The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-01-03
TWOCIRLSATTACKED
ALEXANDRIA COUNTY PEOPLE ARE
HUNTING NEGRO ASSAILANT.

Batween 10 and IL O'Clock Friday
.niyht. within few hundred yards oil
Arlington Junction, near Alexandra,
,eVro attempted to commit criminal
assault upon Miss Elsie Peverill and Miss
Beulah Ebaugh.
Miss Ebaugh escaped from the en-
counter with few bruises, but Miss
Peverill WAS thrown to the ground,
choked and beaten and saved from
worse fate only by the timely arrival OF
rescuers.
Miss Peveril is the daughter OF Lewis
Peverill. who lives on large iarm north
of Alexandria Miss Ebaugh Is daugh'
ter OF W. +. Ebangh, Il brick manuiac-
turer. Each Of the young women Is
alb nut | ) years old.
News of the brutal attack upon the
two girls spread rapidly, and by mid
oipht parties of citizens had gathered to
search for the az ailant The recital OF
the circumstances of the assault pro
iuced such burning Indignation that
ynching was suggested II the person
was caught.
The negro is described as apparently
y wears old, very black and about six
feet tall. He wore black suit besmeared
with mud, and SLOUGH hat This de-
scription WAS sent to the police head
quarters in Washington and Alexandria
Miss Peverill and her friend, Mics
Ebaugh, had accompanied party OF
Young people from the Columbia school
house, where Christmas entertainment
Was held, to the Junction, where their
ri nds took the electric cars Tor wash
ington. Misses Peverill and Ebaugh wait
Cd at the station few minutes Tor one
of their acquaintance, who was respected
20 meet them there and escort them
home. Becoming impatient, however,
At the delay and suspecting no danger In
the short distance between there and the
home OF Miss Ebaugh, the two girls
started by themselves. The way to
their intended destination led over I'M
even ground and through q section where
several brickyards are located. rail
road track had TO be crossed before the
path which led through field to the
house was reached. Apart from the run
aing Of al occasional electric train, the
yirinity at that hour OF the night is ex-
tremely quiet.
Miss Peverill and Miss Ebaugh had
proceeded short distance from the
station, hen they were suddenly ap'
preached by a tall negro with bag on
his back. He made lunge at Miss
Ebaugh. striking her on the head and
attempting at the same time TO seize her,
out by quick movement she escaped
his clutches. Miss Peverill, however, was
not 30 fortunate. She WAS almost par
,lvzed with fright and was violently
graspel by the negro, but, summoning
all her strength. she fought him hercely
Mean W lille Mise Ebaugh sped rapidly
toward her fathers house, which she
reached in remarkably short time, AND
gave the alarm.
FOUND GIRL UNCONSCIOUS
The men who responded found Miss
Peverill lying unconscious on the ground
The negro had disappeared. The time
which bad elapsed had been briei aud he
had evidently been frightened away by
the approach OF the rescuers.
Miss Peverill's clothes were torn and
covered with mud aud her neck wa
bruised and swollen. She was with oil
iculty aroused from her uocon' ci0uf
'OnOtlon.
Miss Peverill condition soon improved,
out she continued in state OF nervous
shock bordering on collapse throughout
the night From the physicians exami
nation it appeared that, despite thu
bodily injuries the young Young woman
had suffered, her resistance To the negro
had been EFF ctual.
Miss Peyerill was conveyed TO the home
Of Mr.. Ebaugh, while her father was mott
tied at his home.
Private parties, as well as the police
have lie n searching for the negro The
county is greatly stirred up.
BLOODHOUND To TRACK NEGRO.
In response to kilograms Hurricane
Branch sent his son Shelley with the
bloodhound Tramp, TO Alexandria
Police Chief Webster. OF Alexandria,
said that a bag had been found which
is supposed 90 have been over the Negroes
head.