The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1902-04-09
TWO MEN SHOT DOWN
In Broad Daylight on the Highway
by Negro Highwaymen.
ONE KILLED AND ONE WOUNDED.
They Were on Their Way Home
From Augusta i'm Buggy
When the Assassination
Took Place,


field county, S. c., was assassinated
Wednesday at p. M, at FoX's Creek,
MartinSburg road, Aiken county, five
miles from Augusta, by negro high
waymen. Mr.. George Wood, farmer
also of Edgefield county, S. G., a
neighbor and friend of Mr.. Collins
was shot slightly in the right hip and
left shoulder. The negroes names are
not known. They are at large, escap-
ing after the assassination. They at
tempted to hold up" the farmers,
who were returning to their homes
from Augusta, where they had been
tranSacting business, and the hold
up" was resisted.
The Augusta Chronicle says the
farmers were riding in buggy. One
negro appeared by the roadside, with
pistol in each hand, and commanded
the men to throw up their hands.
Mr.. Collins was unarmed. Mr.. Wood
quickly drew his pistol. The negro
fired, the ball from one pistol striking
Mr.. Collins in the region of the heart,
the ball from the other spistol striking
Mr.. Wood slightly in the right hip.
but does not know that he struck him.
Another highwayman, from the
bushes, fired with rifle, the ball
striking Mr. Wood very slightly on the
left shoulder. Five shots were fired
The negroes escaped into the woods.
Searching parties and the law author
1ties are seeking them.
TRIED TO GAMBLE WITH THEM.
Having concluded their business in
the city, Mr.. Collins and Mr.. Wood,
riding in buggy, started to drive to
their homes, which are some distance
over the Aiken line, striking the river
in the vicinity Of Plum Branch. Af
ter crossing the North Augusta bridge
and having proceeded a short distance
they were accoSted by two negroes,
one a mulatto and the other black and
shiny. They had some sort OF a match
box gambling device, and, accoSting
the travellers, sought to engage their
attention to the game of chance. AS
certaining what was desired of them
the travellers declined to participate in
the alleged game Of chance and pro-
sceeding on their way, going ahead
'quite leisurely.
When they had arrived in the neigh
borhood OF FoX'S Creek, their atten-
;tion was suddenly arrested by man
the Springing from the bush,
"a pistol in either hand, and command
ing, Throw up your hands. Your
money or your life.' AS stated Mr..
Collins was unarmed Immediately
Mr.. Wood sought his pistol. AS he
drew it, the negro fired from both piS-
tolls. Mr.. Wood returned the fire
twice. The black negro was hiden in
the bushes. He fired one shot from,
apparently, rifle.
STRUCK VITAL PART.
The mulatto was quickly back in
the bushes. Mr.. Wood was in the act
of Springing from the vehicle to give
pursuit, when Mr.. Collins said, Keep
on driving His voice was weird and
full of distress.
But, he has shot me- complained
Mr.. Wood. (Mr Wood at the time
did not know how badly or Sligmtly he
was hurt.)
1 He has shot me, too" replied Mr..
collins. Mr. Wood detected then
that Mr.. Collins was badly hurt. He
was turning pale and evidence of great
pain was portrayed on his features.
Are you badly shot, do you Think
said Mr.. Wood
He has killed me" replied the un-
fortunate gentleman, and he was then
in the throeS of peath.
I'VE will drive fast to DR.. Rounds, ''
said Mr.. Wood, forgetting all else then
except the distressed condition OF his
friend and neighbor.
All this occurred very quickly. \
very short distance had been traversed
before Mr.. Collins dropped over in the
buggy and life was extinct.
SUMMONED HELP.
There was no one near at hand.
Leaving his dead friend, Mr.. Wood
went as quickly as possible for aSsis-
ttance, first reaching the home of Mr.
William Burnett. Immediatel that
attention could be given the lifeleSS
body and the neighborS around could
be notified, Mr.. Wood took the pro-
per steps to send word to the family
OF the deceased and to notify the
authorities. Mr.. Wood quickly reach
ed Marshal Getzen and with that Of
ticer and Mr.. Herbert Bunch and
other gentlemen, rode into the city
to confer with the authorities here
and to as their assistance TO aid in
securing &c highwaymen in case they
should come this way. The party
met Chief of Police Norris and Mr..
Wood gave TO him what description
Of the negroes that he could. He had
paid very lettle attention to them
when they had first accosted them and
had not charged his memory as tC
their appearance. He described the
men as best he could and the police
and county authorities will, OF course
exert every possible diligence to the
end that the men he taken.
1t is the belief, however. that the
bandits are still on the Carolina side.
The search for them began i'm twenty
minutes after the assassination. By
night fall paSSerS from both Aiken
county and Edgefield county were
beating the woods for them. 1T is
stated that men from the Georgia side
had also joined i'm the search and tho
opinion was exposed that it would he
utterly impossible for the men to eS.
cape arrest.
All sorts of reports have been reach.
ing town, but nothing Of definite
nature is secured.
HOLD-UP OF TUESDAY.
Near Clearwater Tuesday morning a
well known colored man, Bob McrTi-
wether, was held up by ii mulattC
and black man robbed OF a piStO
and money. Meriwether reported the