Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-24

planes We're calm and determined,
/ they were after
That no other doors were demolished
is due to the calmness of the leaders,
who quietly told Chief of Police Black
and Warden Meserve that they intend
ed to get the negro if they had to break
every door in the place. The officials
then Informed the leaders that White
was in cell No. IS on the front row,
| third story. This cell was at once at
tackled.
Warden Meserve then rushed into the
cell corridor and told the men to dis
| connect the door SO it could be opened.
AS the door slid open there was a
deafening cheer and cries of: Don't
hurt him. Take him to the place where
he murdered Miss Bishop, for we have
driven a stake there and will burn
him.
White fought desperately for his life.
He knocked down the first man who
approached him. One of the leaders, a
powerful man, threw his arms around
the prisoner, thus protecting him from
violence. Then the mob left the build
ing. White, in the custody of two
strong men, brought up the rear
All lanterns We're eXtinguished or
concealed. In the darkness there was n
confused rush and no one seemed to
know where the prisoner was White
begged to be allowed to say lew words
to the crowd before he was killed and
the promise was made to him that he
should be allowed to make a statement.
| When he found that his case was
| hopeless, the negro confessed to having
committed the deed and did not spare
himself in telling of it. He prayed fer
vently to God to forgive his sins ant
| seemed anxious to do as much talking
as possible in the few minutes he had
to live "A
While White was praying and con-
Tossing, the crowd began splitting rails
| with which to burn him. When every
thing seemed to be about ready a man
on white horse rode into the crowd.
1t is said his home is in Kentucky.
Taking off his broad brimmed felt hat,
| he bowed to the crowd and said: la
dies and Gentlemen: Me and this horse
are going to get some straw to start this
fire"
He rode to 4 nearby farmouse and in
| a short tire " reappeared with" two
stacks of straw. The straw was placed
! around the stake and White was
! brought barehcadcd into the circle. His
| nerve seemed to be good and he held
| his head up while he addressed the
| crowd. He made another confession
and appealed to God for mercy. With
q strong rope the negro was bound from
| shoulders to feet and fastened to the
stake Then the torch was applied to
| the straw.
| The flames leapel up and licked the
| mans bare hands. He was held erect
by one of the lynchers until his clothing
was burning fairly, when he was pushed
| into the bed of the fire. His contOr-
| tions We're terrible but he made no
| sound. Suddenly the ropes on his legs
parted and he sprang from the fire and
started to run. A man struck him in
the head with a piece of fence rail and
/ knocked him down. Willing hands
| threw him again into the flames. He
rolled out several times but was
promptly returned.
While this was going on, shouts,
| cheers and jibes went up from the
crowd. When the victim had ceased to
| show signs of life the body was place |
on its back and fuel was piled upon it
until Il roaring fire was soon consuming
! it. 1t was about o'clock when the
crowd began to dispense.
At noon today, Deputy Coroner Kill