Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-09-29
Mob Jeers as County
Court House Is Burning

lHS lHtO tiiS Gil " llNdi tlENll Ills
go off, and add to the general noise
and confusion.
The only danger from this shoot
ing was to the people crowding the
windows and roofs of the surround
ing buildings, a great many of the
shooters apparently not taking into
account the fact of the presence OF
these people, and not always firing
directly upward in the air. From
the trail of fame following the dis
charge of larger revolvers it could
be seen that a large number of the
bullets might easily have pene-
trated the upper windows of the
city hall, the Bee building, the Keen
hotel and others. Owing to the
darkness, however, it could not be
seen whether or not shots took
such effect, and no casualties were
reported among window gazers.
Action Unprecedented.
These actions and charteristics OF
| the mob appeared unprecedented in
mob affairs. There was no angered
frenzy on the part of any, but the
comparatively small number that
finally drifted together as chips
gather at the center of whirlpool,
i and formed the coterie which devel-
oped the leadership that resulted in
the capture of the negro.
At any time, up to 10 o'clock. it
was the opinion of those familiar
with mob scenes that company OF
200 determined men, or possibly
even 100, could have broken the
crowd up and kept it moving.
1t was the fire, however, that kept
them together, and drew the num-
bers that finally made it terrify-
ing mass of people.
Boys Reassure Girls.
The sight of the boys and youths
in the crowd. disporting themselves
with cries of enjoyment, running
along the lodges of the lower win
dows, within a few feet of the
flames, gave reinsurance to the
women and girls in the crowd, who
were as noncha1ant as if attending
movie picture show. Girls in the
crowd on the Farnam street lawn
only laughed when revolvers were
discharged in the air close beside
their ears by men or boys behind
them.
A Constant Fusillade.
During the early period Of the
fire. and until the hook and ladder
truck arrived, which provided the
means of reaching the fourth floor
on the Harvey street side, the most
of the firing took place on the
Farnam street side. A fusillade was
kept up by the men and boys on
the great, broad steps Of the en-
trance, the firing being horizontally
above the heads of the crowd.
Townsend's Ammunition.
There goes Townsend's ammuni-
ton" yelled voice from the crowd,
and it was followed by roar OF
laughter through the crowd.
1t was apparent that the cartridges
must have come from the cutting of
the store OF Townsend & Co. in
Farnam street earlier in the evening,
as thousands Of shots were fred and
private stores would have been
quickly exhausted.
Spectacular Features.
AS a fire spectacle, the destruc-
ton Of the building was not equal
to the burning of an ordinary
small wooden hotel structure. The
hreproof walls and interiors re-
sisted the flames, and the contents
of the rooms burned with little
more than the effect of huge bon
fires. With the burning of the win
dow panes. the crash of falling
glass, and the ignition of the win
dow frames, however. there came
festooned effect of flames creep
ing around the edges of the Win
dows that would have been regard
ed as beautiful, had it not been for
the tragic aspect of the great de-
struction of the county's property.
Many there were in the crowd
who expressed regret at the wanton
destruction, but this was excused,
especially by the women in the
crowds, with the statement that it
was better to lose the entire court
house than have the negro hend
escape. Despite the gasoline poured
on the floor, the hard wood of the
fixtures and decorations resisted the
flames, which burned slowly, the
only thrills being afforded by the
falling pieces of the window frames
which at times broke from their
fastenings to drop in flaming frag-
ments to the broad lodges below.
Here they glowed, at times burst
ing into momentary flames, making
a ring Of fire on the lodges almost
entirely around the building.
Dove Flies Around Building.
A feature of the fire that at
tracted a great deal of attention
and comment, exciting the super
stitious fears of many in the
crowd, was the sight of white
dove, or pigeon, which dashed out
of the black smoke pouring from
the windows, and winged its way
slowly around the building.
Flying close to the building the
white bird, easily distinguished
against the background of smoke,
flew entirely around the structure,
disappearing in long fight upward
only when it had completed the Cir
Gle.
Pulled Flag Up Again.
Through the entire course of the
excitement the big American flag
on the pule in the Farnam street
lawn, snapped bravely in the air.
The crowd noted it and at times gave
il cheer.
A man with a six-foot American