The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-03-27
MOB LYNCHES ITALIANS.
They Were Deliberately Shot Down by
Avenging Colorado Miners.
ITALIAN MINISTER PROTESTS.
The Victims Were Charged With Muir
der---Four Butchered in a Wagon
While Being Taken to Jail---The
American Driver Accidentally Killed..
The Mob Breaks Into the Jail.


While Being Taken to Jail---The
American Driver Accidentally Killed..
The Mob Breaks Into the Jail.
Mob rule reigned for several days among
the miners in the coal camps Of Huerfano
County, Colorado, and seven victims, all but
one Italians, were during that time slain by
bullets from the mob's Winchesters. -Four
Italians were killed from ambush while being
taken prisoners in wagon to the Jail at Wal
senburg after Coroner's commitment for
completely in the murder Of Abner j. Hixon,
a saloon keeper at Rouse. An American boy
who was driving the wagon was killed by the
fusillade Of bullets.
Before daylight mob of miners and
citizens OF Walsenburg gathered outside the
jail where two Of the Italians were confined,
got inside by q pretence, and killed both the
prisoners.
It was reported that the same mob, thirst
ing for more bloodshed, later took out Of
jail German charged With outrage and
killed him. During the excitement two
other prisoners escaped.
The names Of the dead 30 far as known
OF prisoners wagon; Lorenzo Danino, killed
In jail he beat Hixon to death; Pete Jaco-
bini, killed in jail.
The names Of the four Italians killed on
the road were unknown. Five other sus-
poets had been released from custody before
the mob rose. All Of them lived at Rouse,
where the Italians far outnumber the Ameri-
cans.
The attack upon the jail at Walsenburg
was the result Of the extreme excitement
provoked by the summary vengeance OF
Hixon's friends The massacre OF the five
men from ambush was evidently well
planned, with the exception Of the killing OF
the driver. Four Of those killed had been
held for trial by the Coroner's jury. 1t Is
asserted that Welsby's death was accidental.
In order to be certain that the fifth Italian
held for Hixon's murder should not escape,
the mob did not stop to identify the two
prisoners found in the jail, but riddled both
with rifle balls.
subject Of much speculation. He was thirty
six years old and native Of Arkansas, and
was not Of an aggressive or quarrelsome dis
position. It Is thought he was attacked while
on the road from Walsenburg to Rouse,
coal mining camp, six miles
distant, and knocked from his horse by
blow on the head. Workmen going to the
Rouse mine discovered Hixon with his skull
fractured. There was absolutely no clue to
the perpetrators of the crime, but T. J.
Brewer, pit boss at the coal mine, solved this
difficulty.
fastening to his home he secured trained
bloodhound and put him on the scent. The
dog struck trail that led the pursuers to
the rear Of saloon q half mile away. The
Intelligent brute bayed and rushed to an old.
table standing in the rear room. An exam
ination of the table revealed fresh blood
stains.
were found In the room, were Immediately
arrested. The dog continued to neighbor-
ing cabin, where Pete Poszetta and Frank
Aurico were found. The quartette Of Italians
made many damaging admissions Of knowl-
edge Of the murder, and upon close question
ing the names Of five others implicated were
,divulged.
Danino was charged with being the chief
conspirator. Horsemen secured the sur-
rounding country, and by four O'Clock In the
afternoon all the suspected Italians were
under arrest and lodged In jail, where they
remained until called to attend the inquest.
At its conclusion the men who had been
arrested, all Of whom were Italians and
eleven In number, were put into wagon and
started for Walsenburg in the keeping OF the
officers.
The prisoners were In charge Of Deputies
Earl Danford and Charles Hartman and
Driver Joseph Welsby.
When on bridge less than O mile from
Walsenburg six masked men rode up, or
dered the driver to stop, the deputies to hold
up their hands. and the prisoners to get out.
The horsemen began shooting, frightening
the horses, which ran into wire fence. The
driver was killed by an accidental shot, and
four Of the prisoners fell dead In the road.
Peter Jaeobini, badly wounded, was taken
to Walsenburg jail. After the attack on the
wagon party all was comparatively quiet
until soon after midnight. About that time
seven or eight men wearing masks knocked
at the door of the Jail where Lorenzo Dan
ino, who was charged by the other Italians
with having struck the blows that killed
Hixon, and the Italian wounded In the wagon
attack were confined.
In answer to question the men said
O'Malley, the Sheriff, wanted to enter. AS
soon as the door was opened the guard found
guns in their faces. Part OF the masked men
then went to the cell where the two Italians
were confined and fired eight or ten shots.
Each prisoner received four or five bullets
One died instantly, but the other lived
short time In great agony.
The Marquis Imperial, First Secretary Of
the Italian Embassy, called on Acting Secre-
tary Uhl, of the State Department at Wash
ington, In relation to the killing OF
Italians at Walsenburg, Col. He did
not make formal complaint, but re-
quested Mr.. Uhl to see thnt protec-
ton was afforded italian subjects In the
event OF further trouble. Mr.. Uhl promised
to do 30, and sent q telegram to the Gov
ernor Of Colorado asking what measures had
been taken to insure compliance with the re-
quest OF the Italian Government.
Governor Mcintyre telegraphed the State
Department that he had instructed the Sheriff
of Huerfano County to protect the Italian
miners from further mob violence. he said
In his despatch that from Information he be-
lieved the Italian miners were American citi-
zens. He further said that the militia near
est the scene could be forwarded ut short no.
tice.
Camel Coal Miners Wanted.