1
1 .
THE BEE: : OMAHA, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 80, 1919.
Appalling Night Terror on Court House Roof When Crowd
Fires Into Mass of 121 Prisoners Huddled Behind Coping
Negro Fiend Is Passed Down Over Heads of Jam on Stairway
Prisoner's Note Gives Cue
for Capture Jailor's!
Wife and Jail Matron;
Stick on Roof.
The scene enacted Sunday night
in the county jail and on. the roof of
the court house, while the mob was
watching the building burn and yell
ing for the negro, was as thrilling
as the most vivid imagination could
picture. - " , '
Sheriff Mike Clark and his depu
Jies, driven out of the cell rooms by
the heat and smoke, tooK u pns
;nif r to the roof. In the crowd of
frightened persons on the roof was
Will Brown, the negro wno was
lynched.
Tut Into Roof Crowd.
The sight of the prisoners on the
roof prompted members of the mob
to fire with shotguns, three prison
ers being wounded. The prisoners
were panic-stricken.
" Veils from the street were heard:
V 1 111 U W UUnn luv. niggv. -
i- will pive vou a ladder."
some ot tne prisoners aiipmpicu
to hurl Brown from the roof, but
they were restrained by deputy
it sheriffs. Many crouched in their
jfear behind the stone coping which
S surrounds the roof.
, : : Drops Note to Crowd.
Jhn May, one of the' prisoners,
II t- M..... mnr1rer t in Q P Tl II
rtkerchief with a silver dollar ior a
weight and dropped it to the side
Iwalk on the Eiehteenth street side.
I "There are 100 prisoners and 20
Iwhite women. .Done let us burn,
f you can get the negro," the note
fread. '
"-At 10:30 Sheriff Clark decided to
'take the prisoners to a place of safe
ty from the fire. Police Commis
sioner Ringer and Chief of Police
Eberstein were the first to go to the
third floor, descending by the back
stairway. The sheriff and his dep
uties followed with the prisoners in
the rear. Cloths were fastened over
their mouths as protection from
smoke. v
At the third lloor landing of the
stairway the officers and prisoners
were met by the crowd, which had
gained admittance to the court
house.
"No man gets out of here alive
until we get the negro, but "send
down the women," shouted a leader
of the crowd.
Brown Passed Over Crowd.
Brown at that titne was alone on
the roof, crouched behind the cop
ing and trembling in fear. Six of
the crowd crawled over the heads
of the deputy sheriffs and prisoners
"and hurried to the roof, returning in
a few minutes with Brown, whom
thev passed over the heads of those
who were huddled in the stairway.
The crowd facing the deputy sher
iffs received Brown from his cap
tors, dragged him to a window, tear
ing off his cloth 3$, they went
"lShcriff Clark, learning that the
fire was subsiding and that there
was no further danger, ordered the
prisoners returned to the cells.
While six men were going to the
. roof for Brown, members of the
crowd assisted in passing the wo
men prisoners over the heads of
others. A check of the prisoners
today showed that 13 women were
released and that seven men
escaped. Of the seven men who
are missing two were negroes and
one was a Mexican, who wrapped
themselves in blankets and were
passed along with the women, their
identities not being observed in the
excitement of the moment. In the
group of women prisoners Who
were allowed to go were seven
Nott thrown to mob from court house jail.
regrees three white women and
three Mexican women.
Ross Boomhower, 20 years old,
of Waterloo, la., was one of the
prisoners who was wounded by
sray shotgun shot while on the
roof. His face, forehead, neck and
ears were pierced by nine shot. He
is being attended in the county
jail. He has been in Omaha five
days and was sentenced 10 days on
a charge of vagrancy.
Another prisoner who was shot
in the temple and another
in the leg were allowed to go when
the women were released. Their
names are not known by the sher
iff, but they are counted among the
seven men who checked short this
morning.
Overcome by Smoke.
Before the sheriff and his dep
uties decided to take the prisoners
to the roof, the steel grating of the
jail was too hot for hands to hold,
and the smoke too dense to with
stand. ' Two insane prisoners had
been carried from their cells ear
lier in the evening and revived in
the jailer's office. They were liter
ally dragged out by other prisoners.
