New-York tribune., 1919-09-29
Omaha Mob
Tries to Lynch
Mayor Smith
Continued from paEo 1

first trial was a failure, but another
one few minutes later started flame
which spread to all four floors below
the Jail. There was no time during the
first half hour that the flames could
not have been easily controlled had
the firemen been permitted to work. A
general alarm had called out the entire
department. No sooner could they run
line of hose, however, than it was cut
by the mob. The fire was thus per-
mitted to continue without effort to
subdue 1t.
Meanwhile the progress of the flames
could to an extent be judged by the
smoke curling from windows. Every
available policeman was on the scene
by o'clock, but they were impotent
in the hands of the thousands arrayed
against them and troops at Fort Omaha
and Fort Crook were appealed for. 1t
was II o'clock, however, the lynching
was over and the crowd was beginning
to dsperse before the soldiers en-
trained for the city.
For hours it was not known whether
Clark and the prisoners were alive or
dead. There was no way to get word
in or out of the building. Some faces,
supposed to be those of deputies, could
occasionally be disccrncd through the
obscuring smoke at the windows and
from time to time the cries of the Jail
prisoners, now imprisoned as we'll by
flame and smoke, could be heard above
the shouts and cries Of the mob.
Sheriff Clark is believed to have
surrendered Brown only when the
threat Of death to his deputies became
too menacing.
With the dispersal of the mob after
the lynching firemen were able to get
water on the flames, which it was re-
ported were checked at the fourth
floor, one story below the Jail.
Firemen were already on the ground,
but members of the mob upon whom /
they had turned streams Of water had
cut the hose and it was useless. Other
fire companies brought more hose, but
it was similarly rendered useless.
After the lynching the fremen were
for the first time able to get a stream
on the flames. At the same time addi-
tional extension ladders were sent to
the third and fourth floors, where many
of the occupants we're standing on Win
dow Lodges on the one side of the build
ing that had not been touched by the
flames.
Mob Disperses After Hanging
The negro was pulled out on the
south side of the courthouse, giving the
hremen an opportunity to work on the
north side, where the fire started AS
soon as the mob had accomplished its
primary object it began to diminish.
The work of rescue then began. 1t
was apparent that the jail story, on the
fifth floor of the building, was becom-
ing intensely hot. The cries of the
prisoners, about one hundred of whom
were trapped, spurred the hremen to
greater efforts.
One man, Frank Clancy, twenty
wears old, was killed, and two others,
Frank Morasco and James Borda, were
wounded IN the rioting. which began
carly in the afternoon. The mob raided
gun and ammunition stores Police.
aided by reserves and the fire depart
ment, which turned the hose on the
rioters, made determined attempt to
restore order, but failed. By 8 o'clock
the mob was in full command of the
streets and the War Department was
requested to send troops from Fort
Cook and Fort Omaha.
Troops Arrive Too Late
Troops started from both Fort
Omaha and Fort Crook at II o'clock,
but before they could reach the city
the negro had been lynched.
Chief Of Police Eberstein was rough
ly handled by the mob. He was saved
from serious injury by several of his
men, who charged the crowd and led
him to safety
During the riotlng large number
of negroes were badly beaten Among
the victims were two negro policemen,
one of whom was seriously hurt.
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