Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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^1 ^-it^ ^^^^jw^^tt? (-^^iti^^i^.tj^^it^ VOLUME XXIX. _LAURENS, SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, AUOUST 20, 1913. NUMBER 4 ANGRY MOB STORMS SPARTANBURC JAIL Officers Wound Three Men in Defending Negro. DYNAMITE USED IN THE ATTACK Sheriff and Deputies Cause Croud Bent on Lynching Negro Charged With Criminal Assault to Disperse by Threatening to Kill the First Man Entering the Prison Gates. ?> The Spartanburg Journal yes- \\ , ! terday evening, stated that the * J J negro, Will Fair, was carried to '< I *; Columbia yesterday by Sheriff !! ? . White nnil landed safely in the '' ', I .State Penitentiary. Spartan- ? ; ; burg Is quiet after the night of !! ' * exciting events. J' Spartanburg, Aug. is.?"Gentlemen,I I beg you not to proceed through this gate. I am in deadly earnest. I will kill the first man who advances a stop, though he shouH he my best friend." W. J. White. f of Spartanburg county, thus addressed a mob bent on lynching Will Fair, a negro prisoner, accusBcd of assaulting a white woman, when a crowd of five hundred men, after being repeatedly repulsed with pistol shots, blew down the gate In the outer wall of t?ie county jail late tonight with dynamite. The mob were impressed with what the sheriff said and dispersed. It was reported that the mob pro posed to break Into the armory of the Hampton Guards, the local military company, or Into a hardware store and procure arms and armmunition with I which to renew the attack. It was also reported that a detach ment of the mob had gone to the con struction camp of the Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson Railway to get nltro-glyeerine. Earlier in the evening three men were shot when efforts were made to batter down, the jail gate with logs and steel rails. Sheriff White and a deputy held the crowd at hay at first! hy firing black cartridges. Members of the mob returned the fire with bul - lets, however, and in the confusion and darkness Frank Epply, J. C. Ow ensby and .lohn Turner were wounded though it is believed not seriously. They were taken to a hospital. Hun dreds of pistol and rifle shots wore fired whetv the mob began to use dyna mite, but so far as can he learned only one man was wounded. A bullet passed through his hand. His name was not learned. Governor Bleaso tonight refused a request that ho call out the militia to protect Fair, hut announced that he would order a special term of Court to try the negro. Story of Alleured Crime. , Will Fair, a negro, was arrested this afternoon charged with assaulting a 20-year-old white woman, near White stone, this morning. Jt was about half-past 10 o'clock when the assault is alleged to have been committed. The young woman, Ii bride of last Christ mas, hud been to a neighbor's house. On her way home through a patch of woods she saw a strange negro, who leored at her. Trembling, she hurried on followed hy the black. She entered her home sa/e and locked the ftbni door. Under her own roof shu gained assurance, and as the negro had seem ingly c?hllhu?d im hie Way. she gave the nieller R8 further serious thought, but vrehl U> her bed room and was b'rUBhlilg her hair when the next chap ter; of the tragedy was written. Suddenly she heard footsteps at her hack and almost Immediately a hand, thrust from behind her, was pressed closely against her mouth, another hand Seized her by the neck, and the rough voice of a iVogi'O said: "If yon yell I'll kill you." The girl then threw every ounce of her energy Into an ef fort to escape from the negroV clutches, but In vain. Picking Up heavy stick, which lay on the window Hill, the black brought it down upon her heard with crashing force, and Cue girl, bleeding from an Ugly SCaVp WOlind, dropped like a dead person. When she regained consciousness, a half hour later, she had been dragged to another part of the room. Husband Arrives. The unfortunate raised herself un steadily to her feet, thinking to fire a shot gun, which was suspended from the wall and thus summon her hus band. She swooned again as she was reaching for t!ie gun. and was lying on the floor unconscious when her husband happened to enter the house a few minutes later. The husband took his wire to his father's home, a half-mile away, called a doctor and then went to Glen dale and gave the alarm. About .">U0 people, including