The Washington times., 1904-01-03
DRAMATIC INCIDENT
IN Mr.. BRISTOW'S LIFE
How He Saved Negro From
Mob Violence.
SHOOK PENKNlFE AT CROWD
overawed Would-be Lynchers, Who
Had 0verpowered Guards and
Broken Into Jail.

one midnight, in the spring of 1885,
an angry mob surged through the
streets of small Western city, saws
clarence II. Watson, in the American
Monthly Review of Reviews" A negro,
accused of a heinous crime. lay in
the county jail. The mob rushed for
the prison, but was beaten off by an
armed force. Infatuated by the repulse
ana thirsty for human blood. it again
attacked the guards and this time over
powered them. A few minutes work
with battering ram and the mob Sc
cured its intended victim.
Meanwhile, a handful of law-abiding
but determined citizens had heard of
the commotion. and had gathered at the
outskirts of the mob. They knew there
was doubt as to the negro's guilt of the
accusation against him, and they de-
termined to save him. Their leader
was tall. gaunt, young Kentuckian.
a comparative newcomer in the com
munity. but the editor Of the one daily
paper of the town.
In Center of Mob.
The little group Of men quietly work.
ed their way to the center of the mob.
Already rope had been placed around
the terrified negro's neck, and he was
half-dragged along the street At length
a stop was made, and the wretched
victim was asked if he had anything
to say. He protested his innocence. and
said he could establish it IL given a
chance in court. The mob vas more
anxious for blood than 1t was to avenRe
a crime. and cries of Hang himr'
Hang hint" went UP.
A lawyer, afterward a prominent
md nd h.
chief justice of the States supreme
court, raised his voice in behalf Of Civ
ing the negro a trial in court. The
Kentuckian supplemented this plea with
a similar one, but opposition only added
TO the fury of the mob, and the leaders
began to drag their victim to the near
est telephone pole.
Showed Past Pole.
AS the pole was reached the Kentuck-
ian gave the negro mighty shove past
it. Fifty feet farther door led into the
stairway of an Office building. Those in
front tried to push the negro back. but
the momentum of the Kentuckian and
his few friends was too great and half
the distance to the stairway was speed
lily covered Then came a struggle.
The big kentuchian hurled himself
against the mob in front. while two or
three of his friends guarded the negro
from the rear. The stairway was reach
ed. the rope was slipped from the ne
gro's neck. and he was pushed through
the door. followed b. his rescuers. Then
the Kentuckian turned in the doorway.
and shaking his fist at the mob. he dared
1t to come within his reach. In one
hand he shook his only weapon. 1t was
"a small renknire.
Robbed of It's Prey.
And as he stood there. his eves
MASKING. and looking down at the angry,
crowd from his height OF six-feet-three
he looked so much the picture of dem
ance and determination that the nob
robbed Of its prey. fell back and slowl,,
melted away. The negro was saved. II
afterward developed that he was not
only innocent. but that the very crime
OF which he was accused was a myth
Inc kentuckian who saved the life Of
Ilat negro ten years ago was Joseph l..
DFistoW. VINO is now prominent in the
public eye as the man upon whom Presf-
dent Roosevelt has placed the resno,,-
sibility Of renOvating the Postofice De
partment of the United States +osl,
OF no small proportions: a task which
Ike the rescuing Of the negro reo,,Ires
courage and determination In a. marked
degree. although perhaps OF a difrerent
kind ''''
or four years he has been Fourth
assistant Postmaster General. and twice
IN mat period has the head Of the ma
tioh selected him to probe official dis
honesty o IN high places, believing that he
or fear Of foe. 70 friend