The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-13
STOKES BLUFFS TRAGEDY
KILLING OF ARTHuR GIGNILLIAT
AND THE NEGRO STEVENSON.

AND THE NEGRO 3 lEgENSON.
The Story of the Fa al Quarrel-Young
Gign HAT the First to Shoot-Ste en-
son Returns the Fire and Then Falls
Dead-Gignilliat Lives for Twelve
Hours-His Remains to be Brought
to Savannah for Burial.
A full account of the double killing at
Stokes Bluff, on the Savannah river, Thurs
day morning, was given the MORNING
NEWS yesterday by John Huiskamp of
Brighton, s. c.. who came down after
coffin for young Gignilliat, who died shortly
before IL O'Clock Thursday night.
The negro who brought Edmund Steven
son, Jr. (coloredl, the news Of his fathers
death mIstook Giglillias for Chief Engineer
George Wadley, but his account of the kill
ing was otherwise correct.
BEGINNING OF THE QUARREL.
Mr.. Huiskamp said the quarrel begun
Wednesday night whom Gigniiliat returned
from Savannah. In coming to Savannah,
several days before, Gignialliat had ridden
over on his horse from Brighton, where ne
| boarded with William Lawtou, to Stokes
| landing, and told Stevenson, the assistant
agent OF the Augusta Steamboat Line, TO
send his horse back to Brighton which
| the latter agreed 10 do. Steven
son did not send the horse back and
| when Gignilliat returned from Savannah
| Wednesday night he found the horse still
there. Ga his asking Stevenson why he
ha not sent the animal back, Stevenson
replied that Gignilliat had told him he
would send for 1t. Gignilliat very strongly
asserted that ne had told Stevenson to send
the horse back, which Stevenson as strongly
denied. Both men were angry, and Gignil-
| lat drew or made motion TO draw his
pistol, when Stevenson picked up gun.
Gignilliat en- left.
THE QUARREL RENEWED.
The next day Gignillias talked with Mr..
Adams, piledriver on the bridge, and 9TH
ers, about the affair. and said that he would
have satisfaction. Adams said be thought
he could make Stevenson apologize. Gig
| nilliat and MIR. Braxton, assistant engineer
on the bridge started for the steamboat
warehouses. Adams went ahead to see if
| he could not get Stevenson to retract his
| language, but Stevenson refused. Braxton
| and Gignilliat came up and tine quarrel was
re ewed. Angry words were passed, and
| Gignilliat struck Stevenson with a switch
or stick.
GIGNILLIAT's FATAL SHOT.
Stevenson started for his gun, when
Gigpilliat drew his pistol and fired, the ball
striking Stevenson in the loiLs and cutting
a vein. When Stevenson was shot he cried
out to Agent Manner, who ran out with a
pistol or gun in mis- hand. The other men,
bers of Gignilliat's party drew their guns
and pistols, and there was great excitement.
Stevenson placed one hand upon his wound,
and, while the attention of the party was
drawn from him, made his way to his gun.
Selling it, he turned on GigniIliat,
who was standing partly behind
Adams. who is large man,
and was only about ten feet away. Aiming
the gun full in Gignilliats face he fired, the
load passing over Adams shoulder, tearing
! several inches of cloth out of his coat and
entering the right side of Gignilliat's face
and head. Gignilliat fell mortally wounded
and almost at the same time Stevenson fell,
and died almost Immediately.
A FEARFUL WOUND.
The load of shot was of No. As, about
forty of which entered Gignilliat's head
and face. tearing his left eye completely
out.
The shooting occurred about 10 o'clock in
the morning, the quarrel occupying only
very short while, and the tragedy taking
place within space not over ten feet
square.
DIR. Schmidt of Brighton was called to
Gignilliat but could do nothing for him.
He was placed upon mattress and carried
1 back to b ighton reaching Mr. La"ton's
|
until he died, little before midnight
Stokes Bluff is in Hampton county,
South Carolina. Coroner J. Tyson held an
inquest over Steyenson'S body Thursday
| afternoon, and verdict was rendered In
accordance with the facts.
Sn Inquest on GlgnilIiat's body was to
have been held yesterday afternoon.
To BE BROUGHT TO SAVANNAH.
Mr.. Huiskamp is a contractor of Brigh-
| ton. He left there at 2 o'clock Thursday
night for Ridgeland, on the Charleston and
Savannah road, twenty-five miles distant,
through the country and reached Savan-
nah early yesterday morning. He returned
in the afternoon by the same route with the
coffin. The body will be brought to Savan-
nah to-day, and will be buried here
Arthur Gignilliat was we'll known in Sa-
vannah, his home being here. He had rela-
tives here, and q brother, William L.
Gignilliat, at Guyton. He had many
friends 10 Savannah who regret his tragic
and untimely end.
Mr.. Hulskanp said that since the coming
of the bridge and road forces Of
the Sound Bound railroad Stokes
Bluff has been overrun with
lawle7sness, a number of shooting scrapes
and killings having occurred there within
found dead in the woods, killed by un-
known parties, and a Young white
man, keeper OF the railroad commissary
} department was shot by negro some time
ago and probably fatally wounded, though
he is still alive.
Negroes only were concerned in the other
killing and shoo1ings. None of the guilty
Parties have ever been captured.