The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-30
sPARTANBURG's WHISKY FIGHT
A Detailed Account of the Fight with
the MOOnshfners


Columbia, S. c., June 29-The dispen-
sary authorities are indignant at the seiz-
ure of the hundred gallons of liquor. for
which the constables fought and killed
two moonshiners yesterday in Spartan
burg, by the revenue officials of Uncle
Sam. They say that they recognize the
legality of the procedure, as the liquor
was not stamped, but they blame the
revenue officials for not making an at
tempt to make the seizure themselves.
Ihey say that it was a matter of public
knowledge that about 200 gallons a week
were brought from North Carolina to
the house near which the fight happen
CO. for distribution to the blind tigers in
Spartanburg, that the revenue officials
must have been aware of this. but that
seemingly they did not attempt to seize
any of the liquor or arrest the Illicit
dealers, but that just as soon as the state
constables found the liquor the revenue
of1cials were on hand to take it for the
national government
/ The latest reports from the two wound
ed constables is to the effect that To-
land will recover and that Pettigrew's
chances are becoming better NOTHING
further has been heard from the third
moonshlner, who is supposed TO have been
wounded, and whose horse was found
near the place of the fight next morning.
Constable Stevenson, one of the sur
vivors OF the fight with the moonshiners
yesterday morning, was seen in Jail. and
he gives the following account Of the fight:
Il was in command of the party, and when
the wagon approached some of the BOYS
got little excited. l turned to Toland
and said: You're excited quiet down,
for Gods sake. Let me talk, and don't
you shoot unless they fire first He said:
All right The wagon was then only
thirty steps from US, and | told the boys
to stay behind. We were in the bushes.
when the wagon reached u.s. / stepped
out into the road, and catching the bride
of the mules said: Gentlemen, hold up a
minute. We are state officers If you
are hauling whisky come and surrender
Some one in the wagon said, all right
but almost Immediately began firing at
me. l was the tallest, and the other con-
stables jumped to each side of the mules
and began firing into the wagon. had a
double barreled shotgun, and fired into
the wagon once, when my gun came un-
preached, and l dropped it and pulled my
pistol and ran around the wagon. l dis
covered two men behind the wagon shoot
ing at the constables.
w men GeLtlSTeW Tell ned1u one OF them
say: i got one of them. They then
broke and ran. All the time Toland and
Pettigrew were on each side pouring shots
into the wagon. The shooting then ceased,
and l went down into the road where the
mules were. and heard Toland say he was
shot Pettigrew said: Oh, John, come TO
me. / am killed He asked me to raise
his head, and l did so. Toland called me,
and l went to him, and saw the other men
in the bushes fifty yards from the wagon.
Pettigrew was under the mules, both Of
which were shot. Finally / sent Brice,
who had a commission, but who is not a
regular constable, but was with US, with
ToIand to Spartanburg. Pettigrew was
too seriously wounded to send in a wagon,
and as soon is l could | carried him TO
Mr.. J. L. Waddells.
Il heard somebody groaning in the wa
gon, and asked him his name. He said II
was Ball Durham, and that he was shot
all to pieces. l asked him who else was
in the wagon, and he said Jack Fisher.
and that he was killed. Durham began
praying and Pettigrew hearing him, ask
ed him to forgive him. and meet him in
heaven. About an hour later l called Dur
ham but he did not answer.
"During the shooting it was impossible