Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-23
At HE STAKE
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wide circulation. but most Sc people who were
not actually concerned i1 the plot were of
AS result e of the repoofFts showever, peo-
pie flocked toward the warehouse early in
the evening" but the majority of these were
there out Of curiosity, although after they
reached the prison many joined the at
lacking party. ioc.c
Police Were Overpewered.
The police department. xasf advised dur
ing the day of the contemplated attack, and
thirty policemen, in charge Of Chief Black
and Capts. Evans and Kane. went to the
workhouse. This was at 8 o'clock last
night. There were several thousand per-
sons at the prison at that time and the
officers were powerless against such large
numbers, so they entered. the building to
assist the guards in an effort to protect the
prisoner.
Upon arriving at the workhouse the mob
lost no time in preliminary preparation.
The crow advanced into the front vestibule.
or reception hall, and demanded admit
lance to the jail. Their demand was re-
fused by the guards. and they were deluged
by stream of water from the fre-fighting
equipment of the institution.
This did not lessen the eagerness of the
besiegers who Immediately began an as
Black shouted to the crowd: THE first man
who comes into this corridor will be killed"
Shot in the Air.
A man. said to be from the south, grasp
ed one of the heavy sledge hammers and
as he attacked the steel grating cried:
Then you had better kill me for the first
one"
Another man. said to be from the west,
CHI oil Of ineo
n the vestibule. The mob and guards ex-
changed shots. but did not aim at each
other.
In addition to Peter Smith. youth,
fusillade. He had the skin torn from the
side of his nose. but he is not seriously in
jured. 1t Is thought these two persons
were accidentally shot by people in the
crowd.
While about 300 men and boys were
storming the front of the Jail several
thousand of sympathizers were lined up
outside and while they took no active part
in the attack, were plainly in favor of
lynching White.
Leaders Swing Sledges.
After forcing their way into the lower
corridor on the west wing. the crowd surg
ed up to the front row of cells on the third
floor. The leaders who welded the sledges
and rivet-cutting appliances were calm and
determined and cut straight to the cell of
the man 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 War
den Meserve that they intended to get the
negro If they had to break every steel door
in the place and argued that 1t was a
useless expense to the county to have I'M
necessary damage done to property.
The officials saw the strength of this ar
gument and Informed the leaders that
White was in cell No. 13 on the front row.
third story. This was enough and the door
to this row of cells was at once attacked
This is the only door between us and our
man." shouted one of the mob, land If you
will stand back we will cut it open in an
hour"
The crowd stood back Cor awhile. but be-
came impatient and surged- forward so
strongly that the work was delayed. While
this door was being cut another party with
sledges and chisels attacked the large steel
box containing the levers that opened and
closed the cell doors, including Whites cell.
Steel Doors Were Useless.
1t was just twenty-five minutes of IL