The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1875-12-22
OUI'IA WS,

G1----t---------- G1-------------- -
OUYLA WS. .
CAPTURE OF A DESPERATE BAND or RAIL-
ROAD ROBBERS IN NORTH CAROLINA,
NEAR THE SCENE OF TIE IowERY DEVIL
TRIES.
FOR two years past occasional
robberics have occurred on local
freight trains OH the Wilmington,
Columbia and Augusta railroad
bound south from Wilmington, and
thoy have generally occurred in
Marion county, South Carolina, from
sevcnty-five to one hundred miles
south Of Wilmington. Recently tho
two railroad warehouses at Marion
were burned, with their contents,
entailing the loss to the company of
large amount Of money, and the
fire was undoubtedly incendiary. In
addition to this, there have been oc-
asional instances whore attempts huvA
been made to obstruct the track for
the purpose of throwing off freight
cars, the passenger trains which
carry the mails never having
been molested. It was known that
n gang of outlaws and desperadoos
inhabited q settlement III the Pee
Dee Swamps, and the conclusion
was reached TINT they were tie au.
thors Of the outrngcs.
Last Thursday night q local
freight train was robbed by parties
who managed to sccretc themselves
on the cars at Marion, and after
wards succeeded in breaking into
the cars while in motion. This done,
they threw out such freight as they
could handle while the train was
passing slowly over trestlework, and
then jumped after it. Information
Of the fact was received here early
the next morning, and tho officers of
the road ut once instituted active
measures for the detection md
punishment of the offenders. The
special agent Of the road was tcle
graphed for, and he at once went to
work. 1t was not long before he
had succeeded in getting on the
track of tho thieves and the goods,
and the robbery WAS traced to a
gang of negro thieves, who were To-
Gated near the Gibson plantation,
about one and half miles south of
Pee Dee. The agent worked up the
necessary evidence and then applied
for the aid of the law, which was
promptly furnished, and warrants
were issued and placed in the hands
of proper officers. 1t was then
found by the agent that it would be
necessary to call for Assistance from
points remote from the scene of
operations, rs the swamps were full
OF sympathizcrs with The gang, who
had inspired such a terror in the
minds of the white inhabitants that
no aid could be looked for from them.
The agent having made requisition
for aid, q special train left VII
mington with about twenty-five
courageous and determined men, all
we'll armed, recruited from the shops
of the companies and in the city,
and all prepared for emergencies.
All the requirements of the law were
complied with. About midnight the
train stopped very quietly at u point
known as White House road, and the
party discmbarked and proceeded
on foot about q mile and q half to
the scene of operations. Here the
houses Of the dcsperadoes, some
eight or ten in number, were quick.
ly surrounded and the inmates were
captured without firing gun.
Fourteen of the men, for whom
there were warrants, were handcuffed
and taken to Marion Jail, and among
these were said to be several noto-
rious outlaws, whose deeds of blood
and rapine inspired almost as much
terror in the neighborhood as did
the famous Lowery gang in Robe
son county, in No. Ca, which, by
the way, borders Oh Marion. Only
one of those so badly wanted has
escaped, and that was because he
could not be found. He is said to
be tho most fearful scoundrel in the
entire Gibson CHING. The entire
affair, which was planned by Col. A.
Pope, Of the Atlantic coast line,
Major Anderson, superintendent Of
the Wilmington, Charleston and At
lanta railroad, and Captain Kline,
assistant superintendent Of the same
road, together with tho special
agent, was the most admirably az
ranged and executed known hero
since the war, The peculiar dash
and daring of the undertaking can
we'll he understood when it is stated
that there are fully one hundred dcs'
perate men with their families, re-
siding almost within call Of those
captured last night.--Ielegrans to
The Ne,o York Xcral0.
Prof. Swings new church is not
intended to bo nnortlfodox, but only