The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-09-14
BLOODY FEUD IN FLORIDA.
Breaks Out in a Deadly Fight on
an Excursion Train.

Valdosta, Ga, Sept. 12.-One of
the coaches of the Georgia, Southern
and Florida passenger train coming
from Jacksonville to this city last
night was the scene of one OF the
bloodiest chapters that has been writ
ten in the history of the OEehnokee
regions
In general melee, white man
named Jackson Duncan was stabbed to
death, two negroes were killed and
MarshaLDuncan was stabbed in seve-
raj places and was either thrown from
the moving train or fell off. The men
who did the killing, according to re-
ports, are Charles and Hillary Alt
man, who reside near Baxter, Fla.
The killing was the result Of q
drunken row, preceded by long pc
riod of bad feeling between the Dun
cans, who are prominent naval stores
men, and the Altmans and other citi-
zens of that place, who appear to have
been resentful of the development
which tie still and the mill had
brought to that section of the country.
The Duncans have stated here Il
number OF times that they were always
having trouble with their neighDors,
who persisted in tIeSpassing upon their
| lands.
Yesterday a large crowd from Moni-
&C and Baxter went to Jacksonville to
spend the day. Most of the crowd
were in an intoxicated condition last
night when they boarded the train.
W. N. Duncan, the father of the
younger. Duncans, was in the crowd,
| but he and his sons are said to have
been sober. The six or eight men who
made up the other faction were very
boisterous after the train pulled out
from Jacksonville, and picked quar-
rel with a negro named Jim Riley,
who worked for the Duncans.
Charley Altman, who accused the
negro of being in debt to him, drew
his dirk and stabbed the negro to the
heart. The negro fell between the
seats and died instantly.
Then Jackson Duncan demonstrated
with Altman, and Hillary Altman
drew his dirk and stabbed Duncan,
who died in minute or SO. Mar
shall Duncan was also stabbed and
was either pushed from the train or
fell of. He was badly injured by the
bruises he sustained in the fall, and
also by the half a dozen knife wounds
he received. Another negro was killed
in the melee.
The two Altmans slipped from the
car to the platform and jumped from
the train as it slowed down, but got
up on the rear end.
". NJ. Duncan, in the meantime,
had drawn his revolver and was hunt
ing for the Altmans in all of the coach
es A Macon base ball player was
hidden in one Of the closets, and Dun
eau supposed him to be the murderer
of his son. After firing several shots
at the door, he smashed it with an
axe, but the Macon man had escaped
through the window to the platform
of the car and into the ladies coach.
This morning, according to reports,
the row was renewed between the
Duncans ard the parties of the other
side. Friends OF the Altmans, it is
said, met at their house and went to
Baxter where fusilla3e occurred be-
tween them and ". NJ Duncan and
another younger son. ". N. Duncan
was shot through the heShy part Of
his stomach twice and his son was
shot through the hand.
HOW ATLANTA TELLS THE
STORY.
Atlanta, Ga, Sept. IA special
from Cordele, Ga says that party
of about fifty friends are standing
guard with loaded Winchesters around
a house in Baxter, Baker County,
Florida, in whicl; are Charles Altman
and Hillary Altman. two men who are
accused of killing a negro and white
man on an excursion train near that
place last night.
These friends of the Altmans say
that the sheriff or military will take
the men over their dead bodies. The
two men killed were Jackson Duncan,
young white man, and Jim Riley,
negro.
". NJ. Duncan, the father of the
young man who was killed. was shot
from ambush four times today. 1t
is not known who did the shooting.
1t is reported that a military com
pany from Jacksonville has been order
ed to the scene. The exact cause of
the trouble on the train is not known.