Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-24
HOW MARIETTA NEGRO WAS SAVED
FROM FURY OF ETERMINED MEN
BY WILD DASH IN BIG AUTO
Captain Morris, With Detail of
Soldiers and Merry Chauffeur,
Brought Negro From Marietta
to Atlanta Tower by Circuitous
Route, Covering Thirty-Five
Miles in Two Hours and Expect
ing to Be Fired Upon at Every
Turn in the Dark Road.

William Cooper, quartermaster of the
Marietta Rifles. who was almost decapi-
tated Saturday night by Frank BannisteI.
q negro. is still alive and though his con-
dition is desperate and death near at
hand. it is believed there is yet a chance
for the man to recover.
The mob clamoring for revenge. the
ringing of the riot call and tread OF SOL
diers, followed by a wild dash through the
country with the trembling negro in an
auto. made a historic chapter in the life
of the quiet little city OF Kennesaw.
Due only TO the nerve and quickness %
Capt. Fred Morris and his valiant compa-
ny OF soldiers was a lynching prevented
and even at the last moment It was more
good fortune than anything efse that pre-
vented a clash between citizens and SOL
diers. which event it is gruesome to con-
template.
Further trouble was averted by the dar-
ing OF Captain Morris and his detail of
soldiers.
The negro was placed in an automobile
and amid a volIey of shots started on it's
perilous ride to Atlanta, where the tower
was the objective point
Many members of the mob had left Ma
the negro away and the direct road to At
lsnta is said to have been lined with
armed men.
Fearing a clash between the mob and
the detail, Captain Morris gave orders
that the machine be driven via Johnson's
ferry. making the total distance to At
lanta IS miles.
The machine with Bannister aboard
reached the tower, after a thrilling night
ride. at $50 o'clock Sunday morning.
SAVED BY MILITIA.
But for the prompt action of the militia,
Bannister would unquestionably have
been lynched despite the urgent appeal of
the cooler and more conservative people
Of Marietta. who shuddered at the notion
OF the town being once more the scene of
violence. Since the assault of Miss Exile
Brown at Winnings some weeks ago, Mari
/ eta has been in no mood to be trified
with. II only needed an occurrence like
that Of Saturday night TO stir the people
up to fever pitch of excitement.
When the fire bell tolled, the jail was
surrounded by an Infatuated mob who
were muttering and making threats and
only waiting for that important adjunct
to a mob-a leader. 1t was only a cues
ton of time when one would have arisen
for the crowd was growing more and
more excited. Rumors reached the crowd
from time TO time that young Cooper
could not live-that he was dying. Each
rumor fed the flame of the crowds fury
The young man is very popular in Mari
/ eta and the thought that his life was
ebbing away was more than some-even
the more conservative-could stand.
Suddenly the fire bell began to ring, and
with a wild clangour. In a remarkably
short time the Marietta Rifles under COM
mand Of Capt. Fred Morris. was on the
streets armed and ready TO repel any at
! tack on the jail.
: SOLDIERS VERY LOYAL.
1t was bitter plll-this enforced duty
/ in behalf OF a murderous-hearted criminal
who had done his best to send one Of their
nGmber into eternity-but they had sworn
TO do their duty and there was nothing to
do but obey orders. Little as they liked
! the Job. they we're prepared to fire on
F., their own kind to protect a murderous ne
/ gro. II necessary.
II was a striking illustration Of the COM
I pick situation which frequently confront
/ a militiaman in times of peace when he
| least expects IL.
, The boys I'm khaki were hu-riedly
i thrown around the Jail and the mob was
forced back. The excited citizens seemed
= TO realize that the soldiers were there foy
business; that they would smother their
, personal feelings end do their duty and
/ they were torn between a desire TO haul
! the negro out and deal him summary JUS
! tice and the fear that some Of their sol
der friends would be injured or have to
! iniure some one. IL would have been a
, case Of friend against friend and brother
| against brother. for every one i'm Mariet-
! IA knows every one else and half the iowa
4 is kin to the other half.
4 SAVED BY AUTO RIDE.
: Negroes had disappeared from the
/ streets like chan before the wind. None
! were to be found. However, 1t Is doubt