Both parties lost their temper, and the result was a row from which Smith
had to make his escape. At once the old cry was sounded that the woman had
been assaulted, and in a few hours all the town was wild with people
thirsting for the assailant's blood. The further incidents of that day may
well be told by a dispatch from Roanoke under date of the twenty-first of
September and published in the _Chicago Record_. It says:

It is claimed by members of the military company that they frequently
warned the mob to keep away from the jail, under penalty of being shot.
Capt. Bird told them he was under orders to protect the prisoner whose
life the mob so eagerly sought, and come what may he would not allow him
to be taken by the mob. To this the crowd replied with hoots and
derisive jeers. The rioters appeared to become frenzied at the
determined stand taken by the men and Captain Bird, and finally a crowd
of excited men made a rush for the side door of the jail. The captain
directed his men to drive the would-be lynchers back.

At this moment the mob opened fire on the soldiers. This appeared for a
moment to startle the captain and his men. But it was only for a moment.
Then he coolly gave the command: "Ready! aim! fire!" The company obeyed
to the instant, and poured a volley of bullets into that part of the
mob which was trying to batter down the side door of the jail.

The rioters fell back before the fire of the militia, leaving one man
writhing in the agonies of death at the doorstep. There was a lull for a
moment. Then the word was quickly passed through the throng in front of
the jail and down the street that a man was killed. Then there was an
awful rush toward the little band of soldiers. Excited men were yelling
like demons.