The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-06-06
Woman Dipped in Barrel of Tar.


Baltimore. May 29.-Details were
learned to-day of the beating and tar
ring of Mrs. Mary Holman in Ocean
City, Nd, last Tuesday night by
gang of vigilantes. These men broke
into her home, kicked and beat her
and dipped her in vat Of tar in the
presence of her 11-year-old son, who
made desperate efforts to protect his
mother. When the vigilantes had
gone, the woman left the town and
sought shelter in the home of Tom
Jones, a negro, three miles out in the
country.
It is charged that the town officials
were in collusion with the vigilantes
and allowed the lights Of the town to
be extinguished while the tarring was
in progress.
Sheriff Hanson, by instruction of
State Attorney Johnson, visited Mrs.
Holman at the Jones home. She oLe-
clared she had been the victim of de-
fa1natory gossip, which led to the as
sault. Mrs. Holman says the men
who attacked her were fishermen.
She was known in the community as
RED Light" and resentment was
aroused against her because of the
charge made that she harbored col
ored men. She declares that there is
absolutely no truth in the report and
maintains that the offensive epithet
applied to her is entirely unjustified.
She assured Sheriff Hanson that she
is not afraid of an investigation.
cit was 10 o'clock Tuesday night
said Mrs. Holman to-day, when I
was awakened by the smashing of
glass in the room where I slept. I
was frightened, of course. Hardly
had time to put few clothes on
when the door was burst in. The
men numbered about ten. Three I
recognized (and she gave the
names). The others Ibid not know.
When I screamed, they struck me
and sometimes kicked me. Every
tooth I have is loose, and the condi-
ton of my face you can see for your
self. My back and limbs are black
and blue from the blows and kicks
they gave me.
"Some of the men grabbed me
around the neck, and others by the
arms. They also caught my feet.
Holding me in this way, they started
from the house. = My son screamed
when was first struck. They boxed
his ears and threatened him. One
man waved a big pocket knife, the
kind sailors carry. He threatened
to run it through me if I did not
keep quiet. Another had an oar
He said he would knock out my
brains. They rushed with me from
the house to barrel of tar, in which
I was thrown. They forced me
down, until my whole body was cov-
cred. Some of it still clings to me-"
She turned her head. Traces of
the tar were plainly visible on the
back of her neck.
''The lights wer out" continued
Mrs. Holman. Il knew that the
town officials were aiding the men,
because the lights continued out for
half an hour. When the men finish
ed their work the whole town was
lighted as usual. After I had been in
the tar barrel for perhaps ten min
utes, they dragged me out, threw me
on drying board close by and walk
ed slowly away.
81 was too frightened to do any,
thing, but the cries of my son at
tracted the attention of Elmer Jones,
son Of Captain Jones of the Isle of
Wight life saving station. He told
me to come to his fathers house.
Water was heated by colored girl.
A gallon of coal oil must have been
used in getting the tar off, and still
some of it sticks"
Mrs. Holzman's face was discolor-
ed from the blows and is still badly
disfgured.
Warrants have been issued for the
arrest of the three men she recog-
nized. Constable Campbell took the
warrants to Ocean City. Word had
gone to the railroad station, where
probably 100 men had gathered. It
is believed there would have been an