The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-09-30

erect OF ulSpefSlnE tnc MOD. lne ut-
struction of the courthouse came as
u result OF lack OF police protection
for the firemen when they attempted
to run hose lines. Many Of the fire.
men, however, entered the building and
assisted in the work Of quietlng the
prisoners many of whom had become
frantic. Sheriff Michael l.. Clark to.
day told the story Of how Brown fin
ally came into possession Of the mob
He said:
The deputy sheriffs had orders to
hold Brown and they did all in their
power to do 50. The flames and smoke
crowded Us off the fourth floor, Com
missioner Ringer, Chief Eberstein,
Mayor Smith and some police officers
started for the freight elevator The
last men into the elevator We're Mayor
Smith, Commissioner Ringer and Chief
EUerstein.
Two women prisoners were scream
ing at the top of their voices, We
took 10 women prisoners and released
them rather than have them burn like
sheep there in their cells. They es
capped from the building
Later we took the male prisoners
out of their cells when it became too
hot there and led them to the roof of
the building. They We're pancsuick-
en-. The colored prisoners seized
Brown and tried to push him over the
cornice into the crowd below The
white prisoners and deputy sheriils
restrained them.
Bodies Tumble From Roof
81 was ON my way up a stairway
to the roof when a mass of bodies
tumbed down over my head and
sprawled on the floor beneath me.
The coored prisoners had bOlted
by me with Brown in their clutches.
They hurried him to the floor below
and turned him over to Il crowd Of 80
or more who had climbed into the win
dow from an extension ladder. That
was the last | saw Of Brown.
I'VE had l26 prisoners in the Jail
SUNDAY morning We released lj wO .
men. Three men prisoners escaped /
TWO Of the latter were confined for .
petty offenses and one for burglary" |
Investigation to Start at Once
Immediate investigation into yester
days race rioting here with a view Of |
starting prosecution Of those respon-
sible is to be made, it was announced
at the county attorneys Office to-
day The Investigation is to start At
once in conjunction with the police
department, it was said.
Although Omaha was apparently
quiet today authorities feared there
might be a repetition OF the disorders
tax. ]
en to prevent a fresh outbreak of
rioting. additional troops from Camp
Dodge arrived today to augment the
forces already here, and more soldiers
were scheduled to come later from
Camp Grant, Illinois General Leonard
Wood, of the central department OF
the army is expected here this even
ing.
Latest reports of the rioting csu-
mate the number Of injured all the
way from 40 to 60. only TWO persons
were killed, however. These We're Will
liam Brown, the negro who was taken
from the county Jail and lynched, ana
a white man believed to be Clarence ,
Clancy. aged 23, of Omaha.
The conflicting reports last night as
10 NOW lllt ulOD 6Ol l'lON 10 - IpllA N'A'
iai where he was held for an alleged 4;
assault upon a white girl but today it
was stated that the negro prisoners
in the jail turned Brown over to the
members of the mob after inmates Of
the prison had been taken to the roof
OF the building to prevent them from
being burned by the fire which was
started by the rioters.
The sheriff and his deputies, i'm
charge of the prisoners, We're checked
with smoke from the burning struc-
ture. and We're unable to prevent de
livery Of the negro to mob leaders,
some OF whom had gone TO the top of
the building to get him.
Mayors Condition Improved
The condition shortly before noon
today Of Mayor Edward p, Smith,
whom members of the mob attempted
to lynch, was reported 10y his physician,
Dr. +. Z. Henry, to be somewhat i'm
proved Mayor Smith, who suffered
a bad wound over his right eye, frac
tured nose and a wound about the
neck when members of the mob placed
Il rope about him and hanged him to
a traffic signal tower, regained con
sciousness early today at the hospital
to which he had been taken. lie was
saved by policemen, who cut him
down.
Mayor Smiths physician said that
while his condition WAS serious, he
he would recover.
Soldiers from Forts Crook and Oma-
na were patrolling the streets of the |
,ity today giving orders 10 persons to
keep moving No groups We're per.
nitted to congregate Oh the streets.
Soldiers We're guarding the badly
wrecked county courthouse.
AT police headquarters it was stated
hat they mad not yet arrested any
II the leaders Of the riot but We're
making every effort 10 apprehend them.
The county courthouse building, !
me Of the finest structures in the
.ity, was badly damaged both by the
ire and by attacks upon it by the
mob. Practically every window in the
,lace was smashed by bullets or stones
turing the attacks by the rioters be
ore the lynching of the negro occur
ed Pistols and other firearms were
ised freely by officers and rioters.
800 Special Officers
The city commissioners went into
onference with a score Of citizens to-
lay, and ordered immediate prepara
ions to prevent new outbreaks OF law