The prisoners were in a panic. They
were shouting to be released and
yelled suggestions that Brown be
givne up to save the others from
death by fire.
"Won't you please let us out,
won't you please let us out," were
the pleadings heard from the cells.
Women Show Bravery.
Among the women who went to
the roof were Mrs. Clayton, wife of
- Put the House in Order
Sunday night's frenzied outbreak of mob fury to
wreak vengeance upon a negro dastard is too horrid to
contemplate except by way of admonition to us to put our
house in order.
Though no one could fail to observe the utter helpless
ness of the police department and its failure to grasp, the
situation in time, what has happened cannot be undone.
The odium, the humiliation, the blame must be borne
by all Omaha, to say nothing of the loss of life, the maim
ing of the injured, the property destruction, but we will
stand worse condemned if the steps, which we are glad to
observe already under way to' restore order and stop re
currence of unchecked outlawry, are not followed out and
made permanent. -
Nor should the decent element of our negro popula
tion, the industrious, well-behaving negroes, overlook the
unescapable duty which falls to them in such a critical
moment. They must earn fair treatment by deserving it
by absolutely disclaiming the bad blacks and helping to
clear the community of them. They must realize that
there is an acute prejudice against certain offenders and
that such offenses must be stopped by swift and sure jus
tice according to law.
Regardless of every other consideration, life and prop
erty must be made safe in Omaha for poor and rich, for
black and white alike. No keep-it-dark policy will take
the place of effective law enforcement. Law and order
can and must be upheld by a strong and well-directed
arm of public authority that itself scrupulously observes
the law.
Jailor Sherman Clayton; Mrs. Ella
McNeil, county jail cook, and Mrs.
John Loosemore, matron.
"It was my duty to stick by Mr.
Clayton and I did stick, but it was
an awful experience," said Mrs.
Clayton. "I was crouched behind
the stone wall on the roof and held
my pet dog in my arms. When we
were ready to start down to the
third floor with the prisoners some
body placed a handkerchief over my
mouth. On the stairway at the
third floor I was passed over the
heads of the prisoners and the crowd
beyond and was earned bodily to
the east side of Seventeenth street.
I could hardly appreciate what was
going on, but realized that I was
being carried. That scene upon the
roof was too awful to think about.
Say, tell me, was Sherman injured?
I haven't seen him since we were
separated."
She was assured that Mr. Clayton
was safe and was having his break
fast '
1 Jailer Tells Story.
Jailor Clayton related that Sheriff
Clark and his deputies held the
prisoners nearly half an hour on the
stairway leading to the third floor
before members of the inside crowd
ventured to climb over the heads of
the officers and prisoners and pro
ceeded to the roof for Brown.
Several members of the crowd
facing the deputies and prisoners
held revolvers.
"Of course," said Mr. Clayton, "the
smoke and the heat in the jail were
beyond endurance when we took the
prisoners to the roof. The smoke
came out of the skylight to the roof.
I really had no fear of the court
house collapsing, because I knew of
its construction, but we decided1 that
we had better get the prisoners to
a safer place after three had been
wounded and conditions appeared
serious. " We had quite a time going
My what
a flavor and
ready to eat
says Gdog&
POST
TOASTIES
Most popular of corn flakes.
ADDITIONAL CASUALTIES
IN RIOTING ON SUNDAY.
J. Nafsinger, Sampson, Ala.,
shot in hip. Bullet removed at
Methodist hospital. Condition not
serious.
T. J. Curry, 127 South Thirtieth
street, shot in back of head; taken
to Lord Lister hospital.
Jack Knapp, ' Hotel Loyal, cut
by flying glass.
Policeman Scott overcome by
smoke in court house.
Ross Boomhower, Waterloo, la.,
a prisoner in county jail, shot while
on roof of court house.
Battalion Fire Chief P. M.
Cogan, cut by flying glass when
members of mob shot through
windshield of his car.
Police Officer Bill Coulter, badly
beaten. Slight hemorrhage.
Police Officer Lon Troby struck
at base of skull with brass cus
pidor. Stunned.
Police Sergeant William Russell,
clubbed over head at Eleventh and
Jackson streets.
