The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1895-08-23
THE LYNcHERs ARRESTED.
Seven Men in Jail fer the Eliensburg
Lynchine Aaffair.

THE LYNCHERS ARRESTED.
Seven Men in Jsil fer the Eliensburg
Lynching Aaffair.
ELLEYsBUGH, Wash, Aug. 49,
This afternoon report noised
around town that the militia COM
pany had been ordered to report at
the armory proved true, and it was
soon learned that special deputies
had been sworn in to make arrests
of the men charged with being inn
plicated in the recent lynching.
The officers and deputies scattered,
and tonight seven men are under
arrest, charged with murder. The
movements of the officers are quiet
and they have little TO say. They
decline to give the names of the
men arrested, and have very little
information for the public general
ly. They had no trouble in max
ing the arrests, and while it caused
some excitement, no demonstration
of any kind was made, and tonight
the town is perfectly quiet and no
fears of trouble a.e expressed. The
militia company, however, is ready,
should additional help be needed
BRUTALITY OF LYNcHING.
A story of the Ellensburg lynch
ing, different from that sent out in
the dispatches, is told by busi-
ness man of that city. Said he:
There is no doubt in my mind
that the lynching was done by
friends out of pure revenge, and
was not the popular uprising of
the people that the dispatches have
stated.
"The lynching was brutal in the
extreme, and the elder Vinson was
shamefully maltreated as he was
being swung from the ground. 1t
has been stated that no personal
indignities were offered the Vim
sons, and no shots were fired, but
that is untrue, for several attempts
were made to shoot the men in
their cells before the door was
broken down. / do not think any
of the shots took effect, however,
because by standing close in the
corners of their cells the Vinsons
could keep out OF. range. When the
cage door had been broken down,
ropes were put around the prison
er's neck and they were led up the
street about three blocks to tree.
CARRYING at the tree, the ropes
were thrown over two branching
limbs about seven foot from the
ground. Old man Vinson was
pulled up first. When his feet
were two or three inches from the
ground, one of the lynchers, a Ger.
man, stepped up and struck him
on the side of the head twice with
all the force of his clenched fist,
Then, raising his foot, he kicked
Vinson and cursed him bitterly.
when first pulled up, neither
Of the Wilson's was tied. and ma
turally they moved their arms and
legs while they were strangling.
Observing this several of the
lynchers jerked their arms and legs
down and tied them. The men
hung 20 minutes or more before all
signs of life ceased. They were
not cut down until about 5 O'Clock
the next morning"
1t was learned from another
source that Sheriff Stinson has
since stated that about an hour or
SO before the mob appeared he be-
came satisfied that be could not
rely on his deputies, and was afraid
that if a mob came he would be
overpowered and the keys taken
away. Accordingly he took the
keys and went home, where he re-
mained until after the lynching.
While the mob was at work sew
eral citizens of Ellensburgh re-
monstrated with the leaders and
attempted to induce them to ale
low the law to take its course, but
no interference was allowed and
such persons were Immediately or
dered to ,leaye. Ex-Marshal Brown
was in the crowd, and used siren.
uous efforts to save the prisoners.
When about half way between the
Jail and the tree he took hold Of
one Of the Wilson's and attempted
to lead him away, but at this two
men with Winchesters took Brown
by the arms and led him down the
street, warning him not to try to
interfere any further.
Crops and Weather.
Weather-The hazy condition of
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