The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-09-22
A EUED IN FLORIDA.
Vendetta Between Altmans
and Duncans is Desperate.
MORE BLOOD is SHED
In First Skirnish Four Lives are Lost
Troops from Jacksonville Sent
To Scene Of the s'<S
Disturbance.

DISIGI baiSSs
AS a result Of the long standing
feud between. the Altmans and I the
Duncans, at Baxter, Fla, four persons
have been. killed within the past week.
and many others wounded, and it is
likely that more blood will be'shed un-
less Wilson's battery, which ar
rived at Baxter from Jacksonville Fri
day afternoon, is able to control the
situation.
Those who have been killed are:
Jackson Duncan, white; unknown ne
gro; deputy Sheriff Thrift, Ellis Dow
ling.
A list of the wounded is -unobtain-
able, but thesnumber exceeds half a
dozen, some Of whom viii die. /. =
~E " Origin Of the Feud. . ;
The Duncans, who are large turpen-
tine operators and the Altmans, who
maintain a general store at Baxter,
have been in quarrel for months.
The majority of the people in the sec
ton took sides with the Altmans, rs
the Duncans had made many enemies
In their turpentine operations by al.
legged trespassing on the property OF
others
Although. the quarrel was a bitter
one,5 mo- overt act occurred till Sun.
day, September 18th, when the Dun
cans, with, q number OF their neseo
employees boarded an excursion train
on the Georgia, Southern and Florida.
The A1tmans and several Of their
friends were On board, and a quarrel
soon arose.
The Atmans stabbed Duncan ne
gro to death, and when the Duncans
interfered, the Altmans killed James
Duncan. At this point, the fight be-
came general. - : 49,
This riot occurred just over the
Georgia line, and for thatTeason Sher-
III Herndon, Of Baker county, refused
to arrest the alleged }slasers of Dun.
can and the negro.
Since then Baxter and the surround;
ing country have been divided into
two hostile camps. The Duncans and
their negro employees have been uu-
der arms and SO have the, Altmans
AMI their friends. The Duncans were
bent on arresting the: Altmans, and
tie latter were resolved not to be ar
rested, s shooting two members Of the
rested. Tuesday an attempt was made
to arrest the Altmans,. but the latter
resisted, shooting;two members Of the
posse.
The renewal of the feud which re-
suited in the death Of two more men
and the ordering out Of the troops oc-
Cured about / o'clock Friday morn.
ing. At that hour there were large
number Of the Duncan faction at the
home Of William Duncan, as there had
been for several nights since the out
break of. lawlessness. .TgE~3
In the number was Deputy Sheriff
Thrift. Suddenly and without warn
ing there was a fusilade Of shots from
rifles and pistols fred at the house.
The deputy called on his posse to
assist him in arresting the culprits,
and as they came. from the house
there was another volley of shots.
Thrift, the deputy, was standing in
front Of the house. He was fatally
shot and lived but few moments.
The others returned the fire, and
killed Downing, d member of the Alt
man faction. More than a half dozen
were wounded.
Those who killed Thrift, as well as
the other members Of the mob, with
drew to the home Of the Altmans, and
again prepared to resist any attempt
at arrest. - .. --
The Duncans are members Of the
Turpentine Operators Association,
and are being supported by that as
sociation.
Sheriff Herndon is powerless against
the reign Of lawlessness, and, in re-
sponse to an appeal by law-abiding
citizens, Wilson's battery of Jackson
vile, was sent to the scene, arriving
on a special train about 5 o'clock Fri
day afternoon.
Friars Offered Two Millions.
The civil service commission at Ma