River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-06-11


noon shot Superintendent of Schools
Hertel because the latter had refused
to renew his certificate as a teacher,
was taken from the jail at 1880
O'Clock Saturday night by mob of
more than 1000 furious men and
lynched. Wyatt was probably beaten
to death in the fight at the Jail. but
the limp body, terribly disfigured,
was dragged through the streets, the
recipient of kicks and blows. to the
public square. where it was strung
up to telegraph pole.
Burns the Body.
Meanwhile some one in the party
suggested burning the body. and oil
was hastily brought. The corpse was
cut down, placed on a pile of infam-
mable material. thoroughly saturat-
ed with oil, and set on fire. When it
had burned to an unrecognizable
crisp the mob quietly dispersed.
Earlier in the evening a mob of
Belleville people made an attack on
the Jail, but were repulsed. This en-
couraged the authorities to believe
that danger of a lynching had been
averted. However. the residents of
Freeburg, the home town Of Prof.
Hertel, had been arming themselves
and organizing. Shortly after II
O'Clock they began to arrive in Belle
vile in small groups, attracting no
attention.
Jail Surrounded.
Joining with the Belleville people,
they surrounded the jail, and while
one party made a demonstration in
front to divert the attention Of the
guards the main body made a swift
descent upon the unprotected rear
and battered down the doors. The
iailer and his deputies were speedily
overcome and the mob swarmed
through the jail. The door of the
cell containing the negro was broken
down and he was dragged forth, limp
and trembling with fear. The ours
ing, bowling mob struggled and
fought for an opportunity TO admin
lister kicks and blows to the victim.
Just as he was being dragged from
the building some one struck him
ItIIIDlc DlOW Oh inc IIChu Will 81
sledge hammer that had been used
to batter down the doors.
Victim Knocked SenscIess.
This probably caused his death, or
at least rendered him insensible to
the further fortunes the mob had in
mind for him. Dragging the sense
less body a block to the square. it
was speedily hanged to a telegraph
pole. At first fire was built under
the swaying corpse, but this was not
satisfactory to a ma iority of the eX-
ecutioners. who demanded a bonfire,
and the body was then cut down and
incinerated. The members of the
lynching party made no attempt at
concealment. Appeals of the mayor
and other city officials were made III
vain. The mob was ineXorable. and
with ears deaf to reason carried out
its plans. After the terrible work
had been completed the crowd silent
~ melted away. and the city was
quoted, although there was general
fear that there would be a rising
against other negroes.
| cause OF LEnchlnR.
The crime for which Wyatt was
lynchcd was committed Saturday
afternoon. For several years he had
been teaching school i'll st. Clair
county and had been fairly success
full Recently, however, his name,
had been mixed in some scandals
among the colored population.
Charges of immoral conduct were
filed against him after he had passed
the examination for a renewal of his
teaching certificate. When he APP
peared at Superintendent Hertefs
office and demanded his certificate
the superintendent told him it would
be impossible to grant it until the
charges had been settled. This an
gered Wyatt, who drew revolver
and with curse shot Hertel through
the left breast. inficting a mortal
wound.
Captured the Negro.
A young man named Fielder was in
1.-THE Office when the shooting oc-
Cured. He grappled with Wyatt,
but the negro beat him off with the
DuIG VI HIS ICNO1NC1. IhlIINtiiiS Il sc
we're scalp wound. 4 passing police
man burst into the room and sue
ceeded in arresting the negro. He
was hurried to the county jail and
the place was surrounded with po-
licemen.
Superintendent Hertel was removed
TO the hospital, where the physicians
probed for the bullet. They stated
that there was no chance for his re-
I,overy. Great crowds had gathered
outside the hospital. and when the an
nouncement was made that Hertel
would die the first concerted move was
made on the Jail, but frustrated by the
policemen and deputies.
Prof. Hertel revived sufficiently
shortly after being shot to explain the
shooting, saying Wyatt had attacked
him because of the refusal to reissue
his certificate 1t is said that Wyatt.
when the mob dragged him from the
cell, pleaded that the shooting was the
Sixteen Negroes Drowned.
/ MoTnnhiS Tenn lime 1.-SlXfRpn