The age-herald., 1901-08-24

chain which was attached to the negro's wrist and they ran as long as breath held out. Before reaching Whitney they turned out of the way. reaching the raii- road about four miles north of the sta tion.
 MT. Storm stood in the middle of the track and waved local freight No. SS down with an umbrella. The train was in charge of Engineer Hall and Conductor MeCool. The three got into an ordinary coal car and rode to springville. which was considered the danger line, was passed. They then got back into the ca- boose. The traA stopped ten minutes at springville and in some way the word got out that Brown was on the train. baseball game was in progress and the fans neglected the game long enough to take a look at. the negro. There was no sign of any trouble. Many ladies asked that Brown stand up in the car so they could get a better view of him.
 It is a striking coincidence that Mir. Treece was an opponent of Sheriff North in his race for office He won by only thirty or forty votes MT. Storm is a we'll known lawyer and formerly lived at Ashville
 Mob Fired First.
 A report was going the rounds here yesterday that the first shot was fired by one of Sheriff North's deputies, and not by member of the mob. The testimony of an eyewitness to the melee from start to finish Is as follows:
 T was standing in the upstairs hali- way in front of the court room when the first shot was fired. It was fired by man who started up the steps and got half way before turning back saw him when he fired. He held his pistol in his right hand and a scabbard in the left. I was within six feet of him when he fired. I could see the flash of the revol- yer. He was not shooting at any one, his purpose being evidently to frlghten the guards and lead the ao the top of the steps and Into the courtroom Several shots followed. One guards gun went off accidentally. The man coming up the steps asked several times who fired that shot, at the same time holding his pistol. The shooting then was all done from the ground and through the windows" Sheriff North. it was reported, ordered his deputies to fire. There was no such general order issued. according to this witness. The deputies appeared to be fir ing to defend themselves
 It was said at Ashville that the majority of the mob were men who had taken very little interest in the case up to that time. Few if any of them were from Spring vile. where the outrage occurred. It was denied that a single representative cit izen was in the band
 Many wild stories were told here about body of St. Clair people having come here Thursday night to take Brown from the jail. Officers at the jail stated that no one was seen about the building. and that no extra precautions were taken.
 All Quiet Yesterday.
 dispatch from Ashville states that there was no disturbance of any kind there yesterday. The body of Walter Blankenship was buried in Evergreen cemetery eight miles from the town. There was some III feeling toward Sheriff North, but 1t was thought there would be no further trouble.
 It was reported in Birmingham last night that Sheriff North had left Ash vile through fear of violence at the hands of some of the members of the mob The report could not be confirmed.