a number of Glendale Mill operatives, started In search of | the negro, of whom a good description was given by his victim. Sheriff \V. .1. White headed one posse and Chief Moss P, Hayes, of the Spartanburg police, another. A posse of which Samuel .1. Nichols, a well known Spar tanburg attorney, was a member, found an old negro who said he had seen within fifty yards of the scene of the assault a negro corresponding in description to the assailant, and told of the direction in which the man was walking. He said the negro they were seeking was named Will Fair. Will Fair was traced to Glendale. where he was seen to board a car for Spartanburg, Other clues were ob tained which led to the arrest of Fair several hours later at the Southern Hallway station in Spartanburg by Rural Policeman .1. M. Williams. Of ficer Williams concealed the negro In the bottom of tin automobile, which he pressed Into service and carried him Into the county jail by the rear entrance before any but one or two people knew of the arrest. Fair de nied that he was the negro wanted, but otlicers said tonight they felt con fident that the chase was over and were only waiting for the Identifica tion of Fair, as her assailan*. by the itjegro's alleged victim to make sure. When he learned of the assault Mayor O. L. Johnson ordered all the social clubs to be closed for the day. Failed to (Jet Arms. Members of the mob broke Into the armory of a military company after midnight and took seventeen rifles A militiaman with loaded rifle surprise' the marauders, and by threatening to kill them, made them return the tire arms. News and Courier. ANOTHER VETERAN PASSES. II. A. Phillips, of This County, Died at Old Soldiers Home. Ried Krida} .Morning. Another one of the old soldiers has passed away. Friday morning, at the Old Soldiers Home in Columbia, vet eran H. A. Phillips, who was carried to Columbia from this county last fall, breathed his last after an illness of several weeks. After his own wishes, he was buried in the Confederate sec tion of Klin wood cemetery. Columbia, Saturday morning. Rev. Klrkmun O. Finley, rector of Trinity lOplscopal church, conducted the last sad rites and Mrs. Janus Bellinger sann several rwoot songs. Residents of the home senft many beautiful dowers t*> place upon his grave. "Mr. Phillips was a member of Com pany C 14th Si C. Infantry, McGow an'S brigade, and \. P. Hills Light division. Stonewall Jackson- corps, Army of Northern Virginia, lie par ticipated In many of the stirring bat tles in the hills of Virginia ami Iiis mind was rich in memories of inci dents and events that occurred dur ing the critical Stages of the great war?'1 S. J. NIt'HOLLS ANNOUNCES. Will be In the Race For Congress Against Jos. T. Johnson. Spoke at Picnic. The annual picnic uf Willow drove circle, W. 0. W\, was held at Rkoni Friday, when a large crowd gathered '< to enjoy the day. The features of the day were the splendid picnic dinner spread and the speeches of several prominent men. Col. Sam J. N'lcholls, of Spart a'niburg, was among the speakers ahd took the occasion to announce definitely that he would be in the race for congress next summer, idol, John M. Cannon, of Lauren-, pre sided and made an address. Mr. <". A ' Power, clerk of court, and Hon. W. C. (rby, Jr., were the oilier speakers of the day. Tin? day was an ideal one for tin picnic and quite a large crowd Wat present to enjoy the festivities. THE JURY DRAWN FOR SESSIONS COURT .indue G. w. Shipp to Preside Over Term of Court which Com cues Sep. tember Mb. The jury commissioners met in the office of Clerk of Court Power yes terday morning and drew the jurors for the court of general sessions which is to convene Monday, September 8th. The term of court will be one week In duration. As there are a number of prisoners in jail and out on boud, It Is very likely that the court will be occupied for the entire week. .Judge G. W. Shipp will preside. The follow ing are the jurors: J. S. George, Laurens, 11. I.. Jones, Hunter, A. J. Hollingsworth, Jacks, W. S\ RtChison, Cross Hill, (!. C. Watts. Cross Hill, T. E. Babb, Laurens. John H. Culbertson, Waterloo, S. W. Bryson, Hunter. T. B. Owens, VoUUgS, E. 1.. Donnnn, Scuflletown, Tully F. Babb, Sullivan. T. P. Davis. Hunter. W. L. Garrett, Youngs, W. T. Stephens, Votings, J. G. Halle, Hunter, T. J. Leak.'