The morning news., 1894-10-01
RlOODY RIOT At A CAMP.
TTo Blacks Killed and a White
Family Alarmed and Hurt.

r.. Cause of the Trouble-Black
narblers Resist Being Fined-They
ca+ Drunk and Attack the Manager
- a Turpentine Still-BuIlets Fly
Thick and Fast.
vaIdosta. Ca. Sept. 30.-News reached
4 ,.;s civ this morning of a riot four miles
t-on town that occurred last night, in
-ticb two men lost their lives and a
r5oIe family escaped with severe bruises
,,, wounds. The details of the riot
trsse with the desperate boldness of a
aero gambler and is typical illustra-
i tion of the dangers that are assumed by
,rrrentine men in almost every section.
The scene Of the tragedy is four miles
f,om Town on the Savannah Florida and
western road toward Savannah, at the
,ornentine still formerly owned by Mr..
IA Conolly, but which has recently
bosn bought by Lucas & Mcneil, and
onsrated by them. Mr.. A. Gillispie is
t5a spperintendent of the still and it was
he and his family who became involved
IN the terrible struggle with several of
/ tbe negro hands.
Il seems from best information gath
cred by the MORNING News correspond
srt that there is a rule among all tur-
pentine men to fine employees who are
bnd gambling in the camps, and this
i ule is generally embodied in the con-
tracts with laborers. The fine at Lucas
4 6McNeils camp was fixed at IS, and the
enforcement of that fine on yesterday
was the cause Of the trouble.
Two negroes, Mack Adams and Tom
Smith. were caught gambling a few days
ago. and when the hands were paid of
yesterday. the regular fine was deducted
from their pay Both of them came to
town yesterday and loaded up with
whisky and returned to the camp ready
Tor a fgnt They went to Gillispie's
house where he and his family were at
supper and began cursing in threaten
ing manner, when Gillisple got up from
the table and endeavored to quiet them.
FREE-FOR-ALL FIGHT.
One or two of the other hands took
sides with Gillispie, and in a few minutes
a free fight ensued. Mrs. Gillispie
rushed from the house to aid her husband,
when an old negro, who had been work
ing for him took hand in the riot The
negro assai.auts succeeded in wrenching
Gillispies rife from his hand, and then
they opened fire upon the family. One
bullet struck Gillispie in the hand and
came out near the elbow Another
struck the old negro, Bob Butler in the
other side Mrs Gillispie was bad
and both Of the small children were
bruised up by being run over and knocked
down
The two negroes kept up the fire upon
the house for a few minutes and then
went of together A little later a fusil-
lace commenced between them, and this
morning one of them, Tom Smith, was
iound dead with two bullet holes in his
lead. Bob Butler died this morning.
Illlspie brought the news of the
trouble 10 town about midnight last night,
ana Dr. Rose of this city went out to at
Nld The wounded. The sheriff and dep
uueS went out on search for Mack
Adams this morning, but did not succeed
1nding him. They arrested one negro
as 9saccessory to the trouble, but nothing
ueanlIe could be learned from him.
Inc two negroes stated to some one
mere Yesterday that they intended to have
some some trouble with Gillispie Both of
5lem were negro tramps and were very
uTSperate characters.
Inc coroner carried a jury out this
evening and the disclosures made by his
M1reSSlgatlon rS are awaited with interest
Inc la0orers at Lucas & McNeil's still
are usually quiet, and there would have
Ueel no trouble but for the two tramp
sanOIefs. A gentleman here remarked
wuay mat negro gambler was the
uOS. desperate character in the world.
anu anu 'he statement seems to be verified by
.a ,ac'. BOB Smith, one of the killed, was
ole taIIeSf negro known in this section,
measuring 8 feet and IL inches.