The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-16


 citizens with pistols and shotguns, state and local police with machine guns and automatic rifles were on one side, and an elderly negro man and his sister, armed with rifles and shotguns, were on the other.
 At least 10000 rounds of ammuni- ton were expended. At times the barrage was 90 terrific 1t echoed and re-echoed over the hih tops and could be heard for miles.
 Dead, Wounded
 The dead were Sheriff William Young of Orange county and the 1egroes-WilliaI11 Wales, 60, and his sister, Cora, 62.
 wounded were Fayette Young, Sheriff Young's brother, Gordon Ray Mundy, garage owner of orange, State Police Sergeants Wayne Carr and s. L. McWillianls, and George Messong, of Culpepper' All were taken to University hospi- tai at Charlottesville where Young and Carr were in Q critical condi- ton.
 After repeated efforts, volunteers from the state police managed to get to on outbuilding near the ans cient 10 room frame house on the property of the 0ordonsville ceme- tery where the negroes had barri- caded themselves. They saturated 1t with kerosene and set 1t on fire.
 Home Set Ablaze
 While the crowd screamed and fired, and bullets whistled, the blaze jumped to the house and soon flames were leaping high. The wo- man appeared ct c window and was riddled with machine gun bullets. A moment later the roof collapsed and the man ran out He was struck by Q blast of bullets and fell back ward into the fire.
 Wales, caretaker of the cemetery had been asked to vacate the house EIe had refused and for several dayl he and his sister had patrolled the grounds, armed with rifles and re. volvers. Yesterday they threatened Mrs. George zinnsn, Q wealthy land owner. She notified Sheriff Young who swore out Q lunacy warrant With Sergeant J. R. Yeager of the town police and State Policeman H L.. Delaney he went to the house to serve. A shot through the door killed him.
 House Surrounded
 Within minutes Q small detach- ment of police had surrounded the house, staying out of range oi the negroes sniping rom second floor windows. Darkness came and Young's brother tried to get to the house to drag away the sheriff'i body which still remained on the porch.
 He was shot in the cheek by a bullet from Q A caliber rifle. Mundy tried and was shot through the left arm and side. Messong was next and he received c bullet In the chest. Then McWilliams and Carr McWilliams shot in the shoulder dragged Carr, who had been hit ir the back, under the porch where they were safe from the fire coming from above, though endangered by the fire of the posse.
 The two men remained under the porch for more than an hour. Final ly the posse concentrated fire on one side of the house, which enabled them to drag themselves to safety
 Crowd Became Huge
 The crowd grew steadily as word of the battle spread. Authorities asked the marine barracks ct Quan- tico, Va, to send an armored car and Q detachment of machine gum ners. The request was refused. But state police rushed every machine gun they had available, and most of the private citizens came armed In the crowd was 0 boy, not older than l2, firing Q .22 caliber rifle, His sister went through the crowd soliciting ammunition for him from persons well supplied.
 Tea gas and sulphur gas bombs were thrown into the house, but ap- parently their fumes were dissipateo by cross draughts. As the hours dragged by, the crowd became en- ragged and screamed curses and threats. Finally, the house was fired. It burned for almost an hour while the negroes continued to fire Not until the roof collapsed did the end come.
 Early today, members of the posse stilI were raking the ruins for the woman's body. Wales body, badly charred by the flames. had been pulled apart. Pieces of the skull and jaw bone were among the souv- o..,..s na yrlaA away