The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-13
HOW BREWER WAS CAPTURED.
DESPERATE FIGHT OF THE OUT
LAW WITH SHERIFF'S POSSE.

0u1ENfF-E ought our men 70 n
Finish Before Giving Up-I<iIIed
His Mistress Because She wanted
10 Light the House in Which He
Was SIeeping-Fierce FusiIaIe OF
shots During the BattIe-Story or
the Jesup Riot Lead by Brewer.
Bob Brewer, the notorious negro outlaw
81 South Georgia, has been captured. The
announcement was in the Morning News
yesterday, but there were no details of the
capture and those who read it were in
clned to doubt, for Bob Brewer has been
often reported captured and as often 1t
has been proven that the supposed outlaw
was some other negro. For desperate
bravery and absolute ignorance of fear
there is probably no negro like Brewer.
and his name has become famous over
the state.
In the negro riots of 1889 In Jesup Brew
er was the leader. He killed one man,
and it was believed that he killed another
in The riot. Two others were wounded.
one of whom was shot by Brewer. The
other may nave received his wound from
his rifle. for Brewer was firing from amid
a crowd of negroes, and his craftsmanship
was always such as TO put anything ne
was shooting at in great danger of being
hit
Day before yesterday Sheriff w. &. Ly-
ems OF Wayne county, who lives at Jesap,
the county site, heard from Constable Delk
of Johnston station, about forty-seven
miles from here on the Plant system, that
Brewer had been located near there. I'M
mediately the sheriff who is a man of fear
les character and a wide-awake and deter
mined officer of the law, made up his
mind that he would have the outlaw. He
selected Deputy Sheriff b. S. Price and Mr..
Ed l.. Fishback 10 so with him, knowing
them to be brave men and that he might
place perfect reliance in them.
The possee left Jesup late in the after
noon for Johnston station. When they ar
rived at the depot they were met by Con-
stable Delk. Then the party fully armed.
started up the railroad for the house at
which Brewer had been located. This house
is three miles this side of Johnston station
on the west side of the railroad, about 800
yards distant. The officers reached the
house about 9 O'Clock. Everything was
shrouded in darkness and evidence was
thus given that Brewer and the other oc-
GuDdillS Hdu IGNiItu lOI lItG Hight.
Not a dog barked TO give the alarm,
and the first inumation that
those within had Of the presence of the
posse was when the sheriff shouted for the
woman IN the meantime. however, like
a good general, he had made all of his ar
rangements. His force had been disposed
TO The best possible advantage. and all
We're in readiness TO shoot Brewer at the
least show of resistance. This, il was be-
lieved, he would offer. Not a man Of the
posse believed that he would not fight TO
the last
The house is built of logs. Through the
chinks between them the officers could
shoot. but all was darkness inside and they
could tel nothing about how to direct their
fire. Sheriff Lyons placed man at each
Of three corners and took has stand at the
fourth. He instructed them all TO kneel
while firing. in order that Brewer might
Shoot above their heads His directions
were followed, and it was for this reason
probably that not man was hit by Brew
er Re fred many times, but his shots
went WA
As soon as whispered words announced
that all had secured their positions and
were ready, the sneriff called the woman
of the house, Anna Francis. She was a
bright mulatto. With her and The desper-
ado in the house We're her two children,
and it is a wonder that neither Of them
was hit while the officers were firing. The
woman answered the officers call. She
asked who was at the door and what they
wanted. Strike a light" said the sheriff.
Don't you strike a Light mans voice
inside was heard to say. Again The sheriff
called to the woman TO strike a light, and
she seemed inclined 30 obey. The noise
of her movements across the floor was
heard, and il could be told that there was
a dispute on between the man and the
woman regarding the light. She wanted
TO make one and he strenuously opposed
it, saying if she struck a match he would
kill her.
Presently a match flashed inside the
house near the fireplace but almost as
instantly a dash ef water from Brewer
extinguished the light. Then the crack Of
a pistol was heard, and the woman
screamed that she was Killed. Staggering
across the room, she fell near her bed.
The bullet had struck her in the breast
and she was dead when the officers finally
entered.
The crack of Brewers pistol was the
signal for a fusilade. The posse began
firing through the chinks and Brewer
moved toward the door. AT the corner
nearest the door Deputy Sheriff Price was
posted. He directed the fire OF his re-
peating Winchester shotgun at the door,
SlNhhH ipieNSI Sitt IuF Sliul. IitSeHliN
the deputy got a she'll fouled in his gun.
This caused a lun in his firing. Brewer
thought he had killed his man in front
and that he had opened up an avenue of
escape. Pushing the door partially free
of It's chain, he looked out, showing his pis-
tol hand and arm through the door
The shots from the front of the house
indicated to Sheriff Lyons that his deputy
was bearing the brunt of the battle. He
rushed around to take part In il when
Deputy Price fired again. He had gotten
his gun in working order and this was
the shot that did the work. II was fred
just as Brewer was looking out to see if
the way was clear for a dash. The ne
gro's arm and hand We're peppered with
small shot aud the right side of his face
was filled. one buckshot struck him just
under the right eye and another i'm the
shoulder. The doctor who later attended
the man said $50 shot had been lodged in
him.
Changing his pistol to his left hand as
soon as he was shot, Brewer sank to the
floor, facing the door. and continued his