The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-23
ANTI NEGRO CRUSADE
EVERY COLORED PERSON DRIVEN OUT
OF A MISSOURI TOWN.
THE MURDER OF A YOUNG LADY

I1E mUnUCn UT n IUUNu IHU1
By Negro Drives to Frenzy the
White People of Pierce City, Mo-,
and the Surrounding Country-Two
Negroes Lynched and Others at
Other Points Under Arrest on sus-
picfon The Horrible Murder of
Miss Wild.
Pierce City. Mo-, August 2O.-For
nearly fifteen hours ending about noon
today this town of 5000 people has been
in the hands of a mob of armed whites,
determined TO drive every negro from
its precincts. In addition to the lynch
ing last night of William Cooley, ac-
cused OF the wanton murder of Miss
Gazelle Wild, and the shooting to death
of his grandfather, French Cooley, the
mob today cremated Peter Hampton,
an aged negro, in his home, set the
torch to the houses of five blacks and
with the aid of the state militia rifles
stolen from the local company's ar
senal drove dozens of negroes from
town.
This afternoon the excitement died
down, the mob gradually dispensing,
more from lack of negroes upon whom
to wreak their hatred than for anv
other cause. Many of the negroes who
fed the city are hiding in the sur
rounding woods, while others have gone
greater distances in seeking safety.
Every negro has left the town except
a few railway porters known to be re-
spectacle, but these must also leave.
The citizens of Pierce City say that as
negroes have committed several crimes
in the last ten years none shall live
there in the future the same feeSng
already existing at Monetta, four miles
east of Pierce City, and the end of the
Frisco passenger division. 1t may be
necessary for the road to change all
porters in Springfield hereafter.
1t is now believed that the man, Will
liam Cooley, lynched. was not the real
culprit. A negro named Starks, under
arrest at Tulsa 1. T., across the border
from here, tallies exactly with the de-
scription of the assailant. He is held
there awaiting Identification. Unless
the man is brought back here, it is be-
lieved there will be no further trouble.
If returned here he will surely be
1ynched. Another suspect, Joe Lark,
is under arrest in Springfield, Mo.
Eugene Barrett also known as Carter
in confession while a rope was around
his neck today, accused Joe Lark. a
Frisco railroad porter, of beng impli-
Gated in the crime, and Lark was ar
rested today at Springfield. This af-
ternoon Lark gave a detailed state
ment as to his whereabouts Sunday
and he is not believed to be guilty. 1t
is not likely that either suspect will be
fn Piaroa (tifU while "a ovcita-
ment runs high. Some persons here
think Barrett told any story in order
to save his life. The funeral of Miss
Wild took place today. and was wit
messed by several thousand people.
Pierce City IS near the junction of
four railroads and trains from all di-
rections brought in large numbers of
armed men today. bent on bloodshed
if necessary. When the mob went to
the section of the city occupied by the
negroes, some one in the cabins opened
fire, but no one was hurt. The mob
then destroyed the five houses, but the
financial loss is small. Reckless firing
broke several plate glass windows and
a train was fired into. None of the
passengers was hurt. The rifles taken
from the Pierce City military company
It is expected, will all be returned.
Members of the company themselves
were out hunting for the escaping ne
groes with rifles and this suggested
the idea of taking all the guns. The
local hardware stores sold out their
arms early, but several applications
from negroes were refused. The mob
was composed of 1000 or more and no
masks were worn. Thirty negro FAM
lilies were driven from their houses.
New elements in the killing on Sun
day afternoon of Miss Wild developed
today. 1t appears she started home
from church alone, her brother inger-
ing behind. About one mile from town
the brother found her with her throat
cut, lying lifeless near culvert under
which her assailant had attempted to
drag her. Evidence of terrible strug-
gle was shown. A copper colored ne
gro was seen sitting on the bridge a
short time before the tragedy occurred
Tt is supposed that the nesro sprans
upon her when she was passing and
attempted to force her beneath the
bridge She probably fought with much
desperation that he could not accom-
plish his purpose and cut her throat in
the struggle.
Monday bloodhounds were taken to
the scene and the girls bloody hand
kerchief laid before them. They i'm
mediately caught the trail and ran al
full speed to the home of Joe Lark
where. on being admitted. rushed into
his bedroom and sprang upon the bed
Tt is believed the man under arrest al
Tulsa who boarded with Lark, the
Springfield suspect, slept upon this bed
Oklahoma City. o. T.. August 20
William F'avers, the copper colored ne
gro, who is under arrest here, accused
of the murder of Miss Wild at Pierce
City, Mo-, admits that he was in Pierce
City last Sunday, but says he car
prove his innocence by five men. He
SAYS he was at the station from 1O:1t
the time when the Bob train returned
from, Mopatta until after the finding
of the girls body.