Event: Race Relations in the 1830s Category: African-American Experience, Cultural Life Brief Description: Race relations in the 1830s were personified by the case of Francis McIntosh, a free mulatto steamboat steward, who was arrested for interfering with sheriff´s deputies. As the deputies were taking him to jail, he asked them what they thought his punishment would be. They jokingly responded that he would likely be hanged. Taking the comment seriously, McIntosh broke free and stabbed both deputies, killing one and severely wounding the other. He escaped, but was captured by a crowd of people who took him to jail. The crowd soon numbered in the thousands, and a lynching was suggested. The angry mob forced the sheriff to leave and brought McIntosh out of the jail, tied him to a tree, and lit a slow fire around him. After burning alive for 18 minutes, McIntosh finally died. Most local newspapers attempted to bury the story, since the City already had a reputation as a savage and unsafe place. Year: 1830 Decade: 1830 - 1839 Beginning Date: Apr. 01, 1830 Ending Date: Apr. 01, 1830 Event Description: Francis McIntosh, a free mulatto steamboat steward, was arrested for interfering with sheriff´s deputies. As the deputies were taking him to jail, he asked them what they thought his punishment would be. They jokingly responded that he would likely be hanged. Taking the comment seriously, McIntosh broke free and stabbed both deputies, killing one and severely wounding the other. He escaped, but was captured by a crowd of people who took him to jail. The crowd soon numbered in the thousands, and a lynching was suggested. The angry mob forced the sheriff to leave and brought McIntosh out of the jail, tied him to a tree, and lit a slow fire around him. After burning alive for 18 minutes, McIntosh finally died. Local newspapers attempted to bury the story to try to save the city´s reputation from getting worse. The city already had a reputation as savage and unsafe, and this event might have taken the reputation to a new level. A couple of newspapers took a stronger stand, condemning the lynching. |
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