New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-23
EAGER FOR NEGRO BLOOD.
NARROW ESCAPE FROM LYNCHING IN
OHIO
SEVERAL PEOPLE KILLED AND MANT
WOUNDED IN AKRON.

Akron. Ohio. Aug. n.-Between l and o'clock
this morning John Duffy. policeman. arrested
colored man. who in the course Of the day con
fessed to the prison keeper. Washer OF having at
tempted to assault Christina. the stx-year-old
daughter OF Mr.. and Mrs Theodore Mas, indus
trious and respectable people. who live on Perkins
Hill. The colored on Monday night offered TO
give the child a ride in his buggy. Christina
cepted the invitation. and few hours later she
found the side of a road west Of the city.
The prisoner gave his name as Louis Peck. He is
about forty years old, married and recently moved
here. Of1cers had been searching for him since
Monday night, and he arrested at the Union
Station he stepped from Baltimore and Ohio
passenger train In the police court to-day he
pleaded guilty. and was bound over to the Common
Pleas Court. His bail was placed at 5000.
The story of his confession spread like wildfre
through the city. and the officers learned that an
attempt would be made tonight to lynch him.
Peck badly frightened
Several thousand persons were ready tonight
to lynch Louis Peck. large crowd gathered
about the city prison tonight at 730 o'clock and
forced in the doors. The prison was soon packed
with the mob, and the officers offered no resistance,
as Peck earlier in the evening had quietly been
taken away TO Cleveland.
To satisfy the mob, the officers suggested that a
committee Of six be appointed to search all the
cells and go through every part Of the building
This was done and as the negro not found
yell was made, Now for the county jail! Give
us the Niger, and will deal with him.
A mad rush followed for the Jail. and soon the
tafl was in the hands of the mob After going
through the private apartments of the jailer the
crowd started to batter down big iron doors.
Deputy Sheriff Stone stood in front Of the prison
doors and made a speech.
He informed the crowd that Peck could not be
found in there. and he told the people IN the mob
to select committee, and he would allow the
committee 70 search the jail from top 10 bottom
committee quickly selected, and the Jail
was searched. every cell being examined. Satisfied
that the negro was not there, the mob rushed
across the street and forced open the doors Of
the County Courthouse. The old courthouse was
soon packed, and all rooms searched except the
rooms in the treasury department start was
made to tear off the iron doors Of the treasury
department but the mob decided not TO undertake
the task and the thousands Of men and boys then
rushed back to the city prison. >-ying for Peck's
blood.
The city prison again surrounded, and hun
dreds of persons forced their way into the prison
for the second time insisting that Peck was there
Mayor w E. Young at this time appeared at one
of the windows in the upper part Of the building
He addressed the mob best he could. saying
that Peck had been taken out of the prison at
o'clock by Sheriff Kelly and driven out Of the city
in a closed carriage. The people in the mob would
not believe the Mayor, and continued to yell and
demand that Peck be surrendered.
At ten O'Clock the mob began for the third time
began i1 Shooting at the buding This was followed
by several more shots the oileers IN the ob bo
the heads OF the people. A man with shot
then fred at the officers
began to smash in the windows OF the city build
ing. and the firing became general Hundreds of
shots exchanged. and one boy, name un-
known, was carried dead from the street A great
many men were wounded. Mayor Young remained
in the building directing call for the militia AL
the ambulances of the city were called out, and
the excitement became intense The front OF the
city building is total wreck.
At IO45 p. m. John e. Washer. the prison keeper;
came from the city building and he was knocked
down by brick. He was badly injured about the
head and had to receive medical attendance. 1t Is
known that two people were instantly killed and
another person is dying at the City Hospital. The
Glen Wade. aged ten shot through the heart.
John NJ. Davidsons four-year-old child, shot
dead in baby cab.
ed with buckshot. He lives at No IS North-st..
and reported to be dying at the hospital
man named Null was shot in the head and also IN
of the legs. Another man, whose could
lean Express Company. was shot in the leg
Shortly after midnight the mob broke into
hardware store and stole all the firearms and
ammunition they could find. including guns. rifles
and revolvers. They then proceeded to the City
Building. opened fire the defenders and set fire
the Columbia Hall, which adjoins the City
Building They will doubt set fire to the City
Building before morning, as the flames are spread
iEg rapidly
Cleveland. Aug. 22.-This afternoon Sheriff Kelly
and Prosecutor Wanamaker of Summit County
rived in Cleveland from Akron with two colored
prisoners, Louis Peck and William Howard, ac-
cused OF minor offence, whom the Akron author
tiles thought il best to remove from reach of the
mob. Both were locked up in the county Jail
Peck tells conflicting stories, but admits tS2t he
took the little Mas girl out riding with him last
Monday.