Chief of Police Marshal Eber
stein, struck on forehead with
large rock.
Police Officer E. C. Roby, leg
sprained and bruised.
Police Officer Baleau, colored,
clubbed and beaten.
down, the back stairway from the
fourth to the third floors. Before
we started for the roof the prison
ers had been beating at their cell
bars and shouting in their panic.
Ask Brown to Jump.
"On the roof several of the pris
oners asked Brown, the negro,
'Won't you jump down and save 4he
rest of us?"'
"I don't know," replied Brown in
trembling tones.
Some of the prisoners asked Po
lice Commissioner Ringer on the
roof what he thought of throwing
Brown to the mob.
"He is in the sheriff's charge,"
Ringer replied.
Deputy Sheriff V. D. Quackenbush
was standing at the side of one of
the prisoners who was shot while
on the roof.
Met By Fumes. , '
At 8 p. m., a group of intrepid
members of the mob made their
way to the steel doors which lead
to the jail. Their" clamorings for
admittance were met by a water
hose and bottles of formaldehyde,
the fumes of the latter causing
them to beat a retreat. -
The deputy sheriffs were unani
mous in saying that at no time dur
ing the dramatic scenes was Sheriff
Clark excited.
"He was the coolest man of us
all," said Jailer Clayton.
The sheriff went home at day
light to get a few hours sleep.
SKINNERS
THE BEST
THE BEST
AAttROIII
Sfc , ,icTUIItV.
it A Blemu
. mars the p t r t e c t
I appearance of her com
fplexion. Permanent
and temporary skin
troubles are effectively
concealed. Reduces un
natural color and corrects
f greasy skins. Highly antiseptic,
1 with benehcial results as
I a curative agent for 70 years,
STORING UP ENERGY
FORJHE WINTER
Begin Now Taking Father John's
MedicinetoBuildFleshandStrengtn
S No better
! time than the
I present can
be found in
which to
build the
Former Army Officer Will
Command Commerce High;n e s h and
Former Lieut. Ed. Perley of the
U. S. army has been aDOointed bv
the Board of Education as professor
at the High
ot military science
School of Commerce
Lieutenant Perley was formerly
stationed at Forts Sheridan. Snell
ing and Battle Creek. He is a
graduate of Central High school. He
was a student at the state University
when he went to the officers' train
ing camp at Fort Snelling.
Lieutenant Perley will reorganize
the school battalion. He succeeds
Commandant D. M. Scriiven. who
has been detailed as professor of
mathematics.
$1,165,000 Refused for Ruby.
London, An offer of seven lahks
of rubees. abcut S 165.000, lias been
refu.ed for a big ruby found at
Mosok,
strength, the
vital energy
needed for
the coming
winter. For
this purpose no better tonic-food can
be used than Father John's Medi
cine, which is of superior food val
ue and guaranteed purity.
The rich body-building, strength
giving elements of Father John
Medicine are combined in a form
most easily taken up by those who
are weak and run-down. That is
why many people pain flesh and
weiphti steadily while taking this
old-fashioned family medicine.
j Father John's Medicine is safe to
give to every member of the family
because it is guaranteed free from
alcohol and dengerous, narcotic
drrjs in any form. Begin taking
it today. .
ASSERTS POLICE
DID NOT TRY TO
DISPERSE MOB
Negro Minister Praises Action
of Mayor Smith and
Condems Police
Officers. y
Charging that the police depart
ment made no serious attempt to
disperse the mob when the threat
ening crowd began to assemble early
Sunday afternoon, Rev. John Albert
Williams, president of the Omaha
branch of the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored
People, issued a statement yesterday
giving his views on last night's riot.
Rev. Williams' statement follows:
"I am humiliated almost beyond
expression that Omaha Sunday let
slip her opportunity of demonstrat
ing that here is at least one city
wher the forces of law and order
are supreme over mobocracy, an
archy and vandalism. This oppor;
tunity passed when the police au
thorities made no serious attempt
to disperse the mob at the very be
ginning, and again when failing
here there was questionably delay
in getting the federal troops on the
ground to protect the jail.
"This outbreak is. unfortunately,
systematic and impresses many of
us as being part of a well-planned
propaganda to stir up strife between
American citizens.
