The Cairo bulletin., 1910-06-23
.LYNCH|NG AVER1ED
At EAST CAIRO
THREE NSGROES ACTED BADLY
TOWARD DAUGHTERS OF
4 ALEX. HALL.
ONE SHOT OTHERS BEATEN
Girls Screams Brought Aic-Offense
Not Serious and Negroes are
Sent Away--Mob Spirit
"a Aroused.
There was much excitement yes

There was much excitement yes
terday afternoon in Cairo, at Eas
Cairo, Ky, and at Wickiffe, Ky.
over reports of assault by three ne
groes upon two young white women
daughters OF farmer, Alex. Hall
whose home is just acress the Hi
nois Central track at East Cairo The
news flew like wild fire and small
crowds formed quickly in the streets
of Cairo, and the excitement grew
worse as the news spread. Several
parties hurried to East Cairo In
skiffs expecting to see lynchng
Men could be seen moving about on
the river bank at East Cairo prov.
ing that there was unusual commo-
tion there.
1t transpir4s that three negroes
went to Halls house where the two
girls We're alone, one 10 and the
other 10 years of age. One OF the
negroes sat on the front step and the
two others went into the house and
asked for drink Of water The ell
der girl went to the pump to get the
water and the two negroes followed
her through the house. One of them
took the cup and drank, and then ask
for something to eat The girl said
she had nothing for them, and when
she tried to take the cup from the
negro he held to it and made grab
scream for help and several white
men who were in the vicinity ran to
her aid. The white men attacked the
negroes and beat them severely: then
ordered tnem to leave. One OF the
negroes hesitated and started to ar
que the matter, and one of the white
men drew a pistol and ordertl him
to git" The negro turned and fol-
enough to avoid "a bullet which struck
him in the rear as he ran. The ne
groes went along the Illinois Central
trcak toward Wickliffe. but were
headed off at the trestle by the girls
brother, who had come in from the
farm on horse back and followed
them, but had not heard the details.
He held them there at the point Of
revolver til his sister could be
brought to tell her story and identi-
fy the men.
In the meantime word had gone to
Wickliffe and a crowd of men lur-
ried northward and came upon the
negroes, took them to Wickliffe and
placed them in Jail there to await
There was great eX-
citement at Wickliffe and the town
filled up rapidly with men from the
surrounding country; but the men in
charge of the prisoners held them In
check until word could be brought
from East Cairo as to the exact ma
ture or extent of the offense tnat had
been committed J
Mr. Hall, father of the girls went
to Wickliffe and explained matters, |
assuring the crowd that his daughters
had not been hurt, and expressing
the belief that tne negroes had been
sufficiently punished for what they
had done. Upon his statement the /,
negroes were placed upon south
bound train and sent away, the
wounded one being. given some
money to help him along. /
In Cairo excitement continued tin |
well into the night. many people
hearing sensational stories Of the af-
fair, and rumors that a lynchingl
would take place at Wickliffe lastl
night, Word was sent to all parts
of town to make up crowd to go
to Wickliffe, and there were small
parties at many street corners dis
cussing tine matter and the advis-
ability of crossing the river.
An excursion of negroes on the
steamer Three States was in the
tapis and the blowing of her whistle
as signal that she was about ready
to depart caused the report to spread
that she was going to Wickliffe with
a party OF Cairo would-be lynchers.
Telephone messages inquiring
about the affair continued to come to
The Bulletin office till after mid
night, showing the general excite
ment that prevailed in the communl-
ty. A message from Anna indicated
that the people there also were. some.
what excited, believing that the
trouble was at Cairo, and that 1t was
similar to the affair of Nov. Sth.