It was known that the woman refused to accuse Smith of assaulting her, and that his offense consisted in quarreling with her about the change of money in a transaction in which he bought something from her market booth.  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.

  The fight became general, and ere it was ended nine men were dead and
  more than forty wounded.

This stubborn stand on behalf of law and order disconcerted the crowd and it fell back in disorder.  It did not long remain inactive but assembled again for a second assault.  Having only a small band of militia, and knowing they would be absolutely at the mercy of the thousands who were gathering to wreak vengeance upon them, the mayor ordered them to disperse and go to their homes, and he himself, having been wounded, was quietly conveyed out of the city.

The next day the mob grew in numbers and its rage increased in its intensity.  There was no longer any doubt that Smith, innocent as he was of any crime, would be killed, for with the mayor out of the city and the governor of the state using no effort to control the mob, it was only a question of a few hours when the assault would be repeated and its victim put to death.  All this happened as per programme.  The description of that morning’s carnival appeared in the paper above quoted and reads as follows: