The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-21
Five Houses Fired by the
Armed Mob.
ONE MAN IS CREMATED AND TWO SHOT
The Outbreak the Result of the Kill
ing of Miss Gazelle Wild. The
Man Lynched Believed to be
Not the Real Culprit.
(By the Associated Press.)

ANVV WAC AS0UA VAApAAV
(By the Associated Press.)
Pierce City, Mo-, August 20.-For
nearly fifteen hours ending about noon
today this town of three thousand peo-
pie was in the hands of a mob of armed
whites, determined to drive every negro
from it's precincts.
In addition to the lynching last night
of William Cooley, accused of the wan
ton murder of Miss GaZelle Wild, and
the shooting to death of his grandfather,
French Cooley, the mob today cremat-
ell Peter Hampton, an aged negro in his
home, set the torch to the houses OF
five blacks and with the aid of State
militia rifles, stolen from the local COM
pany's arsenal, drove dozens Of negroes
from town.
In the afternoon the excitement died
down, the mob gradually dispensing,
more from lack of negroes upon whom
to wreak their hatred than for any other
cause. Many of the negroes who fled the
city are hiding in the surrounding
woods, while others have gone greater
distances in seeking safety.
Every negro has left the town eXcep,
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 here
in the future. The same feeling already
existing at Monnett four miles east OF
Pierce City, and the end of the Frisco
passenger division, it may be necessary
for the road to change all porters in
Springfield hereafter
1t is now believed that the man lynch
real cuprit. A negro named Starks,
under arrest at Tulsa, 1. t., across the
border from here, tallies exactly with
the description of the assailant. He is
held there awaiting Identification. I'm
less the man is brought back here, it is
believed that there will be no further
trouble. If returned here he will surely
be lynched Another suspect, Joe Lark,
is under arrest in Springfield, Mo.
Eugene Barrett, also known as Car
ter, in a confession while rope was
around his neck today. accused Joe
Lark, Frisco railroad porter, of be-
ing implicated in the crime and Lark
was arrested today at Springfield. This
afternoon Lark gave 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
taken to Pierce City while the excite
ment runs high. Some persons here
think Barrett told any story in order t.
save his life
The funeral of Miss Wild took place
today and was witnessed by severai
thousand people.
Pierce City is near the junction of four
railroads and trains from all directions
brought in large numbers of armed men
today, bent on blood shed 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
nurt. The mob then DESTROYED the five
houses, but the financial loss is small.
Reckless hiring broke several plate glass
WINDOWS and train was fired into. None
OF the passengers were hurt
Ahe iiHeo taken from the Pierce City
Military Company, it is expected will all
be returned. Members Of the company
, themselves were out hunting for the es
Gaping negroes with rifles and this sug
gested 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 com
posed of thousand or more and no
masks were worn. Thirty negro families
were driven from their houses.
New elements in the killing on Sunday
afternoon OF Miss Wild developed today.
1t appears she started home from church
alone, her brother lingering behind. About
one mile from town the brother found her
with her throat cut lying lifeless near
culvert under which her assalant had
Z attempted to drag her. Evidence of a
terrible struggle was shown.
4 copper colored negro was seen sitting
on the bridge a short time before the
tragedy occurred. 1t is supposed that
the negro sprang upon her when she was
passing and attempted to force her be-
meath the bridge. She probably fought
with such desperation that he could not
accomplished his purpose and he cut her
throat in the struggle
Mopdav bloodhounds were taken to the
scene and the girls bloody handkerchief
was laid before them. They Immediately
caught the track and ran at full speed to
the home of Joe Lark, where on being
admitted they rushed into his bedroom
and sprang upon the bed. 1t is believed