. Jacks. C. C. Hill. Waterloo. J. P. Owings. Dials, C. S. Thompson, Laurens, J. E. Elledge. Waterloo. R. J. Woods. Dials, It. L. Stoddard, Dials, W. R. Brown, Cross Hill. J. It. Pitts. Sullivan H. L. Madden, Laurente, C. H, Sim6, Laurens, J. C. Nelson, Hunter, P. K. Abercromble, Youngs, W. L. Mock, Youngs, J. C. Thomas, Laurens, W. P. Morris, Hunter, J. L. Chattey, Seullletown, R. W. Brown, Cross Hill, M. E. MeDanlel, Jr.. Waterloo, J. D. Stewart, Youngs, J. T. Peden, Dials. COMMITTED SCIC1DK. John Miller Craton, Who has Visited Relatives Here on Numerous Occa sions. According to an Associated Press dispatch sent out from Ashcvillc Sat urday. John Miller Craton. committed suicide there the same day. The de ceased was well known here where he has visited on numerous occasions. He was a niece of Mrs. C. L. Pooh-. Following is the dispatch sent out from Ashcvillc: "Despondent because of ill health, John Miller Craton, of Loland, Fla., I "- years old. ended his life today by drinking carbolic acid. The deceased, who was unmarried, and who is sur vived by his mother, a brother and two sisters, came to Ashcvillc front Doiand three months ago in search of health. His family formerly lived :it Rutherfordton, N. C, moving to Flori da live years ago. Picnic at Stroitds Spring. Strouds Spring, near Ora, was the scene of a very enjoyable community picnic last Wednesday w several families closely relhted I ties of blood and friendship gathered for a picnic and fish fry. The day was very pleasantly spent/by those who attend ed and will he kept in pleasant mem ory for many years. Among those making up the picnic party were Mr. William Bryson and family, Mr. Clyde Martin and sister, Mr. John Pryson and family. Mr. Oscar Hunter and family, Mrs. L. K. Hunter and family, all of Ora: Mr. Hump Hunter an 1 fam ily and Mr. L. B. Hlackwell and fam ily, of Laurens, Mr. W. B. Harmon, of Lanford Station, and others. - s To Move To Town. Mr. J. IL Cunningham, who lives near Lanford station, was in the city several days ago on business. Mr. ?Cunningham states that early In Die fall of the year he Intends moving to the city, occupying the residence he owns on Laurel street new occupied by Dev. W. 13. Harre Hi* farm on which he now lives will he rented < lit next year to Mr. J. T. Ihtrgess, who now lives on Mr. C, P. Mosoley'a place. Mr. Cunningham will he ^ welcome acquisition to the city. Reunion of Garrotte's, There will he a reunion of the Oar rotte family at s. M. Garrotte's, Lau rens county, on the 27Hi of August. Ml Die kindred and friends are in \itccl to allen I, and bring dinner. OBJECT TO NEGROES IM COTTON MILL White Employees Object to limine Negroes 111 the Mill Where Til?) Hail Been Employed for Menial La hor. Following some dissatisfaction which has been brewing at the Laurens Cot ton Mills for sollte time over the em ployment of negro helpers In clean ing looms and doing scavenger work, about thirty five men walked out yes terday after two men had been tired by the oompany. Mr. Lamar Smith was asked about the trouble last night. He stated that the company had employed negro helpers to clean the looms and to do other menial labor about the mills about a year ago. after exhausting ev ery other means of getting proper la bor to do this work. The mill had tried to secure white help on this kind 1 of work and had always found It a hard task. The mill was perfectly Will ing, he said, and desired to employ white help for this work if they want , ed it. but that it had been hard to secure enough white people to do the work satisfactorily. Soon after the, negroes were hired some of the white employees began to give them trouble an dhad tried to run them off. The conditions remained unchanged, how ever, until last week when the negroes became so frightened by letters and personal threats that all of them glad unlly left, by Saturday not one re mainring, Saturday morning Mr. Mont gomery made a speech to the opera tives, stating the conditions under which the mill management labored, telling the men that the mill had no desire to hire the negroes if white men would take their places and ?hat just so soon as white men applied for the places that they would get them. Thereupon Mr. Montgomery asked all who felt that the mill was offering a fair proposition to hold up their hands. A great mau'y hands went up and then all who did not agree to the proposi- ( tion were asked to hold up their hands As none held up their hands at this, it was felt that the employees were satisfied with the explanation