The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-12-08
Lake City's Troubles.
Colored Postmaster and AS.
slstant Fired at...Said to
be Thoroughly In
competent.

competent.
The brief Associated Press dispatch
10 The Register last Thursday gave In
formation Of an alleged attempt to
shoot the assistant postmaster at Lake
City, whose name is Brailsford.
Further facts learned yesterday from
q gentleman living in Williamsburg
county, indicate that possibly there is
to be a repetition of Georgia affair in
this state.
The postmaster at Lake City is q
negro named Baker. Before he as
sumed the duties of bis Office, be was
sbo, by some unknown party. but was
not seriously hurt. Baker dido't
make as much fuss about it as his black
brother postmaster iu Georgia, and
very little has ever been said about it
Baker, of course, believes that he
was shot because of bis appointment,
as it Was after the nomination that
the affair occurred. but before be took
charge of the ofioe. He Immediately
informed the authorities at Washington,
but they evidently didn't consider him
enough to bother with, as the govern
meu. Informed him that it had no juris-
diction in the matter, as the shooting
did not occur in the postofice Thus
Baker barely missed an opportunity of
attaining national notorietya
He informed the postofice depart
ment later on. that the white people,
who do all the postal business Of the
town. we're refusing to patronise the
postofice, but mailed their letters on
the train. as Bakers salary comes
from the cancellation Of stamps, this
| vas more serious matter to him than
being shot. for it meant he would work
for glory only. The government came
to his rescue aud ordered all mail slots
| in cars to be locked when the train
passed Lake City, and instructed the
postal clerks not to receive any mail.
This compelled the people to patronize
the postofhce.
This they did not want to do for two
reasons irss, because the postmaster
and his assistant are thoroughly ignor-
| ant add incompetent.
Second, because the postofice is sit
uated in a negro cabin. half mile
from the business portion of the town.
The postofice is in pasture, and near
the pasture gate The mail is handed
out of wiadow and there are DO ac-
| commodations whatever for patrons of
the Office. There is no protection from
the weather. No wonder the people do
not want 10 conduct important busi-
ness 10 such place and with an ig-
norant negro. too.
It is said that the postmaster acd
his assistant have nc more idea Of what
money order ia. for instance, than a
ca. has Of Sunday They have sense
enough to acknowledge this fact, and
when money order is asked for they
frankly state that they don't know any
thing about them, aud advise people to
try the express company. which they
are forced to dc.
The shooting of Brailsford, the as
sistant. occurred outside the postofice
also. hence. the government is without
jurisdiction.
The gentleman who furnished the
facts related. stated that Rev. A McA.
Pittmsn got on his bicycle and rode
over to the pasture to get his mail. He
had to pass through the pasture gate
to reach the postofice cabin, and his
mail was handed to him by Brailsford,
who very kindly consented to open and
close the pasture gate for him. While
performing this service, shot was
fred at him.
Mr.. Pittman called out at once to
the shooter to be careful, as he was
about. No more firing occurred, and
it was found that several buckshos bad
lodged in Brailsford's aoatomy, but
none struck vital spot.
The postmaster telegraphed this to
Washington. but seems to have gotten
the marble heart.
Il is supposed the two worthless will
contioue to hold their jobs and posi-
bly, be targets in the future for after
dark gunners. until some great commo-
ton is created in the country.
Lake City people have had consider
able trouble with their republican poas-
masters Harrison appointed very OBJ
poxieus white man to the place. and the
people transferred their business to the
Scranton postofice The authorities
soon realized that an Incompetent man
| L. h... nG.o I'D h;,,