"The action of Mayor Smith and
others was heroic. The fate of
these splendid men should be a
solemn warning for the suppression
and dispersion of mobs at the be
ginning. These are times for cool
heads and sane counsel. The col
ored citizens of Omaha took no part
in Sunday night's orgy. They wise
ly remained at home, prepared to
defend their homes and loved ones
to the last ditch. They will be
found on the side of law and order
and only ask that they be pro
tected. All citizens, white and
black, must deplore the awful blot
that has been cast upon Omaha by
this mob- murder."
Britain Clamps Lid on
Coal Exports to Allies
London, Sept. 29. The govern
ment has notified all the allied gov
ernments which are largely depend
ent upon Great Britain for coal that
it will be impossible because of the
strike of railwaymen to permit any
coal exportation.
Mrs. Berry in Washington
Washington, Sept. 29. (Special
Telegram.) Mrs. William . Berry,
representing the Omaha chapter of
the American war mothers, is in
Washington to attend the second
annual convention of the associa
tion. I
Battalion Chief of ?
Fire Department Is
Roughly Handled
Battallan Fire Chief P. M. Cogan
sustained severe cuts when some
one shot through the windshield of
his car at Seventeenth and Farnam
streets about midnight. Chief Co
gan was answering the alarm
sounded for the court house.
When he reached Seventeenth
and Farnam streets hundreds ' of
people surrounded his car, punched
and pulled him and ordered him ut
of the machine. '
Before he could comply they jerk,
ed him from the seat into the street
Members of the mob cut his tirek
from the rims of the car. Chief Co
gan was able to resume his duties'
after being given emergency treat
ment at Beaten Drug Co.
The Tug of Life and Death
Two warring forces the red blood cells and the white blood cells are always con
tending for mastery in the blood. They are the processes of building up and tearing
down. During youth the building-up process of the red blood cells is in the ascen
dency so that the tendency of the body is all towards growth and development As
middle age approaches the two forces tend to equality while with the coming of old
age, the victory of the tearing down process of the white blood cells is manifested by
the slow, gradual decay of the vital energies.
ED
n e.
LO
Makes Rich Red Blood
Oxygen is the life giverynecessary to maintain life. REOLO absorbs the oxygen from the air in
the lungs and carries it into the blood rapidly oxidizing or revitalizing the red blood cells and
increasing the amount of hemoglobin in the blood, sending through the entire body a stream of
rich, vitalized, health-giving blood that nourishes every cell, of the nerves, tissues, brain and bones.
By special arrangement with the Dr. A. L Reusing Laboratories, we have been appointed
licensees for the distribution of "REOLO" direct from the laboratories. Each package is certified
by Dr. A. L Reusing, and sold under a positive guarantee of satisfactory results or we will gladly
refund your money. Large box of REOLO (containing 1 00 tablets,) only costs $1.00. ;
Try Reolo the Strength Renewer Today
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49th and Dodge,
Omaha, Nebraska.
e:
What other phonograph
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DTD you ask some one about the Edison Tone-Test
recital given last Thursday in Boyd Theatre 1
The startled audience heard Marie Rappold's living
voice flood the packed house. It then heard the New
Edison match that voice, even unto' its finest
variation of shading and feeling. It heard Mario
Laurenti's voice and its Re-Creation by the New Edi
son in the same test. Any one who1 was present will'
tell you:
The voice of the living artist and
its RE-CREATION by the New
Edison can not be told apart
It is no idle phrase that you can enjoy Case, Middleton,
Hempel, Matzenauer, Spalding in your own home. The
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cept his physical presence. It is the phonographic triumph
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The NEW EDISON
"The Phonograph With a Soul"
Come in and hear this wonder for yourself the Three
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Shultz Brothers Edison Shop
313-315 South Fifteenth Street.
Rouse's PKonograph Parlors
Twentieth and Farnam. t
'The instrument used in Thursday's Tone-Test is the regular model wliieli sells for $285
(in Canada $431). It is an exact duplicate of the Laboratory Model which Mr. hdJson
perfected after spending Three Million Dollars in experiments.
T1 i f
n&Yiimtix:: -sir. :r-t-