The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-05-14
A Daredevil Venture.

SA.eos hoCooSiIatiuS u6RCtl6Sa murder,
that bas ever occurred in the State Of
kentucky, took place at Columbia,
about 100 miles South Of this city, on
Moaday. the particulars of which Ne
have from gentleman who was IN eve
witness
About 2 O'Clock in the afternoon fve
well-dressed men, in dark frock coats.
finely mounted, were seen approaching
the town on the BurksvilIe road. Tie
bank building is upon the street by
which the Burksville road enters the
city, and only few doors from its emer-
gence into the public sqnare. Conse.
quently they did not have to enter the
main part OF the town in order to get to
the bank. Three of them rode into the
alley adjoining the bank building, and
dismounting hitched their horses, and
then entered the front door Of the bank,
while the other two proceeded up
INTO the pnblio square, took positions
at each end OF the Court House, from
which they could command the whole
square.
In the bnnk were seated the cashier,
+. A. @. Martin, Esq; Hon. James Gar
nett, the Representative OF the County
IN the Legislature; Mr.. James T. Page,
Clerk OF the Circuit Court. and Mr.. VIM.
d. Hudson, a trader. Upon entering,
one OF the three men SAID ''good even.
ing." and Immediately presented pis-
tol ut the head of Mr.. Garnett, telling
him to consider himself under arrest.
Mr.. Garnett pushed the pistol aside,
when it was discharged, the flash burn
ing his hand. A shot was also fred at
Mr. Hudson, the ball grazing his wrist.
Messrs. Garnett, Hudson and Page then
ran out OF the bank, leaving Mr. Martin,
the cashier, who was either detained by
the robbers, OF remained of his own ao-
cord.
When the three citizens rushed out of
the bank and gave the alarm the two
outlaws, WAC had gone to the public
square, commenced firing up aud down
the street and ordering everybody to
keep indoors. One of them at first
stationed himself at the corner of the
street and fred up the pavement along
which number of persons we're either
standing or sitting, and soon drove
everybody inside of the stores and resi-
dences. Mr.. Clayton Miller, who is
totally blind, was sitting in front of
Rhorer's store, and, not comprehendinp
the matter for some time, came near be-
ing shot, as the bullets were flying hot
and fast around him before lie could get
to place OF refuge. Several others
made very narrow escapes in like man
ner, the outlaws seeming to care no.
thing for the lives of the people, and to
be firing from their horses indiscrimi.
nately i'll every direction. When every.
body had scrambled indoors the two men
took their stations ut either end of the
Court House and fred at every head
that was shown at any of the windows
or door OF the public square. In the
meantime they kept up terrific and
demoniac yelling. giving ORDERS as if
commanding squad or company of
mon, and crying that they were Low
rey's gang! Lowrey's gang!" BY this
means they conveyed the impression
that there were large number Of
them, as no one dared to look out and
SEQ.
The utmost confusion and pnnic pre-.
vailed among the. people. There were
no arms OF any consequence ut hand,
and If there had been, it is hardly pro.
bable that they would have been used,
for the attack was totally unexpected,
and, as matter Of course, the citizens
being unprepared, were powerless for
want OF anything like concert Of action.
Besides, they we're under the impression
that the party OF outlaws was a very
large one, and would commence to plum
der the stores and murder the citizens as
soon as they had secured the valuables
OF the bank. In short, the terror and
excitement that took hold of everybody
could hardly be equaled. and probably
was never equaled, even in the old war
times, when posse of half dozen
guerrillas would run into q country
town, take possession, and, after hold
ing it few minutes, and getting what
ever of value they could, scampcr away,
alter probably firing house or two.
The party remained in the town about
twenty minutes, the two on the square
keeping up the rapid firing and hideous
yelling all the time, after which. the
three came out of the bank, mounted
their horses. and, signaling to the
others, tho whole five started at break.
neck pace out the Burksville road, in the
direction from which they came. On
the way down the street they fred ut
every one they saw, including party of
ladies and gentlemen who were standing
in the front yard of DR.. Fields resi-
dence
Whom it was discovered that they had
0One r. Enmher of citizapo want - A. =