The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-08-07
THEY SCARED
\ ZION'S ELDERS.
DOwie's Followers Did Not
Leave the Train.
CROWD CHECKED BY POLICE.
Attempt Was Made to Attack the Elders,
but They Finally Escaped From
Mansfield by Train-Promise
to Return.

Inc hOTu VIII prOteCt US. we are III
his hands," said Overseer William
Hammer Piper Of the Zion faith 20
James p. Seward this morning on the
Erie train coming from Gallon 90 Mans
field. Seward looked out Of the train
window. He smiled grimly, for he saw
thousands Of angry citizens, surging
in wild mass about the train that
was just coming to stop at the de-
pot.
''Well, Mr.. Piper" he replied, at looks
very much to me as II the Lord wasn't
on duty In Mansfield today" sa
Piper was heading a delegation of
three Zion elders back to Mansfield
head of this creed. He knew that he
ard his companions might be torn to
pieces IL they left the train but he was
determined to carry out what he be-
lieved to be his duty. The county and
city authorities had made every pre-
caution to put down the riot that was
certain to break out the minute the
Zionites got off the train and then after
taking these precautions by swearing in
some so deputy sheriffs and extra po.
ncemen, Mr.. Seward was delegated as
the representative of the mayor to go
urge them not to stop at Mansfield but
to continue their journey past the city.
Mr.. Seward went to Gallon last night
accompanied by A. A. Douglass. who is
the local attorney for the Zionites. All
the way to Mansfield, Mr.. Seward urged
Mr.. Piper to give up his foolhardy at
tempt. But Piper remained unmoved in
his determination. His comrades, Ell
HnE Ill
kin and e. P. Fisher, were equally de-
termined to get off here, even though
two of them, Fisher and McClurkin,
were the victims Of mob violence last
Monday night, and were treated to a
coating of blue paint.
A RUSH FOR THE TRAIN.
They had wired the mayor as well as
the sheriff that they were coming and
had even named the train which arrives
here at the early hour Of 6:35 o'clock. In
spite Of the hour there were at least
thousand men at the depot before
o'clock. Half-past six witnessed an
addition of a thousand more. They
lined the railroad track on both sides
for block and hundreds sought points
OF vantage on top Of neighborlng build
ings and box cars standing on nearby
station wild rush was made for the
coach bearing the unfortunate elders.
Before the leaders could reach the car
steps, however, policemen had blocked
the way and Mayor Huntington Brown
was reading the riot act from the car
platform. About a half dozen arrests
were made.
The mayor urged those within hear
6icta fn nd
warned them that he was going to see
that no violence was used. In the
meantime, Seward was still urging the
elders to reconsider their determin-
alton to get off the train. Piper and
his colleagues remained obdurate.
1--WE are law abiding and peaceable
citizens" said Piper. "and we will not
use force. But we want 1t understood
that we are going to get off here as
we have a right to. If knew I was
to be torn to pieces within the next
two minutes I would not hesitate. I
intend to get off,"
PIPER WEAKENED.
He arose from the car seat, reached
for his hand baggage, and his COM
panions did likewise. Outside the
crowd was surging around the train,
brushing by the small Gordon of police
and under sheriffs with little trouble
and crying for the blood of the elders.
"Lynch 'em," "hang 'em," bring 'em
out" they shouted. Calm and collect
ed, Elder Piper reached the car door.
He gazen down at the angry faces
about him. His face, smooth shaven,
bore not a trace Of anxiety. He was go
ing to meet what seemed certain death
with the fortitude Of the Christians of
old, when Nero tossed them to the
lions.
At the door Mr.. Seward made an
other strong appeal In the name Of the
law abiding citizens Of the city. Piper
hesitated. Seward told him that a
special grand jury had been empaneled
to investigate and punish the leaders of
the mobs that had abused the elders
previously and he said he hoped Mr..
Piper would not do anything that would
precipitate another riot and result in
death to some, perhaps. Then Piper
weakened. The crowd surged closer.
He stepped back into the car and the
train pulled out. The mob turned
sullenly and slowly dispersed.
At Ashland, about 15 miles away, the
elders left the train, accompanied by
Mr.. Seward, who was still urging the
quartet to return to Chicago and there
remain until public excitement has dis
persed and normal conditions again
reigned. Mr.. Piper positively refused to
consider such a proposition and forth
with, with his colleagues, he sailed
Z forth to a livery stable and ordered q
team. The horses were being hitched
up when Seward bethought himself Of
another ruse. He went to the livery
proprietor and told him that IL the
Zionists drove to Mansfield they would
be mobbed and much damage would
undoubtedly be done to the horses and
wagon. The ruse worked. The livery
man refused to allow his horses to
leave the stable. Undisturbed, the
elders merely announced their intention
of awaiting the next train west. Mr..
Seward returned to Mansfield. Then
the elders wired the sheriff: I'VE are
coming to Mansfield on the 2:20 train.
The police exceeded authority In pre-