The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-01
MOB FIRE
ON TRAIN
Make Desperate Effort to
Lynch TWO Negroes.
ENGINEER FolLED PLAN
While Guard Left Him Momentarlly He
Pulled Throttle Wide Open and
Every Window in Train Was
Shattered.
ENGINEER FolLED PLAN
fBy Associated Press.)

=
HUNTINGTON. w. VA. July 31.-The
Chesapeake and Ohio express train, No
/. was held up by a mob OF 200 men near
Clifton Forge late last night and a
desperate effort was made to take two
negro prisoners from the train. Over
hundred shots were fired by the mob.
and when the train reached here twenty
bullets were buried in the woodwork of
the smoking car and all OF the window
glass had been shot out
At Clifton Forge the two negro pris-
oners were taken on board to be brought
to CovIngton Va, for safekeeping. En-
gneer James Peck. OF Hinton, and Con-
ductor Jack Hall. Of this city, who were
In charge of the train, saw lights way
ing on the track just as the train had be-
gun to gather speed after leaving Clif-
ton Forge. The train WAS stopped I'm
mediately, and Engineer Peck started to
get out Of his engine to find out why
the train had been tagged AS the train
came to a standstill a mob surrounded
the engine and coaches, and threatened
to shoot Engineer Peck II he moved
the train. They began to climb aboard.
Conductor Hall. who had anticipated
trouble when he saw the train tagged,
was prepared for the mob, and as they
made a rush for the coaches ordered al
the doors OF the cars locked. The men.
finding that It would be impossible for
them to enter and obtain the negroes,
began to gather around the smoking car.
in which the negroes were under guard.
OPENED FIRE.
AS Conductor Hall ran through tht
train calling upon the passenger to ht
fiat on the floor the mob began firing
into the windows of the smoker, while
the passengers scrambled from their seats
to a place OK safety from the hyins bul
let's. The firing was kept up for seve
raj minutes, and bullets whistled through
the car windows.
While women screamed, the mob out
side continued their clamoring for tn
two negro prisoners. Revolvers were als'
brought into play, and flying missiles o.
all descriptions came through the win
dows, but not passenger or tralnmaI
was injured
Engineer Peck, during the firing, hat
sat upon his engine, covered by revolver:
in the hands OF several members OF tht
mob. At last, when the main body o
the mob had almost exhausted their sup
ply of bullets those who had been guard
ing the engineer, left, going towards tn
smoker, leaving Peck unguarded. AS hi
former guards turned and ran toward tn
smoking car, Peck pulled tho trottle wld'
open and the train began to move.
PARTING SHOTS.
The mob, seeing the turn things were
taking, and fearing they might be out
done In their efforts to get the prisoners
climbed up on the platforms of the car:
and attempted to stop the train by turn
| ing the angle cock to the air hose, thereb!
| applying the brakes. Not understanding
| the working of the brakes. however, the.
| were unable to apply them at full pres
| sure, as the train had gotten under head
way Realizing that they were batiied
| the men Jumped from the moving trail
! and fired several farewell shots into th
car windows.
| The train gained QUICK momentum, ant
did not stop until Covinston was reached
where the negroes We're placed IN jail.
| The negroes for which the train wa
| held up are from Lynchburg, Va, AM
are supposed to be the men who shot an
| seriously injured Harry Rudiseu on tn
| Chesapeake and Ohio excursion betweel
! Clifton Forge and Lynchburg few day
| ego. Rudsell is in the hospital In Clifton
Forge in a critical condition.