Evening star., 1903-08-01
STORMING A TRAIN
A CHESAPEAKE AND CHIC EX-
PRESS HELD UP BY A MOB.
Conductors Courage Saves Two Hen
Who Shot Brakeman From
Lynching Mob.

A special dispatch to the Baltimore Sun
from Huntington, w. Va, yesterday says:
Chesapeake and Ohio express train NO. 1
was held up by mob of 200 men near CLIFTON
Forge last night and d desperate effort was
made to take two negro prisoners from the
train. Over 100 shots were fired by the
mob and when the train reached here twen-
ty bullets were buried in the woodwork of
the smoker and all the window glass had
been shot out.
AT Clifton Forge the two negro prisoners
were taken on board to be brought to Cow
ington, Va, for safe keeping. as 1t was
feared that a mob would gather If they
were allowed to remain there. Engineer
James Peck of Hinton and Conductor Jack
Hall of this city, who were in charge OF the
train, saw lights waving on the track just
as the train had begun to gather speed after
leaving Clifton Forge The train was stop
ped Immediately. and Engineer Peck start
ed to get off his engine to find out why
the train had been tagged.
AS the train came to a standst1ll mob
surrounded the engine and coaches and,
threatening to shoot Engineer Peck If lie
moved the train, began to climb aboard.
Conductor Hall, who had anticipated trou-
BILE when he saw the train tagged, was pre-
pared for the mob and as they made rush
for the coaches he ordered the doors OF all
the cars closed and locked. The men, find
ing that it would be impossible for them to
enter to obtain the negroes for whom the
train had been stopped. began to gather
around the smoking car, in which the ne
groes were under guard. AS conductor Hail
ran through the train calling on the piSSen-
gers to lie fiat upon the floor the mob be-
gan firing into the windows of the smoker,
while the passengers scrambled from their
seats to place of safety from the fylng
bullets. The firing kept up for sew
eral minutes and bullets whistled through
the windows. while women screamed
and the mob outside continued their clam
oring for the two negro prisoners.
Rocks were also brought into play and
flying missiles of all descriptions came
through the windows. but not pas
senger or trainman was injured. Engineer
Peck during the firing. had sat upon his
engine covered by revolvers in the hands OF
several members of the mob At last, when
the main body of the mob had almost ex-
hausted their supply of bullets. those who
had been guarding the engineer left going
toward the smoker, leaving Peck unguard-
ed.
AS the guards turned and ran toward the
smoking car Engineer Peck pulled the
throttle wide open and the train began to
move. The mob seeing the turn things had
taken and fearing that they .ght be out
done in their efforts to get to the prisoners.
climbed upon the platforms of the cars and
attempted to stop the train by turning the
angle cock to the air hose, thereby apply
ing the brakes Not understanding the
working of the brakes, however, they were
unable to apply them at full pressure, as
the train had gotten headway. Realizing
that they had been bafied the men jumped
from the moving train and fired several
shots into the car windows. The train
quickly gained momentum and did not stop
until Covington was reached. where the
negroes were placed In jail.
The negroes for whom the train was held
up are from Lynchburg, Va. and are sup
posed to be the ones who shot and seriously
injured a white brakeman on the Chesa-
no La Clifton
Forge and Lynchburg a few days ago. The
brakeman was shot and it is thought fatal
ly wounded. during fight between negroes
on the excursion train. He was brought to
the Chesapeake and Ohio Hospital at Cliff
ton Forge, and the two negroes were
rested in Lynchburg and brought to Clifton
Forge Thursday for identification. The
brakeman declared them to be the
who shot him, and there were reports
of lynching the Lynchburg officers de-
cided to take the negroes to the Covington
Jail for fe-keeptng. 1t Is believed that an
effort will be made tonight to lynch the
negroes at COvington.