Victim ID: VA1893020202
Victim Name: Sam Blow
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: Unknown
Job: Unknown
Method of Death: Hanged
Accusation: Implicated in the murder of a white man
Date: 1893-02-02
City: Cedar Bluff
Mob Composition: Unknown
Summary: Sam Blow, an African American man, was lynched on February 2nd, 1893 in Richlands, Tazewell County, because another lynching victim, John Johnson, implicated him with the murder of Mr. Hunt, a white man. Five African American men were lynched in less than three days in Richlands in relation to the murder of two white merchants, including Sam Blow, Sam Ellerson, Spencer Branch, Jerry Brown, John Johnson, and possibly another unnamed victim.
In September 1891, a white man named James Hunt was robbed and murdered in Doran, near Richlands. Two white men, Lambert and Harman, were arrested for the murder, but then released for lack of evidence (Clinch Valley News). On February 1st, 1893 John Johnson was lynched in Richlands in connection with the murder of two white merchants, together with Sam Ellerson, Spencer Branch and Jerry Brown. Before he was lynched, Johnson “confessed that he participated in the Hunt murder and mentioned Sam Blow and Sam Burns (both colored), and two white men [Lambert and Harman] as accomplices” (The Times). On February 2nd, 1893, Sam Blow was arrested and taken to Richlands, “but through the intercession of the mayor and citizens he was sent under guard to the county jail. He was taken from the guard at Cedar Bluff, three miles from Richlands, and at about 9 o’clock last night [February 2nd] was hanged to an apple tree near the mouth of Indian creek” (The Times). An unconfirmed report indicated also that “Sam Burns was captured at Maiden Spring last night and hanged at Doran, a mile west of Richlands” (The Times).
On February 17th, 1893, the Clinch Valley News reported that “The Commonwealth had summonsed from Richlands and neighborhood about sixty persons to appear before the grand jury to testify regarding the lynching of Jerry Brown, John Johnson, Spencer Branch, Sam Blow and Sam Kirkpatrick [Ellerson]. Three of these negroes were hung in the day time and none of the lynchers were in any way disguised. It has always been well nigh impossible to implicate individuals in such cases because of participation or an willingness of witnesses, but the matter will be sifted as far as possible to bring the guilty to trial.”
News Coverage: Alexandria Gazette, Clinch Valley News, Roanoke Times, Shenandoah Herald, The Times
Article Link (from Alexandria Gazette published on 1893-02-04)
Article Link (from Clinch Valley News published on 1893-02-03)
Article Link (from Clinch Valley News published on 1893-02-17)
Article Link (from The Roanoke Times published on 1893-02-02)
Article Link (from Shenandoah Herald published on 1893-02-10)
Article Link (from The Times published on 1893-02-02)
Article Link (from The Times published on 1893-02-03)