The Washington times., 1908-10-11
Attack Made on Jail and
Several Men Reported
Wounded.
USE OF DYNAMITE
NOW THREATENED
Girl Positively Identifies Prisoner
as Man Who Made Brutal
Assault on Her.

CHARLOTTE, \. c.. Oct. ia spe-
cIaI from Spartansburg, s. c.. says that
the mob which for hours had surround
ed the Jail in which a negro. John Irby,
is confined. had fired on the Jail and
that deputies and members OF the
Hampton Guards have returned the fire,
vounding several members OF the mob
one deputy is reported 20 have been
shot
There are threats being made Of dyna-
hitting the jail.
The mayor Of Spartansburg and a
number of the leading citizens OF the
town are addressing the mob and plead
ing for order. promising a trial for the
negro next week. but the dispatch says
that the mob is demanding the prisoner
tonight II a leader should be found
an attempt viii certainly be made 10
storm the jail
John Irby. the negro. was Identified
this afternoon by Miss Lillian Dempsey,
a stenOgrapher at the Saxon Cotton
Mills, as the man who had seized her
while she was on her way 10 work this
morning, dragged her into a clamp Of
woods. and attacked her in a brutal
manner.
As soon as she was freed, the young
! woman sounded an alarm and Irby was
| arrested within a few hours. Though
he denled-his guilt. Miss Dempsey iden-
titled him positively as her assaIlsnt.
The word spread rapidly among the mill
operatives. ana crowds congregated
about jail early this morning and threat
ened 90 lynch him.
- ----5er Of deputies were sworn IN
by the sheriff and the Hampton Guards
were called out 20 assist IN queliing the
disorder which seemed inevitable
Another Mob Formed.
A few minutes before midnight a
mob Of $50 men. armed with shot
guns ana NiuChesters. ana carrying a
quantity Of dynamite. arrived at Spar
tauburg from Gresuy.ue, and joined
forces with the mob OF Spartauburg
men.
At that hour 81 is reported that still
a third mob IS forming at Greers. twelve
miles south of Sparauburg, auG is eE-
pected 10 arrive AT the latter place on
horseback before . O'Clock.
The CreeuvllIe mob is said % want
/ Clarence Aguew, charged with wreck
ing Southern passenger train several
nights ago. and causing the death OF
! Engineer FondviIle. The Greers mob
has declared its intention Of getting a
negro named Johnson. held on the
charge Of insulting a young white wom-
an, teacher in the Greers public
school.
Jail Heavily Guarded.
The Hampton Guards. TWO companies
Of militia, and a score Of deputy sher-
| ifs are now on guard at the jail at
| SpartanburE, and an effort IS being
made 10 clear the streets surrounding
! the structure. Two attempts are report
/ ed TO have been made TO fire the Jail
I The troops are under command Of AS
sistant Adjutant General Brock. while
Sheriff Nichols is in charge Of the dep
uty sherifs.
Shortly before midnight, Sheriff Mich
OILS succeeded in getting DR.. II. r.
Black. who attended Miss Dempsey. to
mount the steps Of the Jail and address
! the crowd. Dr. Black got the attention
Of the mob and told them that Miss
! Dempsey had not been seriously harmed.
Her worst injuries were the brusies on
her throat. whero the negro had choked
her. The sherlii promised a trial Of the
negro within forty-eight hours If the
mob would disperse. but he was inter-
rupted with cries Of mo, no, lynch the
niger
The members Of the mob who were
shot were Grover Fowler. Edward For
ster. John Clemins, and II. SOlsby. Dep
uty Sheriff BOckneu was shot IN the
face by small shot
The mob. at a late hour tonight, was
increasing, and factory operatives are
pouring into the city in large numbers.