The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-02-26

vicinity he traversed, asserting that he
would never be taken by an officer
and would kill the first man who at
tempted to disarm or take him. He
started on his mission in the neigh
borhood Of Mobile street and when he
reached a point near the Mobile
street crossing of the N. o. C N. E.
and G. & S. l. railroads a large crowd
had congregated at a safe distance,
nervously awaiting the climax, which
was bound to come.
1t was at this point that Young
blood, who was standing near the
Northeastern warehouse saw the off
GERS approaching and evidently decid-
ed to try to take the part Of peace
maker and save Roark from death.
The officers Tom Moore, H. NJ Nors-
worthy and Chief Willis Moore, came
from behind the Arlington restaurant
prepared to open fire. Youngblood
was covered by Rourks gun and took
refuge for minute behind telephone
pole, when Rourk lowered his weapon
and turned around away from Young
blood. The officers were fast near
ing Rourk and he turned again raised
his weapon and discharged one barrel
at Youngblood, at distance of about
thirty feet, the load of No. shot per-
! forating the abdomen and groin, the
young man sinking to the ground.
The officers had opened fire on Rourk
simultaneously, and after shooting
Youngblood down, Rourk pointed the
gun and fired at Willis Moore, who
dropped to the ground and thus saved
himself from possible death. Rourk
was struck by bullets from the Off
GERS guns five times but he held his
ground until one of the bullets pierced
his brain. He must have been struck
before he fired the first shot as it is
reported the officers opened fire before
he did, but he was possessed of that
cool-headedness born of desperation
and after emptying his gun, deliberate
ly reloaded it, not in time, however
to shoot again before being himself
felled
When the battle was over crowds
congregated around the wounded men
Il and ambulances were hurriedly called
to convey them to the Hattiesbure
Hospital Youngblood was carried tc
the platform of the Northeastern
freight office by Judge Paul johnson
and others. He retained conscious
ness, but was so weak he could barely
speak above a whisper. Judge John
son asked him If he could do anything
for him and was given the young man'S
relatives address, requesting that they
be notified and told that he was not do
ing anything or implicated in the matter
other than as proffering his services
Judge Johnson Immediately notified
Youngblood's father, who is a station
cry engineer in New Orleans, of thu
tragedy. Rourk was unconscious
from the bullet in the brain. 1t wal
seen at once that both men were prob
, ably mortally wounded and likely t.
die before reaching the hospital.
Youngblood's bowels were perforat
ed with No. shot, and the waddini
from the load tore a large hol
through the stomach and bowels
While the shot was fired at clos
range the load scattered and covere'
a space of about fifteen inches on hi
body. Rourk was struck in five an
probably six places, as there we're tw
wounds in the right shoulder and on
which could have been made by tn
same bullet. Two shots pierced tn
: brain and these caused his death, an
/ he was shot through both hips. Ever!
a thing was done to save the wounde
Y mems lives, but the efforts of the SUI
D geons were Of no avail.
Q Youngblood succumbed at 2:10 SUI
d day morning and Rourk died at
K o'clock in the afternoon.
That Rourk was out on a ma
y hunt and bent on murder, we
d borne out fully by the contents
; a note sent to the Police Headqua
t ters and delivered to Chief Moore
d further evidence than his terrorizir
= actions we're needed to confirm II
belief The note was handed to M