The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-01-13
A Terrible Story,
Grccnrtttc NcUS, Jan. s.

News reached here yesterday from
Pickens County of one of the saddest and
most frightful tragedies that ever blight
ed South Carolina home or darkened
page in the criminal history of this State.
It is the record of another mountain
crime, narrowing in every detail.
Shortly after midnight Wednesday
morning the residence of the Rev. NJ. l..
Jones, near I.ooper, was burned to the
ground and his eldest daughter and son
were cremated in the cortlagration. The
only tangible evidence lett that they
once existed was their charred, almost
formless bones, which were raked from
the Goals.
Tuesday night Mr.. Jones left home
about sundown to spend the night with
his sick son-in-law and neighbor, MIR.
Looper, who lived a short distance away
just out of sight OF his residence
He left in his house his eldest daughter,
a beautiful young woman, II years old,
and son Elbert, about grown. They re-
tired, it is presumed, according to their
custom, early in the night, never lmag-
lining it would be their eternal sleep.
Shortly after midnight, j. Foster Smith,
neighbor who lives in sight of the Jones
place, and who happened to be awake at
the time, saw Mr.. Jones house ablazs. +.
Slipping on his clothes be hurried out
to the rescue and went by for Butler
Jones, son of the Rev. Mr.. Jones,
aroused him and the two ran to the scene
When they got there a horrible sight
met their view. The tinderboX-hke
building was all ablaze and the flames
were licking the swaying walls in mad
fury. The fire was beyond all control ana q
impossible OF approach and already the
roof was falling in.
Through the shattered window the
brother and friend could catch occasional
glimpses of the already unconscious and
almost unrecognizable bodies of the broth
er and sister. One awful, resounding
crash followed, and no more was
seen of the loved ones till their blackened
bones were dragged from the hot Goals and
ashes. Mr.. Jones was aroused and notl-
fled but only in time to see the wreck.
His entire home, including corn cribs and
smoke house, was RACED 10 the ground by
the fire.
The sad affair bears doubly heavy upon
the venerable mans heart, from the fact
that only year ago he lost his beloved
wife and another daughter by death.
Four children now survive.
Wednesday what bones could be found
were gathered in one heap and the coro.
ner's inquest was held over these, the old
gentleman sitting over the scene, his
head bowed in indescribable grief, and
the tears flowing freely from his blood
shot eyes.
There was no other man in that section
or in Pickens County, more sincerely and
widely revered and beloved than the Rev.
Mr.. Jones. He has been preacher for
twenty years and was prominent man.
ho hoc hnQu a.
tor of the Trinity Baptist Church OF that
neiehborhood, which all the people there
attended, on account of his kindly, gentle
disposition and pure, Christian character.
Recently the good people of that section
had been greatly annoyed by an increase
of ofdrunkenness, among certain set, on
account of q marked increase in Illicit
distilling, and sentiment began to crys-
talize against this lawlessness. This be-
gan several months age.
Between six and seven months ago q
Mr., TrOtter, one of Mr.. Jones neighbors
supposed to have led the revenue officers
to some stills which were destroyed, ran
amuck of the moonshiners and barely
ESCAPED with his life. Corn stalks and
other inflammsble material were piled
upon his house and fired. He awoke,
and running out the retreating gang fired
| upon him and wounded him. The tlre
was extinguished without considerable
damage and two Of the gang are now
! awaiting trial in the Pickens Jail.
This did not stop the evil, and the Rev,
Mr.. Jones began to preach against the
growing spirit of lawlessness. By his
request, short time ago, his son, Ebert
| led Revenue Officer Danlap and force o.
deputies to some still near the home, and
they we're duly destroyed; and all are
convinced that the moonshiners fired the
house in revenge to burn the son.
Major Dunlap knew Miss Jones and
the family personally, and is much exer'
| cised over the terrible affair. He has
gone to Charleston to report this and 9TH
er matters to Judge Brawley, and says
he will do all in his power to bring the
guilty persons to justice.
The funeral was held yesterday.