Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-01-24
The sMokYrown Fevo.

A Terrible state OF Affairs 1. . south Car.
olina Community I'm Which Good Cits-
Gems Dare Not Interfere for Fear Thsys
Too, May be Made to Feel the Ven
geance of the Lawl~ss Eicmcne-Tno
Story of the Banks Outrage.
CHARLESTON, s. c., Jan. 19.-News has
lust been received here OF the breaking
ont of a savage feud in the Smoky town
par. of Newberry County. Lawiessness
has for ten years prevailed In the region.
Good citizens are afraid to do any thing,
as more than one prosecutor has had ms
barn burned, his horses MANNED or has
suffered bodily injury. The men go armed
and always prepared for row. Under
these conditions, when, not long ago,
Butler Banks was wounded in little dis
pute with James G. Banks, all Smokytown
waited with deep interest to see what
would happen when Butler recovered.
Last Saturday he was up and ready 1or
business. How he got to business Is told
in a dispatch received yesterday from
Prosperity. James c. Banks is an agent
for pictures and books. He started on q
canvassing tour early Saturday morning.
The first place he stopped at was neigh
boris house in sight of Buffers house. 1t
is supposed that here Butler first saw
James and hurriedly getting double-
barreled shotgun he started for the public
road at Oneall Academy. He calculated
that James would be compelled to come
into the ''big road" at or near that point.
Butler took his oldest son, lad OF thir-
teen, with him, telling his wife that he
was going to sell an OK, but that If he
came across Jim" Banks he would kill
him.
Butler arrived at Oneall, had a short
conversation with Miss Dorothy Holer-
ha Saafad
himself by the side OF large pine tree on
the roadside. He did not have to remain
long before James Banks arrived, and en-
tered the house of Miss Holerman with
out perceiving Butler, who was just about
forty yards distant. Butler remained
quietly under the pine until James came
out of the house. Then he quickly arose,
took deliberate aim, and fired at James.
The gun was loaded with buckshot, four
OF which took effect, one in the right hand,
one in each arm near the shoulder, and
one penetrated the forehead just above
the left eye. James did not fall, but
called to Butler not to shoot any more. as
he was hurt. Butler did not heed him,
but raised his gun again. James ran
around the corner of the house just in
time to escape the second charge. James
knew that the gun was then empty, and
ventured from his place OF refuge. But
Butler drew a pistol and fired twice,
neither shot taking effect. By this time
James was bleeding profusely. He man
aged to get away by the rear of Miss Hol-
erman's house, and then Butler, either
satisfied or out of ammunition, left in an
opposite direction.
When James reached home he was dy-
ing. He made an ante-mortem statement
and urged his friends to avenge him.
The shooting took place Saturday morn
ing. The retaliating blow was struck that
night, when a party of friends of James
Banks went to the house of Butler Banks
and deliberately set fire to it, although the
only persons in it were Mrs. Banks and
her six children, the oldest of whom is
only thirteen. The cracking of the flames
awoke the mother. After hard struggle,
with the aid of her little ones, she Sue
ceeded in extinguishing the flames. Then
the men ordered her, under pain Of death,
and with many oaths, to go back into the
.ouse. They next saturated bags and
rags with kerosene oil, stuck them into
the crevices tit was a log house) and
again set fire to the dwelling. They kept
Mrs. Banks inside until the fire was well
under way. Then she was permitted to
get out with what she could carry with
her. The incendiaries next set fire to the
corn-crib and feed-house, the only other
buildings on the premises, anu departed,
leaving her and her six little ones without
shelter, clothes and food.
In the morning the officers OF the law
who had gone to arrest Butler Banks could
find only the place where his house once
stood. Amid the smoking embers were
the six little children, barefooted, bare
headed and hungry. The mother had left
them early in the morning and gone to
relatives in Edgefield County for assist
ance. Smokytown is far distant from the
railroad and beyond the reach of the tele-
graph. There is likely to be more blood
shed soon.
The Newberry News and Herald, yes
terday, said 'Some of the parties to
this dark deed were recognized by Mrs.
Banks and her children. and the names of
all can be ascertained, but unless the
solicitor or grand jury, or some other
powerful arm of the State Government
acts in the premises, we fear nothing will
be done. There are just as good and true
men in that section of the country as ever
breathed, but the moment they act they
endanger both life and property. There
is righteous indignation expressed by the
good people of the community over Satur-
day nights foul work, but that is the end.
They dare not act"