barn
near the main building. WInchcsters were
loaded and the walt for the final struggle be-
gan. The men were not long in suspense.
The night was bright with moonlight and it
was useless for the mob to wait for darkness
About sundown the first attack was made.
At least 500 armed men marched up the road
and then with howl broke on n run for the
| jail The garrison was ready for them
Halt or | will give the order to fire. =
I 81. IT
attention was paid to the warning.
Fire rang out the order, and seventy five
rifles poured direct and tlauking hail of
bullets into the determined lynchers. They
wavered for moment as n score of them
went down, but with the steadiuess of vctcr-
ans closed up their ranks and rushed forward
under the leadership or a gigantic mountain
Ger, who urged them on with the old 'rebel
yell"
Again the rifles of the beseged rang ont.
and this time they were answered by a con
centrated fire from the mob. The aim was
deadly. Every window on the exposed side
of the building occupied by the defenders
was shot out and dozen men fell wounded
or killed, Their bodies hampered the dcpu-
ties who were unharned and only few could
close up to the windows and return the vollcy
before the mob was upon them.
There was short struggle What were 75
men against 800; A few revolver shots, 100
rifles and all was over. The deputies with
their leader, Sheriff Moomaw, mortally
wounded, were in the hands of the mob.
There was no hope for further resistance. and
the fate Of the murderers was sealed With
out waiting to pick up the dead or care for
the wounded the mob made a rush at the
door of the Jail, and it went down before the
shoulders of score of stalwart men. The
three prisoners, half dead with fright, were
dragged out and hanged to trees near lIy, but
they had been shot to death before the trees
were reached.
Then the mob returned to look for the
dead and wounded In the little enclosure
and on the roadbed in front of the Jail twenty
five bodies were found and in the buildings
eight more rigid in death. About thirty
others were wounded, some of them fatally
among these being gallant Sheriff Moomaw
who was shot twice through the chest and
three times through the abdomen. Nothing
definite is known of the wounded. as Bakers
vile is miles away from telegraph office and
all news brought from there comes by cou-
rier Since the first news was received four
and five more of the mob.
Another courier brought word to Marion
Wednesday afternoon that the mob, instead
of dispensing expected, remained upon
the ground. The scattered handful of shcr-
IFS posse continued to receive acccssions to
its ranks and by noon the party numbered
about 800 to 600 men. Feeling ran high and
after few speeches tho posse resolved to
avcnge Sheriff Moomaw's death. Another
battle took place shortly after noon in which
at least twenty-five more men were killed.
What will he the result no one can tell but
troops are expected.
Pretty Good idea.
Some time ago the suggestion was made in