Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-06-10


Friday morning four lives were lost
and ten citizens were wounded. Al
1870 a. ~. Charles Mitchell (coIored),
the cause of all the trouble, was taken
from the Jail by Infatuated citizens
and lynched.
The two previous nights portended
the gravast danger. hut no such re-
suits were anticipated as those within
the five hours from 2:30 a. m. to 1880
a. m, Friday. Including Mitchell
there are five dead and ten wounded
AL the victims were innocent citizens
who were spectators on the scene of the
excitement except Mitchell In addi-
ton to this list, it is feared that Mrs.
Eliza Gaumer, who was crimjnally as
saulted by the negro, will not recover,
and several Of the injured are in a
serious condition. Besides this list of
casualties there is such intense feeling
against some Of the officials that it will
not be wiped out during the present
generation AMI further complications
are apprehended in the future
The body of Mitchell was exposed all
day in a rough coffin and it intensified
the feeling among the masses The
bodies of the citizens killed were cared
for and their funerals tomorrow will
tend to keep alive the bitter feeling
Of the wounded, several will be Grip
pied for life.
A week ago Friday Mrs. Gaumer was
Criminally assaulted in daylight at her
home in this city, near the court house.
The brute accomplished his fiendish
purpose and Mrs. Gaumer was pros
trated. 1t was first endeavored to keep
the matter quiet, but as Mrs. Gaumer's
condition became more serious, the
| facts became known and also that the
negro was afflicted with a filthy dis
ease. The negro was arraigned for
criminal assault. Mrs. Gaumer was
unable to appear IN court and the
hearing was held at her home. AS
Mitchell entered the room she raised
up and exclaimed, Brute! Hang him!
How dare you face me again?'
Mitchell was hung in full view of Mrs.
| Gaumer's residence which oyerloOks
| the court house and Jail yards. Soon
after the Identification there was talk
of lynching. Thursday a grand jury
was empaneled and it returned an in
diCtment for criminal assault.
Mitchell, disguised in a soldiers uni
form, was brought from the Jail into
/ a N ct
| Indictment, pleaded guilty and was
promptly sentenced to 20 years in the
penitentiary, the limit for criminal
assault. The trial was over about 9
| o'clock Thursday night. Then an at
empt was made to take Mitchell to
| Columbus. When a carriage drove uD
for that purpose the crowd made a rush
for the jail. The militia drove them
! back, but the crowd soon increased in
fury as we'll as in numbers, so the
sheriff and troops had al they could
do to hold the fort, anC the trip to
Columbus as abaudur5d. There were
threatening scenes on the streets and
about the public square all night. 1t
was 2:30 a. m. when the first attack
OF the citizens was made Oh the jail
and the militia began firing. Over 20
shots were poured into the crowd and
the mob was repulsed with deadly re-
suits, leaving four killed and ten
wounded. Most of the wounded were
innocent spectators, beyond the lines
of the mob. Harry Bell and James
Higgins were killed instantly and when
/ GRO in1y
| court house square it made the crowd
| furious. After the dead and wounded
| were cared for the crowd rallied.
| Governor Bushnell had been asked for
| more troops during the night and be-
! fore Z a. NJ, a company from Spring
| field arrived. Just then the local COM
! pany was withdrawn from the Jail and
Mayor GansOn met the Springfield
company en- route from the depot and
sent the troops back, saying they were
not wanted. The mob, seeing the way
open, secured sledge hammer and
broke for the Jail. The hammer was
not needed as Sheriff McLain delivered
up the keys and the crowd soon found
MitcheIPs cell. Throwing a rope over
MItchelps head he was dragged out, re-
| ceiying some kicks and blows. When
the outer door was reached the moose
slipped off and then Sylvester
StLnmernlan tied it so securely as to
| receive the cheers of the crowd. The
rope was thrown over one of the limbs
OF a tree III the courtyard and Mitchell
was jerked up until his head struck the
limb. His neck was broken. Women
and children, as we'll as multitude of
men witnessed the lynching. There
was no attempt at disguise or secrecy.
Gov. Bushnell arrived Friday night to
Investigate the trouble and especially
the action Of the troops. While Urbana
county is overwhelmed with local senti-
ment against their action, they are also
liable for abandoning their post of
duty. Captain Leonard withdrew the
guards at Z a. N. and the Springfield
company took orders from the mayor
! instead Of from the sheriff when they
turned back from -1e court house.
Governor Bushnell was met by a del
eg2tlOn of citizens who asked for pro-
lection by the troops of Sheriff Nc
Lain against whose life threats had
been made during the afternoon and if
he were here now it is believed that
there would be trouble again. Sheriff
McLain LETT at 2 p. M, and arrived at
Springfield at 3 p. NJ, enrOute to Day
ton. He escaped by a back door Of the
jail and claims that dynamite was be-
ing prepared to blow him up. In the
excitement that prevails it is imp0s-
Sible to get 2f t., q facts as IN the 70