The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-10-01
NEGRO LYNCHEED
in OMAHA, NEB.

oSolttN al Nuitc SiIi, WIS ulaSScu from
the county jail at II o'clock tonight
and hangcd to an electric pole, fol-
lowing struggle Of nine hours by an
immense NOV to wrcst him from the
shcrlT.
ShcWn Michael Clarl, and his dppu-
ties Ac,d The fort on the top story OF
the court houc, swhcrc is located the
jail wiih a hundred prisoners, until
the building became soothing mass
OF flames, and he was forced to sub
nit.
Shortly after O'Clock big fire
started on the ground floor Of the
court house and the entire fire de-
partmcnt was called out. There arc
moro than 100 prisoners billitcd in the
tal which is on the top floor OF the
court hrouse. The crowds made it
difficulty for the fire department to
reach the scene, or for the police to
protect the tiremcn in their work. Sew
cral lines Of hose were quickly cut
by the mob.
within ten minutes after the fire
men arrived every line Of hose laid
by the firemen had been cut. The
flames quickly mounted to tho fourth
floor and could be seen pouring out
6f the shcriff's office. directly above
is the Jail where more than nun
dred prisoners are. Efforts were being
made 10 release thom by fire escapes.
r. was learned that one man, FRANK
Clancey. aged 20, had been killeo anu
two others, Frank Morasco and James
Bords were wounded.
After the lynching the tiremen were
for the first time able to get stream
on the flames. At the same time al
d;tional extension ladders were sent
70 the third and fourth floors, where
many of the occupants were standihe
on window ledges on the one SIDE OF
the building that had not been touch
ed by the flames
The entire fire department was Oh
the scene and many of the trucks were
rushed TO fire houses to secure extra
hose.
The negro was pulled out on the
south side Of the court room, giving
the firemen an opportunity to Worf
on the north side where the fire start
ed to diminish.
The WORK Of rescue then began.
was apparent that the Jail story, OF
the fifth floor OF the building was be
coming intensely hot. The cries o
the prisoners, about 100 of whom
were trapped. spurrcd the firemen t
greater efforts.
At later hour tonight it was dis
covered that abortivc attempt ha
Leen maoe lynch Mayor I'D ]
Smith, when he appeared to appca
to the mob Although. reports ar
conflicting it is known that rope wa
thrown around his neck. a policcma
cut it off before the mob could &C
complsh its purpose.
The mayor was carried out uncor
scious by squad of police officer
and friend; and he was hurried t
the Office CT surgeon nearby. II
was removed to hospital At mic
night lie VS. Still unconscious.
When the first rumblings Of a po!
siblc attcmpt to lynch Brown wei
heard dlling the forenoon. befol
Clark called in all his regular dcpl
ties and sworc in a number Of other
The first act that indicated the me
was in earnest was parade up lla
ney street by about fifty men vi
dctraincd from street cars a fe
blocks from the court house. The
tore up Hamcy street at double quit
and were at the shcriff's hcadQua
ters before he realized what had ha
pcncd.
Appcals were made to the poli
station for help and a few uniform
men were hurried to the place
the meantime tho central static
telephoned every man on the for
and those on the south side to rcpo
at once. Being Sunday many OF tt
men could not be found. The resi-
was that several thousand persons NJ
gathered on the south side OF
court house before the police cou
arrive in any considerable number.
The assault with which Villa
Brown was charged was commit
on young woman early In the wee
With an escort, crippled beyond t
.4 20 ocn;stonco tho pirl moi N