The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-08-20

, IHHI fNN#At4 Ar4L"HET
III Werner that he turn the negroesi
over to h mob, but they were WITH
out effect. The sheriff offered to let a.
committee from the crowd search fhal
lali, assuring them the negroes had
been taken away.
Finally some n mentioned that
Harry Lopez had furnished an auto
oners had been effected. A rush was
made for Loper's restaurant, Ave
blocks away. Lopez was warned. but
made no attempt to escape until the
MOB was upon the place. Then the
employees pushed Lopez and his wife
into a basement room for temporary
safety. Shor work was made OF the
restaurant and the automobile stand-
Ing In front Of the place was set on
fire.
Cut Fire Hose.
The fire department, which had been
called out several times In efforts to
disperse the crowds, made q run to
the restaurant, but was powerless.
Every line Of hose stretched, was cut
before a stream OF water could be
forced into 1t. The restaurant was
stripped clean of everything.
Finally in a desperate effort to re.
store order, the authorities ordered the
cavalry troop doing duty at the Ian
to the scene Of the restaurant, Then
riotinB broke loose in serious form.
Shots were fired, the air was filed
with all kinds Of missiles. Many per-
sons fell In the melee and Il was hare
that Lewis Johnson met his death.
After Loper's place had been entiro-
ly wrecked. the crowd made a rush for
the levee, which usually Is populated
by negroes, but most Of them had fed.
Attacks were made upon several
stores and stocks Of merchandise
turned topsy turvy In search for the
Shortly before midnight the mob
broke n a pawnshop and secured q
quantity Of firearms and ammunition.
starting a march through the streets
In absolute control of the situation.
Chain Is Brave.
Stand back gentlemen or I'll shoot
everyone OF o who touches this
mani" were the words of Eugene w.
Chain, prohibition candidate for presi-
dent, as he faced the mob that attacked
a negro while Chain was delivering an
address in a public square last night.
For this act Mr.. Chain received q
brickbat on the side Of the head from q
member of the mob. He is not serious
ly hurt.
The negro had sought refuge on the
platform from the mob pursuing him.
Chain put his hand to his hip pocket
ana threatened 10 Sh0ot anyone who
touched the negro. The threat had the
desired effect although Chain had no
weapon. During the fight the negro
pulled a knife from his pocket and
slashed several white men. Jas. Colt
was struck by a stray bullet and al
most instantly killed. e.
After the burning of many houses In
the negro quarter the mob became more
and more desperate. and finally graft
fled Its thirst for blood at 8 o'clock this
morning, When Chas. Hunter. a negro
was lynched right in the heart of the
Bad Lands" Troops arrived on tho
scene too late to prevent a ~lynching.
Some members Of the mob declared
Hunter had shot two white men during
a quarrel in a saloon.
The negro was caught In q saloon and
dragged to the street. Here he was
and shot Ave times, and then a
rope was swung around his neck ana
other end thrown over the limb
of a tree, The negro swung high or
the ground. He died In q few minutes.
After Kidding the body with bullets
the mob commenced to dance around
the tree. At this point a company OF
from Decatur arrived and COM
menced firing, causing the rioters to
dispense in a hurry.
By daylight the streets had prac-
been cleared and the troops were
In control of the situation. :