New-York tribune., 1903-06-23
BURN NEGRO AT STAKE.
RIDDLED WITH BULLETS.
-Four Thousand .StOrmed Prison
Guards Shot -Four.

Wilmington, Del. June IA Northern mob.
led by a. virginian. burned a negro at the stake
tonight within few miles of Mason and
Dixon's line The victim was George F. White.
a. negro Just out of the workhouse. who was ac
cused of having feloniously assaulted and
stabbed to death Miss Helen s. Bishop. the sew
enteen-year-old daughter of the Rev. DIR. F. A
Bishop. The crime was committed last Monday
afternoon.
An effort was made last night to get White.
but # failed Tonight however. result of
the laws slowness. and much agitation the
part of those who cried for vengeance, a mob
that was estimated at four thousand men and
boys gathered in the neighborhood of Prices
Corner, four miles from here They came from
everywhere including Wilmington and the small
towns to the south of Prices Corner.
Last nights lack of leader was supplied by
virginian, whose identity. in the confusion
and excitement. could not be learned The
police of this city and the cOnstables tried to
disperse the growing crowd. but without avail
It was evident that hundreds came from mere
curiosity but once in the mob they became in
actively joined it. The real leaders were few.
but they did their work we'll. 1t was after 10
o'clock when the march to the workhouse, a
mile away. was taken up. The chief warden OF
the workhouse and his guards. who have been
on almost constant duty since the negro was
placed in the prison, had been warned of the
coming of the mob, and prepared to defend the
man at all costs.
Armed with pistols. shotguns and other
weapons the mob reached the Jail. A bait
tering ram of railroad ties carried away the
outer door of the workhouse What was going on
inside the lookup not known to the mob.
nor did it seem to care. The second, third and
fourth doors were battered down by the forward
leaders in the attacking party amid the yells
and cheers of those who were pressing for
ward from the rear Then the wouldbe lynch
ers were momentariIy halted by hail Of bullets
from the inside A great howl went up from
the leaders, but they were pressed forward
by those in the rear. More shooting was heard
and there was a scramble to get out, but the
braver ones in the attacking party stood their
ground.
In the fusillade htat followed four persons fell
all members of the mob. They were quickly car
ried to the rear. Three of the wounded were
men and the other boy. None of them in
the confusion could be identified except the boy,
who is said to be Peter Smith, seventeen years
old.
1t evident that the warden did not wish to
slaughter the mob in the prison corridor, so he
directed that the fire hose be turned the mob.
This also held the mob for time. but not for
long A general rush was made, the guards were
brushed aside and hunt of the Jail made
for the negro.
There many negroes confined in the
prison. but. with the aid of man who knew
White he was quickly found. His cell door
was battered open. and. begging for mercy, he
dragged from the prison. When the crowd
outside heard that success had crowned the ef-
forts of the lynchers a great cheer was set up
Attempts were made to shoot White the
spot but the leaders of the crowd would have
nothing but his life at the stake. Resistance
the part OF the negro was useless. but his
hands were tied behind him. Then the march
to the place of execution, as though it were a
march TO the gallovs in a prison. was taken up
1t then became evident that plan of execu-
ton had been previously arranged With
torches to lead the way and with 1000 persons
following the negro, he was led to the road and
almost to the spot where the assault took place.
last chance to speak was given TO him and
he confessed to the murder of the girl A
stake had been arranged by an advance guard
White was quickly chained TO the post and the
dry underbrush soaked with OIL was ignited,
and the horrible execution was on White.suf-
fering intense agony, tainted and his body
hung limp Shots were fired into his body and
the victim of the mob was soon dead.
Satisfied with the nights work the greater
number of the lynchers Immediately left the
nefghborhood many of them fearing arrest.
However large number Iotered at the scene,
awaiting developments.
The failure of the county court to give White
a speedy trial is in great measure responsible
for to-nights tragedy. The citizens of VIII
mington and those in the vicinity of the scene
of the crime wanted an immediate trial, and At
torney General H. H Ward laid the matter be-
fore the court on Thursday with that end in
view. The court, however. did LOT consider
haste expedient, and the trial was set for the
September term of court With this decision
the talk of IT OBJ violence became louder and the
indignatio of the people grew hourly. Sunday
night two small crowds gathered in the vicinity
Of the jail but they were soon dispersed.
The coroners inquest was held to-day but the
authorities, fearing that harm would befall the
negro did not take him from the workhOuse
and the inquest proceeded without his presence
The verdict OF the jury was that Miss Bishop
came to her death from the effects of an as
sault committed upon her by one George White
a negro
SAVED FROM MARYLAND LYNCHERS.
Murderer Removed from Jail While Crowd