Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-05-20
STILL EXCITED.
The People of ConnellsvilIe worked
Up on Negro Question.

CONNELLSVILLE. Pa, May 19.-The
town is not much quieted down after
the terrible excitement of last night ov-
er the murder of assistant yardmaster.
VIM. Moore, and attempted lynching of
VIM. Fairfax, the negro murderer. BY
a counter excitement at 3 O'Clock this
morning the police diverted attention
OF the mob, and then dashed down a
rear way to the railroad with Fairfax.
and got him away safely to the Union
town Jail. All day to-day, a heavy
rope which was brought into the mob
of would-be lynchers last night, and
which by dexterously made slip knot.
has been dangling from an upper stery
Of the town hall, directly over the en-
trance to the lookup. This as a warn
ing to the negroes of the vicinity If
they will only take it. 1t is said that
in answer to an advertisement for five
hundred workmen to work on big sewer
Improvement contracts here, many ne
groes are coming from Roanoke Va. to
take UP their abode in the Second ward
OF this town, where shanties are being
erected to house them. The citizens
fear this move, and are discussing
means for self preservation and protec-
ton during the next six months. To
add to the excitement, before dawn this
morning, another shooting occurred on
Main street. which will result in MUIR
der. The victim is John Human. and
his assailant, Frank Jett. The two men
are colored and come from Rappan-
hammock, Va, a month ago to work on
the street contract The men, together
with a woman during a drinking bout
got into quarrel and Human was shot
in the abdomen. Physicians say he
cannot live.
UNlONfOWN, Pa, May 19.-"I didn'
know what they had arrested me fer
and | didn't know that the crowd
around the lookup wanted me until
some one yelled, Lynch the niger,
ana my wife began to scream and beg
for mercy" said William Fairfax to-
day, IN telling the story OF last night &
wild scene in Connellsville. The negro
at nrst refused to say anything about
the crime except to claim that he was
innocent Fairfax says that he and his
wife were standing on the corner near
the Yough house, Connellsville. talk
uFif
men came along and without a word
one of them struck Fairfax and knock
ed him down. His wife, who was in a
delicate condition, was struck on the
hip and in the stomach with brick
by one of the men as she tried to de-
fend her husband from the men who
were trying to kick him as he was get
ting up. AS Fairfax got up the three
men ran in different directions and that
was the last he saw of them. He adj
mits he had brick in his hand, but
had no chance to use it, for the men
ran away too quick.
After he and his wife were locked up
ara the crowd gathered around the
lookup. he began to realize the condi-
ton of affairs He says he was scared
SO badly by the commotion the crowd
raised. and his fear that his last day
much more OF the nights excitement
His wife became frantic and this added
to his terror, and he momentarily ex-
pected the mob to break the doors in
and get him He knew there was shoot
ing, but did not know whether it was
the officers or the crowd who We're do
ing it. During the five hours the mob
surrounded the lookup trying to get
him, Fairfax was in a state of almost
complete collapse He knew they were
bursting in the doors, and saw the iron
grating of cells twisted, and the door oil
his cell pried open far enough at the
bottom to admit a man, and thought
his time had come for sure, but the off,
protected him. He says he was never
so glad in his life as when he was
seated in the carriage and knew he wa
being whirled away from the crowd
that thirsted for his blood. Fairfax
says he did not know who any OF tbs
three men were who attacked him, and
can prove that they assaulted him
The story OF Sheriff McCormick's res
cue OF the Fairfax couple from the mob
is a thrilling one He attributes the
saving OF the negroes lives TO the cool
ness and bravery of the Connellsyille
officers. He says the lookup was sc
wrecked that nothing stood between the
prisoners and the mob except the Off
GERS. and he spoke admiringly Of lns
efficient aid they gave him