The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-08-26
NO ATTEMPT TO LYNCH
Two Arrests of Negroes Who Went on
to Louisburg.
SILL ASSERTED THAT TWO ESCAPED
j,hn Michel, the Color,d Porter, Lies Near
Dea is Door. Ire Seaboard Air Line
eff rs Reward For Capture
Of Men Who ESCAPED.
lStaff Corresnondonce.l

tstdH OIICSpCIt'ICt
Henderson, y. c., Aug. 20.-As the
north bound Seaboard train pulled into
Henderson shortly after three o'clock
this morning there was a crowd Of some
thirty people at the depot.
It was a sad gathering. for as the
train stopped there came with solemn
tread a body Of men bearing a case
within which was the casket containing
the mortal remains Of the brave Road
master Fred Stevers, brutally murdered
while striving to make peace.
The body was sent to Stevers, Va, his
home, where a bereaved and heart broken
Wife and three children are diSconso-
late because of a husband and father
gone, sent to his death at the hands of
an Infatuated negro. The body will be
brought back from Stevers to Suffolk for
interment. The mute symbol Of the
tragedy of the previous day carried deep
pathos with it.
There had been rumors Of a possible
lynching in Henderson sent to Raleigh,
but about the depot was no sign Of
angry men, but of saddened ones. The
city was quiet and as the train with it's
lighted windows passed away the people
dispersed and a small group gathered at
the hotel.
There the various incidents Of the
tragedy were being discussed as was the
talk of a possible lynching. 1t was learn
ed that there had been talk Of such by
q few, but that there had been no at
tempt to organize a party of lynchers.
1t was conceded that there was indig-
nation in the place, and that for hours
after the arrival of the prisoners and
the dead body of Mr.. Sewers. this in
$780, wv
off the train, he was struck by some one
with a slung shot and fell. His face was
marked by his fighting on the train, his
| clothes We're torn. and he looked like
an animal. It was feared then that an
outbreak would occur. Fully three hun
dred people We're present, and there were
a number of shot guns in the crowd.
That offers OF assistance in case there
was an attempt to lynch had come from
various quarters is true. and it was re-
ported that word had been received that
two parties, one of fifteen and another Of
thirty-fve, were coming from the direc-
ton of Oxford, but no such parties ar
rived.
One phase of the lynching talk de-
serves special. mention. 1t is said that
many negroes last night said they were
ready to lynch the negroes in Jail, be-
cause of the shooting of the colored
porter, Joe Mitchell. He was born near
here and is we'll thought of. His wife
and children live in Raleigh, where his
home IS now.
Just before daybrcak there was a re-
port that a lynching party was being
formed and several visitors to the city
were awakened as they had requested.
\ party of six or eight men walked in
the direction of the jail, but there were
no lyncherS and the quiet of the night
was not broken by an attack on the
jail. Day broke, and the night was past.
Again was Vance county's proud record
OF no lynching ever done in this county,
unblotted.
TWO PISTOLS WE'RE USED.
Investigation into the incidents of the
shooting on the Seaboard train yesterday
do not change the first reports obtained
III but one particular.
1t will be remembered that after the
six negroes had come from the White
second-class coach, where they were
boisterous and singing, that all but Cole
ST., appeared satisfied. He exclaimed:
I'VE are all brothers anyhow and we Will
stand together" and made for conductor
w. 2. Clements, striking at him.. 1t
O. a' lilo ilAi' tA't -
ers appeared and pushed the negro into
a corner, grasping him by the coat and
about the body. The negro got out his
pistol and pressing it against Mr.. Slew
ers head, shot, killing the Roadmaster
instantly.
Here is the new evidence. It is that
another negro pulled a pistol and that
jim Mitchell. the colOred porter, dashed
in betWee him and Capt. Clements and
was shot in the stomach. Whether it
was young Cole, or Charles Ferguson, or
another negro who shot is not known. 1t
is said that Jim Mitchell can Identity the
man, but it is feared he Will die. The
pistol taken from Cole, Sr., had but one
empty chamber, SO it seems certain that
he only shot it once. No one has tound
the pistol from which came the bullet
that struck MITCHELL, and unless Cole,
Sr., had two pistols and rid himself of
one before being captured, another negro
made the second Shot.
AFTER THE SHOOTING.
The conflict was a quick one in the
colored COACH, and as it ceased the two
Coles made for the platform, leaving
their victims weitering in their own
blood in the coach. The noise of the
shots had reached passengers on the
train and these rushed out on the plat
form.
The first to reach tho TWO Coles was
Mr.. c.. H. Turner, Of Henderson, mana
ger and treasurer of the Henderson Ice
and Cold Storage Company. Telling OF
his connection with it he says.
Il heard the commotion and ran out OF
the smoking car. / saw two negroes on
the platform steps ready to get off
Some one yelled: "Grabbed that
! man. and | grabbed both about their
necks, bracing my feet. The negroes