The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-08-03
MOB HELD UP A TRAIN
TO LYNCH TWO BLACKS

Huntington. W. Va, July 31.-The
Chesapeake and Ohio express train NO.
l was held up by u mob Of two hundreo
men near Clifton Forge late tonight ana
a desperate effort was made TO take Two
negro prisoners from the train over
hundred shots were fired by the mob, and
when the train reached here twenty bul-
lets were buried in the wood work OF the
smoking car and all Of the windows hao
been shot out.
At Clifton Forge the two negro prison
ers wee taken on board TO be proush'
to Covington, Va, for safe keeping. Ell
gineer James Peck, of Hinton, ana Coh-
ductor Jack Hall, Of this city, VINO were
in charge of the train, saw llshls "aVi'e
on the track Just as the train had begun
70 gather speed after leaving Clifton
Forge, The train was stopped imme-
diately and Engineer Peck started to get
out of his engine to find out why the
train had been tagged.
AS the train came to a standStli
mob surrounded the engine and coacheS'
and threatened to shoot Engineer fech
if he moved the train. Then they began
ia climb aboard Conductor Hall, VINO
had anticipated trouble when he sa" the
train tagged, was prepared Tor the n"p'
and as they made rush for the coaches'
he ordered all the doors OIL the cars
locked The men, finding that II "oulu
be impossible for them to enter ana op
tain the negroes. began TO gamer dloui'o
the smoking car, in which the negroes
were under guard. AS Conductor Han
ran through the train calling upon the
pa ssengerS to lay fiat on the Toor inc
mob began firing into the windows OF tHe
smoker, while the passengers scrambled
from their seats to a place OF safety from
tho living bullets The firing was kept up
for several minutes, and bullets whlstled
through the car windows. While women
screamed the mob outside continued thcr
ciamoring for the two negro prisoners.
Flyiug missiles of all descriptions came
through the windows, but not passenger
or trainman was injured. Engineer
peck during the firing, had sat upon his
engine covered by Nv0lVers N the DandS
Of several members of the MOB.
Al last when the main body OF the moo
had almost exhausted the supply or Dull
let's. those who had been guarding the
engineer left going toward the SMOKER
leaving Peck unguarded.
As HIS guards turned and ran toward
the smoking car. Peck pulled the throttle
!. Tha mob. seeing the turn things We're
talStng and fearing that they might pc
outdone IN their efforts TO gee tne ~ e ~
ers climbed upon the platform ot ~ ~,
| cars and attempted TO stop the tram oS
| turning the angle cock TO the AR nose
thereby applying the brakes. Not undel-
standing the working of the brakes nov" :
ever, they were unable to apply thelH ta o.,
mi nressure. as the train had gottei
| under Roadway. , mo
ReaIizing that they were baffled, me
men jumped from the moving traii @ aar
/ nred several farewell shots into 1ae car
wind0m7 and old not stop until C1ving@on
was was i reached "a where the negi'es were
MIA pcd in TAIL. -. -
IRE RE negroes 1,s for whom the train was was
held up are from Lynchburp sh a. . a,,d
arc supposed to be the men vIo 9lio' % az
Seriously injured a white baheman' hd-
ward Hite a few days age