of the management. By Tuesday morning no white help had applied for the work in question, so a negro man was placed on the Job again. lie did not stay long before he was given to understand that be must get out. Following this Incident, two white employees Who Were sus pected of causing tile negr<? '<> leave, were paid off and advised that their services were no longer need. d. When this became known, about thirty-live other white employees walked out of tiie mil' and a! Closing time 1 im night had not returned. Mr. Montgomery made a talk to the. remaining employees yesterday after noon thanking them for their loyalty and .assuring them that the manage ment felt ready to do everything in its power to do away with the negro labor. But, he told them, the mill i could not possibly run without the ma chinery being cleaned and Without the scavenger work being done and that if white men would not do this kind of work that it was necessary to em ploy negroes. Those who heard him ! seemed to be WOll Satisfied with what he told them. Mr. Smith stated last night that he was very sorry indeed that the un happy occurrence had come about but that he felt that as soon as the men cooled off and came to understand the true situation that no furtlo r trouble would be had. It is stated that one of the negro employees made some criticising re marks about the lyhtehlng that took place here last Monday night and that this precipitated an outbreak which created considerable excitement Sat urday morning. The negroes became Very much alarmed and a general , exodus took place from the mill prem ises, Last night all was (pilot in the mill community. ____ ? Reunion of (topers. Taking advantage of the vh it of Mr. Andrew A. Roper, of Palestine, Tex., members of the Roper fatally have arranged for a family reunion <?> be lwdd Friday at the old home of Mr. T. Mac Hope;, near Hickory Tavern. Mr. Roper was accompanied east by his son-in-law. Mr. .left Rawlcy and both of tl 'n will be present fit the ; reunion, it i- expected thai all of the Roper connection in and near, l by counties will be pi< sent. PICMC IT FRIENDSHIP. Enjoyable Da) Spout b> Woodmen and Their FVIends. Politics I's chcn ed. The annual picnic of Myrtle camp, w. i). W.. held at Friendship church Saturday was largely attended and greatly enjoyed by all who were pros* mt. The day was marked hy the bountiful picnic dinner and the splen did order which prevailed, Addresses were made hy several men now prom inent in the public eye. Mr. C. A. Power, of Laurens. presided over the ceremonies upon the limitation of Con sul Commander I.. IV Elledge and In the beginning he announced that poli tics were not to be discussed. The members of the order assembled at the camp hall and from there inarched to the cemetery where the annual memorial exercises were held and the graves of the deceased sover eigns Nichols. Pitts and Polt decorat ed. After the ceremonies ai the ceme tery, the crowd returned to the speak iivjg stand where the orators of the day were Introduced by Mr. Power. The speakers were Hon. .lohn M. Dan lei, of Greenville, a leading member of the W. 0. W.. and Col. S. .1 Nichols. of Spartanburg, who spoke on "The Independence of the American People in Politics." Music was furnished throughout the day hy the Princeton hand. Those who attended the picnic pronounced it one of the most enjoyable of the season. The Woodman camp at this place is in a nourishing condition and is steadily gaining in membership. SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION. Laurens Count) Association WIH Hold Annual Meeting at ilraniblctta Church. The annual session of the Inter denominational Sunday School Asso ciation for IjaureilS county will he held at Hramletts church, near Gray Court on September 3rd and Ith This session promises to he one of the most interesting and instructive meet ings ever held. An excellent program has been arranged and a full attend ance is expected at all of the meet ings. Miss Vandlver, who 'is well known all over the tsate :<s a Sundav school worker will he present at all sessions of the contention. ( I I VI o\ SOI IA I, v I \\ S. Crowd <>i? \ oiiiig Folks on Genuine Camping Trip to the Momiluins of North Carolina. Clinton. Aug l!?. (in Thursday night I Mrs. Cantey delightfully entertained about thirty guest: in honor of (lie Misse- Cantey of Sllinmei'ton. Miss Irene Little was ho |< .?! .nil elaborate dinner parly on Wednesday. The guests were Misses Maid.' and' Mabel Sumerel, Hern Hal Icy', i; ii Young, .lane Kennedy. .1? si< May Ma haffey, Ola Voting, Oi rah Hen Liitic, Bessie Owen Miss Mary Bean entertained a few friends on Tuesday night in liono 0? Miss. Susie Dich of Suinter. On Monday Miss Dot Owen; nml Mi Will Bean left for Grecnyilb to join | a crowd of young people who are out for a ' .imping trip near Cea.