The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1906-04-20
TROOPS ARE ENDING
HORRIBLE RACE WAR
ARR Assocfatrd Press.

Springfield. Mo, April lG--Quiet
prevailed here today and the indica-
tons we're that tie race trouble was
over.
The presence Of troops has had
the effect Of bringing the people TO
Ia full realization Of The situation.
SIX companies now patrol the
streets.
AT a:l5 o'clock Sunday morning,
William Allen, a young negro, was
taken fro mtbe county jail here and
Ilynchea II the public square BY the
same mob That two hours earlier had
hanged Horace Duncan and James
Copeland.
i'he body of Allen later was
burned in The ashes OF the two other
negroes benesth the spot where they
were lynched.
Following the Dispatch Of Dun
can and Copeland, some one suggest
ed that Allen and Bus Cain, two
other negroes known TO be in Jail,
should also.bc lynched
The mob, now bloodthirsty and
wrought mp 10 the highest pitch Of
excitement, readily took up the cry
and soon the charred bones of the
third victim lay beneath The statue
Of the Goddess Of Liberty. Cain
escaped.
Allen and Cain were being held
upon suspicion Of having murdered
o. p. Ruark, while Duncan and
Copeland were accused of assaulting
Miss Mabel Edmonson, a white do
nestle.
Their work finally accomplished.
the mob quietly dispersed.
But, Sunday, crowds augmented
by hundreds of persons from sur
rounding towns, filled the streets
making threats Of further vengeance.
Last nigh several companies of the
state militia were ordered out BY
Governor Folk, together with 200
deputy sherilis, to patrol the streets.
When the mob left the Jail at mid
night, with Copeland and Duncan,
fourteen prisoners escaped in the eX-
element. Among them was Cain.
But Allen was there yet and the sec
ond mob fnund him hidden under
his cot. He was dragged out, his
hands tied behind his back, a rope
put around his neck, and he was
down street to the tower in
the square. Two men climbed up
the iron stairway and stood upon the
platform with Allen between them.
Tie mob was undecided. While
The crowd was debating, the second
man on the platform began tis1ng
the rope to. The iron railing. 'Fhe
negro stood directly above The
smouldering ash heap from which
tile smell Of burning flesh arose.
But lie stood erect. while the man
with the lantern haraugued the mob,
and the crowd ieered the negro.
In the mcantime the rope had
been placed about Aliens neck and
presently the hangman caught the
negro's ankles, lifted him, and threw
him forward over The railing Allen
turned a somersault in the air and
as The rope became taut, his neck
cracked like a pistol shot. The
rope broke and he fell in the bed of
ashes on the top of the other two
negroes. He kicked and foundered
around until another rope was
brought. The loop was placed
around his neck and he was again
swung in mid air. Another big fire
was kindled and soon the swaying
figure, now dead, fell into it, send
ing up a spray of live sparks
After that most of the men went
home. but some men and boys stayed
by the tower all night and led the
fire.
When daylight broke upon the.
scene. there remained only the black
ened trunks and charred remains of
three negroes.
Five thousand persons saw the
trio hanged and burned. Among
the crowd of spectators were humid
reds Of women and children, girls
and boys.
In hall overlooking the plaza, an
Easter dance was in progress. Its
music stopped while the dancers
crowded to the windows and watched
the writing black bodies and the
flames that finally consumed them.
Sunday, souvenirs Of the night
consisting of buttons from the
trousers Of one Of the negroes, a
piece Of the hangman's rope and
other pieces Of relics were eagerly
bought by many among the crowds
that gathered at the scene.
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