The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-18

determined EuOrt Mnde TO wreck
Plant system Passenger Train.
Fire at Liberty city Gordon
Threw an keg of Powder and
Was Badly Burned-FIre at Wal
thOurvilIe-WOmen and Children
Leave Liberty City.
Liberty City, Ga, Aug. 17.-Matters
here are in a serious state and there is
no telling what may happen and where
it all will end.
Last night determined effort was
made to wreck Plant System train at
Amar's Mill. where the negro Small was
killed yesterday. by breaking the lock TO
the switch and turning it so as to throw
any westbound train into the side track
at that place, on which were standing a
number of empty and loaded cars await
ing shipment.
1t is also stated that crossties we're
placed on the track, but were arranged
so that they would derail westbound
trains. Fortunately freight train going
towards Savannah knocked the ties Off
and broke back the switch, and train %
passed over the switch without the de-
sired result on the part of the would-be
wreckers.
Ii is claimed that the obstructons were
knocked off by train rs, but the Morning
News correspondent who was on that
train. is pretty sure that the distractions
were not on the track. as the engine was
equipped with an electric headlight,
which would have permitted the engineer
to see the obstruction at least half mile
on the straight track between this point
and Savannah. The wires were cut for
three miles, but were repaired to-day
None of the wires running into this office
were cut.
Negroes Were whipped.
During the night il is reported, several
negroes were taken out of their houses
and severely whipped for incendiary
speeches they had made during the past
two days. This Is said to have incensed
the negroes very much. and 1t is thought
by the more conservative that this move
on the part of some members of the posse
was unfortunate
| About l o'clock this morning a small
shoe shop. kept by negro In front of the
S'OAC vi - D. MtIOHdlu ana Wttnln III
teen feet of the store of Ben O'Neal, was
discovered on fire. A large crowd gath
cred and keg of powder was thrown into
the building by Ned Morgan who was
terribly burned about the face. arms and
body. His condition is serious
The stores of Mcdonald and ONeal
were saved by the almost heroic efforts
of the party. Had the fire not been stop
ped when il was a conhagration reaching
into the thousands would have been the
result.
During the early morning It
became rumored that the negroes in
tended to attack and go into every house
in the town. This rumor became so
strong that on the advice of citizens, the
sheriff wired the Governor that the mat
ter had passed beyond the control Of the
civil authorities and asked that troops
| be sent here. The Governor promptly
| wired Capt. Hughes 20 consult with Sher-
| iff Brewer, ard if they thought 1t advis-
able, for Hughes 20 call out his command,
the Liberty City Guards
Late this afternoon. Capt Hughes de-
/ cided to call out detachment of his COM
mand, in order to assist the citizens in
the protection of the town. as IT is said
| that the negroes are determined to burn
che town.
A large number of the more nervous
among the ladies have gone out OF the
| town for the night.
The store OF ]. T. Gill, at Walthourville,
| wa % 1 81
Armed Men ON Guard.
Armed citizens are patrolling the
streets tonight. among them being men,
bers of both of the military commands in
this county but all in citizens dress.
At late hour Capt. Hughes had not re-
turned with any of his command, as they
live In many portions of the county, some
of them as far as twenty-five miles from
this point. They are expected all the
time now and as soon as they come will
be posted In different sections Of the
town and will to a large degree act under
orders from Sheriff Brewer.
1t is understood tonight that two ne
groes have been arrested by Plant Sys-
TEN detectives who think they are ths
men who tampered with the siding and
placed the crosstes on the track at
Aimars. The names of the negroes can
not be learned, but it is said they were
taken to Savannah jail this afternoon.
Last night, j. r. Thomas of Jesup came
near being killed by accident, one of the
posse mistaking him for another man. The
ball grazed his forehead. cutting an ugly
cash.
Capt Hughes and detachment from his
command have just arrived at 1850
O'Clock. They will go on duty at once.
Everything Is quiet.