Milford chronicle., 1903-06-26

- Wilmington, Del, June ga north.
ern mob, led by a Virginian, burned
negro at the stake within a few
miles OF Mason and Dixons line.
The victim was George F. White. A
negro just out of the workhouse. who
was accused of having feloniously as
saulted and stabbed to death Miss
Helen S. Bishop, the 17-year-old daugb-
ter OF the Rev. Dr. E. A. Bishop. The
crime was committed last Monday af-
ternoon, and ever since then there
have been mutterings Of Iynching the
man.
An effort was made Sunday night
to get White, but it failed. Last night
however, as result of the laws slow
ness and much agitation on the part
OF those who cried for vengeance. a
mob that was estimated at 1000 men
ana boys gathered in the neighbor-
hood OF Prices Corner four miles from
mere. They came from everywhere.
including Wilmington and the small
towns to the south of the Prices Cor.
ner
Sunday nights lack Of a leader was
supplied by a Virginian. whose iden-
tity, in the confusion and excitement.
could not be learned. The police of
Wilmington and the constables tried
TO dfsperse the growing crowd. but
without avail. 1t was evident that
hundreds came from mere curiosity
but once in the mob they became in.
named with the spirit pervadinq the
throng and then actively Joined it.
Inc real leaders were few in numbers.
Dut they did their work well. II was
arter 10 o'clock when the march To
the workhouse, a mile away. was
taken up. The chief warden of the
workhouse and his guards. who have
been on almost constant dutv since
the negro was landed in the prison l
mad been warned of the coming of the .
mob, and prepared to defend the man Q
at all costs. Il
armed with pistols. shotguns and p
other weapons. the mob soon reached p
the Jail A battery of railroad ties
soon carried away the great outer u
door of the workhouse. What wac e
going on inside the lookup was not A
known to the mob. nor did it seem IN Ii
care. The second, third and fourth
doors were battered down by the for
ward leaders in the attacking party q
amid the yells and cheers OF those e.
who were pressing forward from the le
rear. Then the would-be lyncbers NJ
were momentarily halted bv a hail
of bullets from the inside ereo+ ed
no"I went up from the leaders. but "
they were pressed forward by those Sc
IN the rear. More shooting was heard W
ana there was scramble to get out IN
Dut the Drawer ones in the attacking Gu
party stood their ground In the fu- NC
silade that followed four persons fell ch
all members of the mob They were tai
quickly carried to the rear and at dr
tended by those who were not brave WI
enough to be in the front. Three Of sea
ne wouded were men and the other me
Doy' None Of them, in the confu- loo
hon. could be identified except the fri
10Y who is said to be Peter Smith Gin
ICED II years. tes
It was evident that the warden dtd eas
lot wish to slaughter the mob in tho
rison corridor, so he directed that A
ne nre hose be turned on the crowd Sta
MS also held the mob for a time. Bal
Ut not Tor long. A general rush was bee
lade' the guards were brushed aside hel,
nd man hunt of the Jail was made Doll
,r the negro. % r.
Ihere' are many negroes in the prison stat
ut with the aid of man who knew gro,
ihite he was quickly found. His cell som
Dor was battered open, and the cow burl
ing, accused man, begging for mercy wea
as dragged from the cell and the mon
'ison. When the crowd outside heard and
at success had crowned the efforts Dnrs
the lynchers a great cheer was SET the
}. Attempts were made to shoot are
hite on the spot, but the leaders Of staff
. crowd would have nothing but his nrisr
9 at the stake. Resistance on the not
IT Of the negro was useless. but his At
nds were tied behind him. Then the axne
'Icn 70 the place OF execution, just l2 Il
Inoush 1t were march to the gal woul
rs in prison, was taken UP. lice
L then became evident that a plan Re
execution had been previously ar murd
lged, but who the planners were the n
not known. With torches to lead life
} way and 1000 persons following. said
negro was led to the road and to heaIt
lost the very spot where the As. ing a
1T took place. White was given she s
ast chance to speak, and he con. lnten
SEQ 10 tne murder OF the girl. ingtC
Re nao Deen arranged by an ad- Ihall
ice guard. White was quickly chain. He
70 tne post ana the dry underbush, be sa
Kea Win OIL was ignited and the and
rlDie execution was on. White. sut- Bisho
ns intense agony, tainted and his night,
nung imp Shots were nred into with
body and the victim Of the mob At the
soon dead. which
atisfed with its nights work, the where
ater number of the lynchers left Bishoi
neighborhood many of them fear tol 81
arrest however large number and a
eEsons IolIeRed az the scene, await hands
deVe1opments ~ NJ