Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-08-22
FIERCE RACE RIOT.
An Atrocious Crime by Negro sIaddens
Missouri Town.

An Atrocious Crime by Negro AIaddens q
Missouri Town.
Pierce City, Mo-. Aug. z1.-Fur nearly 10
hours which ended at noon yesterday this
town, OF 1900 population, WIS In tho hands
OF y mob OF armed white men, determined
to drive away every negro.
In addition to lynching William GOdfey,
accused Of the wantnn murder of Miss
Gazelle Wild, and shooting to death his
grnndtath6r, French Cooley, the mob Gre
mated Peter Hampton, an aged negro. in
his home, set the torch to the houses OF four
other blacks. and with the aid OF State
militia rifles taken from the local compuny's
arsenal, drove dozens Of negroes from town.
After noon the excitement died down, the
mob gradually dispensing Many of the
negroes who fied are hiding In tho surround
ing woods while others have gone greater
distances In seeking safety. Every negro
hns LETT town except a few railway porterE,
known to be respectable but these must also
leave.
Tho people of Fierce City say that ns
negroes have been committing such afro
cious crimes none shall live here in the
future. The same feeling exists at Monet,
four miles east OF this rlace.
Pierce City is near the junction of four
railroads, una trains from all directions
brought in large numbers of armed men,
bent on binodshed if necessary. When the
mob went 10 tho section OF the city occupied
BY the ragroes, one of them in the cabins
opened fro. But no one WIS hit. Tho mob
then destroyed five houses, but tho financial
loss is small. Tho firing OF pistols broke
several plate glass windows, und a train was
fired into Eone of tho pnsse0npts was hnrt.
The rifles taken from the Pierce City
military company, it Is expected, will Gil
be returned. Members of the Company were
ont hrntinG for the escapir negroes with
rifles, and this suggested the iden of taking
all the guns. The local hardware stores sold
ont their arms e0rly. hut several npplica-
lions from negroes were refused. The mob
WINS composed OF 1000 or more men, and no
nlnsks we've worn,
1t ia believed that william Gndfoy, who
Was lynchfd, WIS not the real cplprit.
Sturks, another negro, under arrest at Tulsa,
!. T.. acrCes the border from Pierce City,
talies exnctly with tho description of Miss
Wild's assallunt. He Is held there awaiting
Identification.
Another Suspect, Joseph Lark. is under
arrest in Springfield, Mo. Eugene Barrett,
also known us Carter, in O confession while
q rope was around his neck, accused Lark,
who is n railroad porter, Of being implicated
IN the crime, and Lark WIS then arrested Mt
Springfield, He gave a detailed statement
as to his whereabouts on last Sunday, when
the crime was committed and IS not believed
TO be guilty. Some persons here think Bar
rett told the story In order to save hrs life
The funernl of Miss Wild took place yes
teruay, ana was Witnessed by several thousand
persons. She started home from church
a'one on Sunday. her brother lingering be-
hind. About one milo from town the
brother found her with her tnroat cut, lying
lifeless near u culyert under which her as
sailant had attempted TO drag her. Evidence
of a terrible struggle was shown. A copper
colored negro was seen sitting on the bridge
n short time before the tragedy occurred. 1t
is supposed That the negro sprang upon Miss
Wild when she was passing, and attempted
60 force her beneath the bridge. She prob
ably fought with such. desperation that he
could not accomplish his purpose, aud SO
he cut her throat In the struggle.
On Monday bloodhounds were taken to
the scene and the girls bloody handkerchief
was laid before them. They caught the
trnil and ran at full speed TO the home of
Lark, whore, on being admitted, they rushed
into his bedroom AID sprang upon the bed.
1t is believed the man under arrest at Tulsa,
who boarded with Lark, slept upon this bed.