The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-14
NEGRO TELLS OF HIS
narrowing ESCAPE
Thought to Be Lynched He
Suddenly Appears
RAN FOR MANY MILES
With Bullet Hole Through the Body
He Came Through Woods and Over
Mountains Until He Reached
Electric Car Line
RAN FOR MANY MILES

Shot completely Inrouen Ing pouS go"
another time In the spinal column, but
still able to dash wildly through the
pitchy darkness of the night over
mountain and across the country for
five miles, then to ride for 10 miles on
an electric car without the crews DIS
covering that he was wounded and later
waiting several hours in doctors OF
fee for medical attention, and never nav
ing to take to his bed-this is the re-
markable experience of Stuart Holland,
the negro supposed to have been lynched
at Ishkooda.
Reports were received at the sherin's
office Tuesday that the dead body of
Holland had been found riddled with bull
let holes In the woods near Ishkooda.
The negro had been missing since short
ly after the shooting of Paymaster ]. G.
Armstrong at Ishkooda Saturday after
noon by Dave Seay, a brother-in-law of
Holland, and the conclusion was that the
negro had been lynched.
Although officers searched the woods
for several hours for the dead body
nothing could be learned Of its where
abouts or of the person who reported
the finding of 1t. Ishkooda is one OF the
hardest places in the county to reach
and communication is slow. despite the
fact that it is within 10 miles of Biz
mingham.
The matter assumed a mysterious air
and the officers faces bore a puzzled ex--
preston. 1t quickly changed to surprise.
however yesterday morning when the
supposedly'-lynched negro appeared in Biz
mingham. He was able to walk and tell
of his experience.
Awakened BY Three Men
His narrative was in effect that at
O. clock Sunday morning he was awaken
ed at his home by three men who in
formed him that they were officers. He
was walked outside. where his hands
were fastened behind him. The walk
continued for. quite distance through
the woods, while their conversation told
of lynching-bee scheduled to occur in,
the very, very near future.N
So frightened did the negro become
that he gave vent to cry for help. In
stantly a heavy HAND smote him on the
mouth, while threatening voice in
formed him that another sound would
result in immediate death. The negro
says he decided to run. His FIRST move
ment was the signal for one Of the men
who had a revolver pressed to the negro's
body to press the trigger. Holland
turned, only to discover another pistol
pointing at his head. But he was quicker
than the white man who hold the fire.
arm and with a sudden dodge removed
his head from the pathway of the leaden
pellet intended for his brain.
Having received a bullet from one man
and lodged another one from the second
would-bs lyncher. he turned his attention
to the third. He rushed TOWARD the third
and throwing the weight of his body
against the man, knocked him down,
despite the fact that his hands. were tied.
Then into the woods he dashed, shower
of bullets following him. Across the top
| of the mountain, then down its rocky
sides he plunged, in reckless fashion.
| Never stopping at the bottom. he raced
across the valley to Hillman station on
! the South Bessemer car line, three miles
away. Fear and fright still having him
| In It's clutches, however. he never stopped
| there, but kept on across the country
until he reached the North Bessemer line,
two miles beyond. There he stopped be-
hind a bush and waited until a car APP
peared in view, when he stepped out and
waved it down.
Arrived In Town
Carefully wrapping his coat around him
| and n \, uyn ia
SO that the motorman, conductor and
passengers did not notice that he was
wounded. Upon his arrival in town he
Went to DOCTORS Office and waited for
several hours until the physician appeared
az $50 O'Clock
The doctor dressed his wounds, discov
ering that one bullet had entered the lef
shoulder, struck bone and curved
around 1t and finally passed out of tn,
body at the right shoulder. The othei
bullet had struck directly upon the back
bone, but it was evidently spent one
as At made but a flesh wound.
That the negro did not bleed to dealt
liz regarded as remarkable. The officer
simply attributed 1t to that unusual vi
tally which as rule prevails with {
wounded negro.
Holland sent for his wife and mad
preparations to leave the district HI
declared that he knew nothing of tn,
shooting until the men woke him Sun
day morning. Anyway, he announced
that he would never return to Ishkooda-
Reports were received at the sheriff
office late yesterday afternoon that trou
Bile was being expected at Ishkooda dur
fng the night A posse Of deputies wa
sent to the scenes but nothing had beel
heard from them at an early hour TIL