-.u - Head, i Misses Nancy Owens, Julia and VI - \ glnia Owens and Avcry Cope.land and Messrs. George Little, .Icnncth Hur dotto, William Byrd, Ferdinand Ja cobs loft Monday night for a genuine Camping trip through the country In wagons and they expect to be gone about tWO weeks and < (peel to visit all places of interest between here anld Black Mountain and Montreal, N. C. Mrs. W. H. Owens and Mrs. C. Griflin chaperoned this party. Miss Bmmac Robertson on a camping trip this we. k with friends near Ilonen Path, Miss /.ee Wright i on > camping i triI? near Ti yon t!ii^ ? ? . k. Mis.- Jessie Ma >' M iliftffoy is tLf 1 guest of Miss Jane Kennedy this week. Mr. and Mrs \ekerman Of Macon, G|i . are visiting Mrs. J. Q. Phillip* this Week. M, : ?vit Leo of ii.au ? n liavo n Im m;d to tie it home afti r spending tl ? wi ? k v. tji .1 c Mi-si l"o:ie Hur !' ttC, A W Franc? Onrylri, Alice Watt and .M - (f;:.: \ ? ? id Mr. Hi ii- Watt w< I l< Golan Tuesdi y for t!.<? V ? tin piiPi wedding t<> lie Wi Inoj tl. INTERESTING ITEMS FROM THE COUNTY Nous Letters From Many Sections. CORRESPONDENTS GIVE LOCAL NEWS Happenings of Interest to Many Peo ple all over the Count) and to Those Who lliive l eft the Filially Hearth stone mid gone to Oilier States. Shiloh. Ann IS Messrs. It. C. Wal lace, m. Hoyd, Clyde Simpson, j, n. Power?, It. t; Wilson, Mike Parks, It. Holt. Plnknc) llellnins, Willie Irvlu, .1 I?. Ilellanis, Unlph Wilson. Wood ford Wallace, j. F. Cray. J. It. Ilel lanis. Milton Wilson. W S Holt. Mas ter Haul Heliums and your corre spondent took In the farmors insti tute and live stock meeting at Mad den. Dr. j. W. Heason's health has so far Improved that he is again able to tako U|) his pi aci it e. Mr. W, m Aboreroinblo returned last Friday from llullruioro, whore he went to purchase his fall stock of goods. Mr la- Irvln, who spent a few days with homefoiks and other relatives around here, has returned to hi* home in Atlanta. Mountvllle, Aug is. Miss llosslu Mitchell, of llatosburg is visiting tho family of Mr, W. c. Mitchell Miss Sura Clinkscales, of Ahhovlllo Is on a visit to her sisier, Mrs. .lno. T. Stokes, a! Tongue's Hotel. Miss Francis Jeter returnod Sun day to her home in Hickory Orove, after spending several days with Miss IjouIho lllchardsoii. Watts Hudgeiis spent last week with a friend at Fountain inn Miss Louise Ulchardsoti was host ess to unit*' a iiumher of young foil last Friday evening in' honor of Ml Francis Jeter. Misses Kittie Wharton ol Cro Hill and Margaret Dunlap of Lauren ate guests of Mb- Jayn hoyd llud gCIIS this Week. The frleiuh ol Miss lOli/.a Mae Sul livan will be g.iad to learn ol her im proved condition, alter an illness of several weeks. \ series ol services is being hold at Co- Methodist church, conducted by the pastor. Itcv. .1. 'I-. Miller. Mr. 11 M Hi vi on (tame up from MnllhiH Saturday, returning Sunday. or.i. Au" IK. A convention of the \ It. P. Sabbath school! ol the Spa: - t an burg, Wood ruf I and Orn churched will be held hen 'l'hur.sday. \ pi<' nie dinner will be served at (he church, an attractive program has been prepared a 'I all those Interest ed are invited to < ome Mrs. W M. I try son and little kgii, Mack, have returned from a t> w thij ofay in Il.enderstuivllle and Tovaway. Mrs W. I. llryson and children a re \ tailing relatives in Hi adley an 1 l lue Messrs. I) M. NlcClintock and S. H. Fleming aid! family are enjoying; ' " mountain breezes in Henderson and Vshevillc. Misses Miirgarol ami Jaule Blakoli went with a pai ly from the supine ?? school in Knoxyllle, to Niagara Falh. They very inticll enjoyed this womb: tui seenory. Miss IJessic Hyrd has returned from a ill to Iva. Miss helle Craig is spending weeks at Montreal. Rev. W, A. Rlaknly, Mrs I). K Ti I bio anid children ami Mrs. 11 F I' ike ly came over from Clinton Mr. Trlhlile's car and spent He- nigh ?'? i" relatives lu re. Mr. .1. Crftlg of Lauten- and hi '? Torn Ciaic of ItOCK Hill have be.:, visiting their mother, Mrs, Jnrt? C ? Lanford, Auk IK. Mr and Mr M. I- lio.ve,