The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-05-28
A Desperate Conflict In the Land @!
Flowers.

MADISON, FLA, May 18.-Hickory
this city in the interior of the county,
was yesterday the scene of D fatal en-.
counter between three brothers named
Lengford on one side and three named
West on the other. Sunday school was
in progress when the conflict began, aud
members of both the families involved
were teaching classes within the church.
William Langford and his two broth
ers were sitting beneath tree in front of
the edifice when John and Eugene West
drove up in buggy. Langford arose
and walked toward the buggy as if to
speak to the Vests. Aa he neared the
vehicle pistol shots were heard, but who
fired first Is uncertain. Eugene West
made move to leap from the buggy,
but before he could do so he was shot
and fell to the ground senseless. The;
ball passed over the rear of the buggy,
striking Eugene id the back, near the
right shoulder, and ploughing its way
through the body to the skin over the
right breast, beneath which it lodged and
was subsequently extracted.
Another brother ran up and joined the
Vests, and fusilade in which all of the
six men took part was Immediately COM
menced. The firing brought out those
in attendance at the Sunday school aud
terrible panic among the women and
children followed, all running In differ.
ent directions for their lives. ~
Two or three men who essayed to stop
the conflict soon decided TO run and the
belligerents were LETT an open field.
Thirty. five or forty shots were then fred
at close range as rapidly as the bellIger.'
ents could pull the triggers. When the
weapons had been emptied the combat
ants closed in for hand to-hand struggle
with knives. VIM. LaDgford fell to the
ground perforated by seven bullets and
died while the conflict was still progres.
sing. Babe Langford was shot through
the bowels, kidneys and right arm, and
also dropped ID dying condition. His
recovery is impossible. Tof Langford
war shot In the head and his left shoul..
der was literally hacked 70 pieces, death
nearly resulting from loss Of blood ffom
this wound alone. Six long gashes in
other parts of his clothing tell Of the
manner ia which his antagonist piled
West vas badly cut about the hips, while
Abraham Vests injuries consist OF eight
or ten knife wounds In the back; which
have laid 1t bare from the shoulders to
tho hips. There 10 possibility that
neither of the West brothers will die.
The third Of the trio escaped almost
without q scratch. Z.
Tie origin Of tho tIoubls dates back
eight or ten years, to the time when. Col;
West aud Capt. Lsngford, both dieceased
fathers of the participants In yesterdays
conflict, who lived on adjoining planta.
tions, had dispute, resulting In feud;
which has never since ceased TO exist be.
tween thef. families. Thia iIi.feeling
was intensified by the publication during
the political campaign last Fail of con:
troversfal letters Of D personal character
by. John West and William LAngf0rd IL.
the Madison Ne11 Era and the Recorder.
Subse4 4iently the families had q con!
ference a. Townsville, Ga, looking TO q
comproniise, and until yesterday it was
thought the family differences had been
amieably adjusted. Both families are
among the o1destand most prominent In
the County, 1nd are In comfortable
financial circumstances. Marital ties.
connect each with several other families
Of prominence, and there are fears In
some quarters that the vendetta will lead
10 still noseE serious c6nseqnences. TIE
coroner was notified thfa morning, and
left Madison % hold an inquestp ~ q s!
M . -
- ."tAFa, :; said lS,year cid daughter.
II wish I'D been Eye,D aWhy, child,