Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1903-07-09

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most terrible of it's experiences with
rioters. Seven persons are dead and
eighteen are known to be injured, with
at least that number more thought to
be hurt.
At 10:30 tonight the members of
Company A, First regiment, Indiana
National Guard, after a days yigi-
dance guarding the county jail, and
100 deputy sheriffs under Sheriff
Chris Kratz, fired point blank into
a mob of 1000 men gathered on
Fourth, Division and Vine streets, sur
rounding the Vanderburg county jail,
and attempting its capture. From
Z o'clock this morning until the hour
of tonight's catastrophe the crowd
surged about the Jail, calling the mi
Iitiamen vile names, assailing them
with stones and berating the deputy
sheriffs who guarded the Jail. At 8
o'clock the mob gradually became
more and more excited, its ma lifesta-
tions of uneasiness more frequent, and
at 10 o'clock it was seen that moth
ing could prevent an assault on the
jail.
At 1890 O'Clock the rioters pressed
slowly forward, and innocent onlook-
ers slowly followed. Slowly they forced
the militiamen back toward the Jail
until the alleyway between Division
street and the stone building was
reached Then the leaders, with BIZ
cycle in their front as shield to the
bayonets of the soldiers, attempted to.
enter the alley and storm the alley
way entrance.
The Storm Breaks.
Captain Blum of the National Guard
ordered charge on the rioters. Grad
ually the crowd was forced back, the
soldiers using their bayonets and
butts OF guns Suddenly q rioter fell.
A soldier tried to drag him to his
feet. but before he could, was assault
ed by a riOter. Stones and boulders
began to fly through the air. A sol
dier was struck with a rock and fell.
A rioter was knocked down with a
gun butt, and then a shot was fired.
The one shot started fusilade of mus
kerry and shotgun fire from the de-
tenders of the jail, and a scattered re-
turn fire from the rioters. Fully
three hundred shots were fired from
the Jail windows, the court house
steps Immediately opposite ald by the
soldiers in the streets. No one knows
who fred the first shot. The soldiers
claim it was rioter, while the riot
ers make no claims and refuse to talk
about it.
The governor is said to have in
structed the authorities to not jecp-
ardize the safety of the Jail with half
way measures. The soldiers and dep
uty sheriffs fred into the retreating
mob of men who ran into Division
street, falling, crying and praying.
For fifteen minutes the firing contin-
ued, then it ceased. The mob was
gone and the soldiers held the place.
Fatalities of the Nights Riot.
The following is list of the dead:
Edward Schiffmann, painter, top of
head blown off with Springfield rifle.
Hazel Altman. Is years old, daugh-
ter of Joseph H. Altman, shot in
breast with shotgun.
John Barrett, shot in right lung,
died in St Mary's hospital.
August Jordan, aged 10, musician,
bullet wound through heart.
Ed Rule, 23 years of age laborer,
killed instantly.
Two unidentified dead men, lying
in front of Jail
Fred Schmidt. driver Cook Brew
ing Company, seriously injured in leg
and arm.
Fred Happier. son of City Fireman
Happier; buckshot charge in face;
will die.
Lee Hawley. laborer; shot in leg.
Robert Miller, shot in cheek; not
serious
Charles Preskey. aged II, shot
through wrist; Springfield bullet
wounds in both heels.
Theo. BEEN. aged 20, shot in right
side; painful.
Johl Fares. aged AS. shot in head
and hip; may die,
Albert Kaeuss, soldier; shot while
picking up wounded rioter.
Six other rioters were seen to fall,
but got away before their names were
learned At least that number are
suspected of being hurt
Four members of Company A, First
regiment, bullet and light gunshot
wounds on body. One of them was
shot through the shoulder, another
through the ankle and the other two
received slight scratches.
Two deputy sheriffs, slightly wound
ed
Means and Shrieks.
In front of the staggering band of
ffty-eight soldiers lay the dead and
wounded. Moals and shrieks of agony
and fear came from the injured. Ed
ward Schiffmann. a painter. who was
seen in the first ranks of the mob
during the evening, lay on the side
walk. the top of his head blown COM
pletely off with a 45-caliber Spring
field bullet, and his brains ooZing on
TO the sidewalk. A short distalc
from him lay another man, and close
by the bleeding form of another
Young man lay dead with a bullet
wound over the heart. All over the
street, crawling and moaning, wound
ed rioters and onlookers tried to ease
their pain and escape by getting away
from the Jail. On Division street, ly-
ing between her grief-stricken father
and mother, the little Altman girl
was dead, with her breast torn away
with a buckshot charge. She was out
driving with her parents who. attract
ed by the noise, stopped few minptes
70 watch the excitement
Wounded Rioters.
In the yard of the court house
wounded rioters lay. and back of the
line of soldiers two of the militiamen
had fallen. On the Jail steps stood
Sheriff kratZ. AT his side was Col.
Mccoy of the First regiment. Around
them stood a few doctors and report
ers. When firing had ceased Capt.
Blum reformed his men and gave
them orders.
Keep that mob backi Cali on
them to halt, If they don't halt, shoot
them down We cant take any more
chances. Men, be careful, but for
Gods sake ksep close watch,