The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-01-28
MOB SEIZED 4 COAL TRAIN
Sixteen Carloads Confscated by 300
Citizens Of AfcoIa, III.
then SANG PRAISES IN CHURCH

Business In the Town Had Been Suspend.
ed because OF the Anihraeite Famine
. BanEers and Preachers Among the
People Who Descended Upon the Coal
Cars - Action OF the Raiders Justified.
Arcola. IL-The fuel famine here has
been broken. An Illinois Central coal
train. consisting Of sixteen cars, bound
for chicago. stopped here and was con.
Hscated by q party Of 300 citizens.
The railroad company was notified
that the coal would not be allowed to
be moved out Of town. and pay was
offered to the local agent. He tele-
graphed the facts to headquarters and
the officials refused to sell. Then the
coal was seized. Active in the party
were the pastors Of the Presbyterian
and the Free Methodist Church. the
Presidents Of both banks, and n
policeman.
The train oon was surrounded by
hundreds Of wagons waiting to load.
The coal was distributed in ton lots
to the most needy. Each load was
weighed. and a strict account kept In
expectation Of making a satisfactory
settlement with the railroad. The coal
Is warming the homes Of the rich.
the poor and the middle classes. The
people seem to care but little what
action the railroad will take In the
matter. The general opinion, however.
prevails that there will be nc attempt
to bring indictments.
". J. Bradbury. who weighed the
coal. added: II kept a strict account
Of all that passed v e u scales. l
have written the company for m in
voice Of the cars and stand ready to
make settlement for any except that
which the more desperate In their
engerness failed to have weighed"
The people who composed the mob
vent to church on the following day
and sang hymns of praise. The Old
proverb. God helps those who help
themselves" has many advocates.
Business has been practically srs-
pended for q week on account Of the
coal famine. and there has been much
suffering among the poor. There was
loud talk Of tagging q coal train and
confiscating the coal. Then 1t was
learned that an Illinois Central engine
had been disabled and was laid up FOR
repairs in this city. and that IN the
train We're sixteen cars Of coal.
4 crowd Of several hundred persons
gathered about the train. A. L. Wood
worth, proprietor of the electric light
plant, offered to buy the coal on be-
half Of the people. but this was re-
fused. Soon the more eager had
climbed on the cars and were loading
their wagons.
Farmers bringing loads Of corn to
town were besieged with requests to
haul coal. Many agreed to DO SO: 9TH
ers refused, ard their wagons were
seized and used. AT 10 o'clock several
hundred wagons were in waiting for
their turn lei the train. Colonel ].
r. Beggs. President Of the First Ma
tional Bank. acted as Marshal OF the
day and endeavored to keep the wag.
ons In line. Colonel Beggs was n mem-
Der Of the late Governor Tanners
staff. Thomas Lyons. President of the
State Bank; the Rev. Edward Bach.
the Rev. W. E. Prout. Policeman Wal
ter Craft. and many influential citizens
were prominent In the raid.
The local dealers had been unable
to get coal for the last month, ard
fully one-half Of the residents were
out Of fuel. This condition made the
citizens desperate. and men Of all
classes WERE glad to avail themselves
Of this opportunity and aided in the
coEf1scation.