The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1908-10-14
Excitement in Spartanburg
Jail Stormed by Infuriated
Citizens Who Wanted to
Wreak Summary Ven
geance on Black Brute
Who Assaulted Young
Lady. Troops Called Ou t
to Guard Jail
Spartanburg special in the Charleston
Sunday News:

Sunday News:
Thirsting for the life of John Irby, a
negro charged with attempting to crimi-
nally assault Miss Lille Dempsey, a
highly respected young white woman,
an angry mob numbering over n thous-
and men yesterday afternoon surround
ed and made several unsuccessful et-
forts to storm the county jail, whore he
was taken upon being arrested soon
after he attacked the young woman.
AT l o'clock this morning three com
panies of the National Guard of South
Carolina, under the command of Assist
ant Adjutant and Inspector General
Brock, which had been called out to in
sure protection for the negro, are guard
ing the Jail, while the mob, increased
by three hundred armed men from
Greenville, has drifted to the Southern
Railway station to await the arrival at
2.4O o'clock of Train No 80, which is
reported to be bringing a brother of
Miss Dempsey to the scene of action.
The streets are now well-nigh deserted,
except for the pickets that have been
posted along the streets leading to the
jail, and all is quiet. Should Miss
Oempsey's brother arrive at 2.40 il is
rumored that another attack may be
made on the JAIL but this is extremely
doubtful. Strong appeals havo been
made to the mob to let the law take its
course, and Governor Ansel, who is in
Greenville, has promised special term
of Court to try the negro. Sheriff
Nichols has sworn in score or more
of special deputies and all are heavily
armed, and if any further attempt is
made to storm the Jail it is certain to be
repulsed.
The assault upon Miss Dempsey was
committed this morning about IL o'clock
and was one of the most brutal ever
known in the history of this section.
The young lady was on her way home
from Saxon Mills, n mill village about
three miles from the city She was
walking along path by the roadside,
near thick woods, to avoid the mud
in the road, when she was seized by n
negro man, who chokcd her most un-
mercifully and dragged her into the
woods. Miss Dempsey was unable to
call for help because of the fendish
clutch about her throat, though she
fought desperately. Finally her strength
gave way and she fell to the ground in
an unconscious condition, and i'm this
condition the negro left her, though not
until he had stripped her fingers of sew =
eral rings she wore.
Shortly after the attempted assault
Miss Dempsey was found unconscious
by colored man, who FASTENED to the
store of >. G. Porter and reported the
matter. Mr.. Porter armed himself with
a gun and started in pursuit of the
black brute. The news spread through
the factory village in the twinkling of
an eye. In brief period of time the
woods were surrounded by men. The
police department was notified, and
also the sheriff, and mounted officers
hurried out to Saxon
In the meantime Mr.. Porter found
the negro crOuching in the bushes, and
covering him with his gun made him
walk out ahead. Just at this time Pri-
vate Fleming, of the police force, rode
up and the prisoner was delivered into
his keeping and was taken before the
young lady, who identified him as her
assailant.
The moment Miss Dempsey charged
lrby with being the man who as
saulted her the mob made rush for
him and sought to take him from the
officer by force. A fierce struggle took
place. The negro with the officer hold
ing on to him were dragged fifty feet.
The mob brought guns into play, but
Private Fleming held on to his man.
Chief of Police Hall drove up in n bug
gy with several on horseback, and thcy
managed to get the negro into the bug
gy and he was brought to the city and
lodged in Jail.
Within ten minutes after Irby had
been landed in Jail Sheriff Nichols re-
ceiVed word that II mob was forming at
Saxon and expected to march TO the
city and storm the Jail. In order to be
on the safe side Shern Nichols sworc
I'm deputies, and arming them with re-
peating rifles, stationed them inside the
jail. Capt. Nichols, of the Hampton
Guards, was notified and the company
was held Mt the armory ready for action
at a moments notice.
The angry citizens of Saxon began to
gather i'm the Court House yard at
about | o'clock and at 2 O'Clock there
were several hundred people assem- bled
The mob secured step ladders and
sledge hammers and made I'm unsuc-
cessful attempt To get over the high
brick wall. Grover Fowler, young
man, attempted to break down the gate
with a hammer, and at the same time
the mob made rush for the ladders
Shots were fired from inside the Jail
resulting in Grover Fowler being shot
in the arm and Ed Foster in the head
Mr.. Clemmons and n man named Soles-
by were also shot None of the wounds
are serious. a man in the mob return
ed the fire with shotgun, breaking out
pane of glass in the Jail, and it is re-
ported that Deputy Sheriff Becknell was
shot in the face.
Dr II II Rlack a6 tho ,,nb