Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-23


and cheers rushed into the corridor. past
the cell doors of the frightened prisoners.
to the cell occupied by White. Here more
trouble was encountered for in smashing
the lever box the mechanism was damaged
and the door to the cell Of White could not
be opened.
Warden Meserve then rushed into the cell
corridor to prevent the mob taking the
wrong man. He saw that the men with
hammers were about the cell door and told
them how to disconnect the door so that
it could be operated AS soon as the door
to Whites cell slid open there was deaf
ening cheer and cries Of:
Don't hurt him. hang him; don't hit
him, burn him at the stake. Take him to
the place where he murdered Miss Bishop
for we have driven stake there ana VIII
burn him."
White Fought With Desperation.
White fought desperately for his life in
the little iron cage cell and knocked down
the first man who approached him. The
leaders again showed their clear-headed-
ness and one of them. a powerful man,
stepped forward before any one could strike
the prisoner and threw his arms around the
frightened wretch, thus protecting him
from violence.
At this time the narrow corridor was so
tightly packed by the mob that 1t was i'm.
possible to get the prisoner out. One OF
the leaders worked his way through the
mob to the main corridor and after much
difficulty persuaded the crowd to begin the
retreat from the building. promising thas
everybody should get chance to see the
prisoner.
When they did move the crowd cleared
the building in very short time White.
in the custody Of two strong men, orous gnu
prison was a sea of faces when viewed
from the porch. Whites custodians be-
came convinced that unless strategy was
used there would be little chance OF getung
their man to the spot on Prices road where
it was planned that the negro should be
burned to death.
Lanterns Extinguished.
This danger was overcomee by quiet
order to extinguish lanterns or keep them
concealed. In the darkness there was a
confused rush and after this no one seemed
to know where the prisoner was
On the way White begged to be allowed
to say a few words to the crowd before ne
was killed. and the promise was mace 10
him that he should be allowed to make
statement.
When he found that his case was no pps,-
less the negro confessed to having COM
mitted the deed and did not spare hlmseiL
in telling it. He again confessed as ne
was standing near hedge few feet from
prayed fervently to God to forgive his sins,
and seemed anxious to do as much talking
as possible in the few minutes he mad 10
live.
PRAYED and Confessed.
While White was praying and confessing,
and the crowd was struggling to form a
circle. three or four stern-faced men be-
gan splitting rails with which to burn the
wretch 1t took so long to get the 1uei
ready that the crowd impatientiy cried 10
the leaders to proceed with the execution.
The mod numbered from 5000 to 6.oOo
persons, who surged back ana TORN:
crowding and pushing, to gain or retain a
good position from which to see the purn-
When everything seemed to be about
ready a man on a white horse rode INTO the
crowd 1t is said his home Is In Ken
lucky. Taking off his broad-brimmed felt
hat he bowed to the crowd and said:
Ladies and gentlemen: Me and TINS
horse are going to get some straw 10 starr
this fire."
Torch Applied to Straw.
He rode to a nearby farm house ana In
short time reappeared with two stacks OF
straw The straw was placed around the
stake and White was brought bareheadeo
into the circle. His nerve seemed to De
good and he held his head up while he ad-
dressed the crowd.
brought and the negro was wrapped In lcs
coils from shoulders to feet. HIS mouth
was working while this was going on anu
he seemed to be trying to finish MS state
ment The crowd was In hurry to get
through with its gruesome task and called
out for the ,executioners to hasten. After
the rope had been adjusted the negro was
fastened to the stake and the loren was
applied to the straw.
Rolled in the Flames.
The flames leaped up and licked the mans
hare hands, He was held erect by one of
the lynchers until his clothing was burning
fairly, when he was pushed into the bed
of the fire. He rolled about and his contor-
tons were terrible, but he made no sound.
Suddenly the ropes on his legs parted and
he sprang from the fire and started TO
rum A man struck him in the head with
piece of fence rail and knocked him down.
willing hands threw him again into the
flames He rolled out several times but
was promptly returned. While this was
going on shouts, cheers ana 1lDeS went up
from the crowd.
When the negro had ceased to show sign
of life the body was placed on its back and
fuel was piled upon it until a roaring fire
was soon consuming it. 1t was about
O. clock when the crowd began to dispense.
Greusome Relics Taken.
At noon today Deputy Coroner Killmer
went to the scene of the lynching for the
of the negro, so as to go through the legal
form Of holding an inquest. But according
to the story of those who had left the
place an hour previous there was little
probability of his finding anything substan-
81 ha relic hupterS had made off with