Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-08-01
RACE WAR In ILLINOIS
Mob Lynches Two Negroes and Burn
Their Bodies.
ONE WHITE KILLED, THREE WOUNDED.
One of the Mob Shot and Killed by Negro.
Who is Taken from the Danyilie Police and
Hanged TO Telephone Pole-The Mob
Then Attacks the Jail. bu: is Repaiscd by
Sheriff and Deputies.

Danville. III. (SpeciaD.-This city is
in the throes Of race war
Two negroes were lynchcd by 4 mob
that grew in numbers from COO to 5000,
and who battered down jail doors. Alter
killing their victims their bodies were
burned in the public square and hacked
with knives.
One negro, J. y. Mayheld. from
Evansville. Ind, who shot and killed
Henry Gatterman. white. was first
hanged by a mob OF Coo men who were
later fired upon by the Sheriff, three men
being wounded. The mob was camor-
ing for the life al another negro narned
James Wilson. who confessed to brutal
assault on Mrs. Thomas Burgess. wife
OF farmer at Avon. ILL.,. just north OF
here
The Mayficld negro met his fate while
the mob was on the way TO lynch vii
son. The angry throng was passing
down East Main street. when Mayfcd
became involved in an alteration with
some of its members They started after
him and he pulled gun. firing into the
crowd.
Henry Gatterman. Young butcher,
who recently returned from Fortress
Monroe. fell MORALLY wounded and cx-
pred III few seconds The negro
turned ant, fled. but WaS caught by the
officers within block OF the scene oil
the tragedy and hurried to the police
station with the mob i'll hot pursuit. tenn
porarily diverted from their march To
the county jail.
The officers with their prisoner took
refuge in the city building. barricadng
themselves behind the doc, of one OF the
Offices. They could not check the mob.
however. for ii secured long pole and
tried to batter down a section OF the
wall and the door. both Of whicG were
very thin. On account OF the ovcrwhelm-
ing numbers OF the mob it was useless
for the officers to resist.
The negro was seized and rushed TO
the spot where he had shot down Cat
terman. 1t was the work OF an instant
to throw rope around his neck and
pole The mob did not delay long. but
waited to see that their victim was dead.
His life was slowly stranged ont and he
was left hanging, while the mob pro-
ceeded toward the county Jail
The mob changed its mind before at
lacking the Jail and went back and cut
10 the public square and burned it i'll a
bonfire. hacking it to pieces with knives
as il burned
Then they charged the jail and the
Sheriff and deputies fired. wounding
several members of the mob, some ia
tally.
After securing battcring rams. it took
the mob about half an hour to wreck the
city prison. the negro being found hid ii
a safe. He was pulled from the safe,
struck with slcdgcS. Knocked down.
jumped upon and stamped TO death. y
rope was placed around his neck and his
lifelcss body was dragged three blocks
through the street to the scene OF the
shooting.
An effort was made to hang the body
to telegraph pole, but the rope broke.
The mob. which by this time numbered
5000. then dragged the body to the jail
and burned it.
Wilson. il IS charged went to the Bur
CESS farmhouse while Mrs. Burgess was
alone and told her he was hungry While
she was getting him something to cat he
entered the kitchen door and seized her
He fed leaving her half dead After
ward she managed to crawl to the near
est farmhouse. where she told the story.
\ posse of officers started in pursuit OF
the negro. and when Wilson was cap
tured he was hurried to the county Jail
to prevent lynchng. There the negro
confessed.