The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-21
WAR WAGED
 ON NEGROES Blacks Driven from Pierce
 City, Mo. THREE WERE LYNCHED One Hangez One Shot and One g. 'emated.
 E. Now Believed g 1t the Real Mur- derer of Mi. 2 Wild Has Not Yet Been Punished-Negroes'
 Houses Burned.
THREE WERE LYNCHED

Pierce City. Mo-. Aug. 20.-For nearly fifteen hours. snding about noon today. this town of 5000 inha bitants, 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 Will Cooley, accused of the wanton murder of Miss Gazelle Wild. and the shooting to death of his grandfather. French Cooley, the mob today cremated Pete Hampton, an aged house of five blacks and with the aid of State militia rifles stolen from the lacal company's arsenal, drove dozens of negroes from the town. After noon the excitement died down, the mob gradually dispersing. more from lack of negroes upon which to wveak its hatred than for any other cause. Many of the negroes who fled are hiding in the surrounding woods, while others have gone greater distances in seeking safety.
 No Negroes Can Stay.
 Every negro has left the town except a few railway porters known to be re- spectacle. but who must also leave. The citizens of Pierce City says that as negroes have committed several such crimes in the last ten years none shall live here in the future. the same feel ing already existing at Monett. 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 here after.
 It is now believed that the man VIII Cooley, who was lynched, was not the real culprit. A negro named Starks, under arrest at Tulsa, l. T., across the border from here. tallies exactly with the description of the murderer. He is held there awaiting Identification. Un- less the man is brought back here 1t is believed there will be no further trouble. If returned here he will sure ly be lynched. Another suspect. Joe Lark, is under arrest in Springfield, Mo.
 Barrett Accused Lark. Eugene Barrett, also known as Car ter, in a confession while a rope was around his neck today accused Joe Lark, Frisco railroad porter, of be- ing implicated in the crime, and Lark
 was arrested. This afternoon Lark gave detailed statement as to his whereabouts Sunday and he is noht be- lieved to be guilty. It Is not likely that either suspect will be taken to ha riID high. Some here think Barrett told the story to save his life.
 The funeral of Miss Wild took place today and was witnessed by several thousand people.
 Pierce City Is near the junction of four railroads and these from all lirec- tions 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 hit. The mob then destroyed several plate glass windows and train was fired into. None of the passengers were hurt. The rifles taken from the Pierce City militia company, it is expected, will all be returned. Militiamen in Mob.
 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 ne groes were refueed. The mob was com posed of a thousand or more a. d no masks were used. Thirty negro fami- | lies were driven from their houses.
 New Clements in the murder of Miss Wild developed today. It 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. Evidence of terrible strug- gle was shown A pper-colored ne gro was seen sitting on the bridge a short time before the tragedy occurred. It is supposed that the negro sprang upon her when she was passing and attempted to force her beneath the bridge. She fought with such desper- ation that he could not accomplish his purpose and cut her throat in the strug- gle. Her body was not violated.
 Monday bloodhounds were taken to the scene and the girls bloody hand kerchief was laid before them. They immediately caught the trail 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 It is believed that the man under arrest as Tulsa, who boarded with Lark. the Springfield suspect, slept up-