The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-10-23
RESCUED FROM THE MOB.
RIOT IN AN OHIO TOWN

ed I'm Saving u Worthless Wretch
Ibe Negro Brute Taken Away Under
Heavy Military Escort.
WASHINGTON, @. H., Ohio, October
l0.-Jasper Dolby, the negro who as
saulted Mrs. Mary G.. Bird near here
several days ago, confessed the deed
yesterday, and was tried during the
day and sentenced to twenty years inn
prisonment.
Last night a mob Of 1000 infuriated
citizens advanced on the Jail and were
fred on b. the troops guarding the
structure. Three members or the
mob fell dead at the first fire and
eight or ten were wounded. The dead
are Smith Welsh, aged lS; Jess July,
aged 25, and Mack Johnson
The encounter between tae mob and
populace, ard for several hours
pandemonium ragged in the little town,
and it looked as If the enraged people
would overcome the soldiers, and cap
ture the prisoner. Reinforcements
were hurried here from Columbus and
Cincinnati, and quiet was finally re-
stored.
The first regiment of Cincinnati
and three additional companies of the
furteenth regiment, 125 men and two
Gatling guns, arrived here at 3:15
| ooiooh onie ihornlhS Lne ueu "ere
formed Mt the depot and marched to
the court house where the Columbus
companies and the one from this place
were already formed. The train,
which was a special, was held and the
troops escorted Dolby to the train.
| There was no material demonstration,
the crowd having thinned out.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE TRAGEDY.
Another account from Washington
G. FL. says: "The special grand jury
was impaneled, the negro indicted,
and he was taken from the Jail to the
court house, tried and sentenced to
twenty years Imprisonment in the pen
tentiary about as quick as it takes to
write it. The militia companies formed
at the west side of the court house,
while the sheriff and deputy James
Busick, went to the jail for the priso-
ner. The west entrance to the court
house is about forty feet from u rear
side door of the jail, and there are high
steps leading to the former. A thous-
and people had gathered in the court
house yard to angrily protest against
the coursesof leaden-heeled Justice. A
thousand people with curses and inn
precautions vowed that Dolby should
never be taken past them up the high
steps to the hall. The sheriff and his
deputies had already emerged from
the Jail door, when the acknowledged
leader of the crowd, Henry Kirk, who
married Mrs. Birds sister, rushed
toward the trembling wretch, pro-
tected by the sworn officer of the law,
and breaking through the thin ranks
of the stalwart guards, seized the
culprit with u hand of iron. Quick as
a flash the musket of soldier was
swung with great force and Mr.. Kirk
| lN1 fnn NIx>
angry crowd surged madly forward
! and in the rush swept one soldier boy
around the corner and away from his
company, but he quickly returned, to
his post. The curses and impreca-
tions of the thoroughly maddened
crowd grew in volume and the wretch
! ed prisoner trembled like an aspen.
The prisoner weakened visibly and he
had to be supported. Col. Colt rallied
his men for a supreme effort and the
prisoner was almost carried up the
steps and into the courthouse. There
was then u scence OF intense excite
ment. Men, armed with slaves and
every form of weapon, rushed blindly
almost into the bayonets of the soldiers,
and some so far forgot themselves as
to rush almost on the troops. Deputy
Busick and Detective Caldwell held
the prisoner between them, and neither
forgot his nerve. Horny Kirk, frantic
with rage, rushed down an alley for
surgical aid, presently returning with
II huge plaster over his face. His
friends, well-dressed farmers, and even
business men of this city, rallied at
his approach, and there we're hoarse
cries of We will get him yetw "It's
u long way to the depot!"
Col. Colt, commanding the troops,
stepped on the steps of the court house
and warned the excited people to dis
perse. His words fell on deaf ears.
Turning to his men, he shouted,
Load !" There was a uniform clicking
OF hammers, and every soldier pre-
pared his weapon for trouble. The
startled crowd fell back few steps,
and several of the more timid rushed
for the corners. They rallied almost
immediately and closed in, but the
soldiers held them back. Once up to
the third floor of the court house and
into the room whore, the trials are
held, Dolby was soon legally declared
II criminal. AT exactly 3;52 o'clock he
was led into the court room, and in three
minutes he was sentenced to twenty
years Imprisonment, ten days In each
year in solitary confinement,
Shortly after midnight Adjutant
General Howe secured telephone COM
munication with Major John G. Speaks,
of the Fourteenth regiment, surround
ed in the court house at Washington
G. Fl. by the mob. Major Speaks said
the mob about the court house and Jail
seemed to be as large as ever, but not
so noisy and defiant. He was informed
that another large crowd had col
lected at the railway station evidently
awaiting the arrival Of more troops.
The wisdom of arranging it so that all
the detachments should arrive at the
same time was now apparent and
orders were sent to the officers of the
different commands to effect meet
ing at some distance from town. Major
Speaks said the troops at the court
house would be able to hold it against
the mob, notwithstanding that 1t was
known that an attempt would be made
by volley of musketry. The mob
seemed to be without leaders of cour-
age or 1t would be equal to almost any
thing.
Fayette County Is settled by farmers
and the region is distinctively rural.
There are no large cities in it, Farm
ing and stock raising Is almost the only
occupation. That mob so bold and
per sistent should be met thereis a sur
prise to the State military officers
Never have the mining regions, which
were supposed to contain all the worst
elements Of the States population, pro.
duced O mob that equaled this one in
dogged tenacity OF purpose and bold.
ness.
THE ARRIVAL AT COLUMBUS.