New-York tribune., 1903-06-29

The Rev Dr. Dean Richmond Babbit, rector
Of the Church of the Epiphany. McDonough-st
and Tompkins-ave.. Brooklyn who went last
week to investigate on the ground the facts as
10 the mobbing and lynching of George White,
the negro, at Wilmington, Del. yesterday by
request gave his impressions OF the affair TO The
Tribune follows:
I have been interested in mobs from my boy
hood. since uncle Of mine. DR.. Gamaliel
Bailey. Editor Of the anti-slavery paper, THE
National Era at Washington, in the old ante
bellun days, went through four of them for the
negro. There is nothing. permit me to say, that
accentuates ones interest in mobs. next 10
being the victim ones self. as to have had them
in the family. / have never been privileged TO
study mob in it's working madness. but have
always arrived toe late. They are growing SO
frequent however, In all parts OF the country,
that we all may soon have our chence 10 see
them in actual operation, especially II we con-
tinue to use the quondam American habit OF
free speech.
went TO Wilmington Del, last week, and,
with my usual luck of being too late for the
nobs actual and most efficient frenzy, I was
able only to gather the facts of its vindictive-
ness, bioodthirstiness and malignancy of last
Monday night. its aftermath Of negro batting,
the shameless supineness and inertia of the
public authorities and the thousands Of excuses
for the lynching Of the murderer and rapist,
White.
Now. IN what 1 shall say / wish 1t distinctly
understood that I speak directly to the facts
and impressions gained on the spot after care
full inquiry, wide comparison and the exercise
of whatever judicial faculty may have I went
carefully over every step Of the lynchers at the
workhouse, examined the five strong steel gates
they broke through, interrogated one OF the
workhouse officials who witnessed what was
done, later went to the spot in the field where
the negro committed his heinous crime and was
roasted for hours. 1 gave my time for a Gay
and a night TO gathering the facts and sitting
them. Within a few minutes Of my arrival
was interviewing the police. Later I had two
Interviews with Chief of Police Black con-
versed with actual witnesses Of the burning and
disYnembering Of the negro and the of parts
nf EhaStlV i a
talk with q Judge I visited the negro quarters
OF the city Thursday night and ascertained their
anxiety their fright their sleepless vigil. L
Conversed with members OF the State militia IN
their armory and got facts from the negroes
about town. So that what I state is based on
actual facts secured on the very field Of the
nobs maddened action.
WHY HE TELLS THE FACTS.
NAV be permitted to state why give these
facts and impressions TO the public. viz, be-
cause they dare not be given at Wilmington.
and viii not be given IN the present form by any
body else, and must be given by some one IN
order to apply the corrective Of public opinion
10 this great. terrible and spreading danger or
lvnching in our country not a press CORE
spondent. nor in the employ Of any newspaper.
hut simply & clergyman trying to do his work in
different ways best he can. Now, what are
the facts unbiased Impressions and careful
differences? These:
FNirst-The mob and lynching could have been
easily prevented by the authorities, who, by
their renissness, now have the blood of the
slain their consciences. That lynchlng Gaop
known and published by the local press 1t was
even foied in preliminary appearances The
very sources of the mob from Marshalltovn and
Wilmington were known the county and pc
lice authorities, yet the after failed TO act
Why? Because they were more or less in sym
rathv with il or feared the public.
Second-When the mob. With batterlng RAM
r1auls and chisels. before the Workhouse
there were, with police, guards and others n1ty
men inside armed tc the teeth, capable OF WITH
standing with devotion TO duty and civic prln-
ciple. much larger force tnan me I Lyhci1eIs l 3
The leaders Of the mob were comparatively rev,
the hangers-on many. The Chief or Ponce, WIN
2 police captain met the mob OUTSIDE parIe!eu
lin II weakly threatened to shoot, feebly re-
treated was rushed by the mob. and just got IN
SIDE the first big steel gate Then programme
Of mock fusillade. actually published beforehano
hv a local paper, was gone through as accu-
rstelv as A manual of arms. viz, shooting ABOVE
the heads Of the mob. Even this caused all put
at,o,.+ ore hundred of the mob to scamper Tor
+rees and walls After the mob's cutting ana
driving the bolts Of the first steel gate, IN Ihe
q,1a1l corridor back OF il fifty men could have
controlled any mob that could get into IL 1t