The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-08-09

anon those who went 10 the beach
on the Wilmington were Mr.. Louis
Fdemuth and his wife. DIR. A. III. Har-
his. Constable Savage and several
others who went out Of curiosity.
A Gloomy Night.
1t was a gloomy night on the beach:
the rain feb in torrentA The night
was a fitting for such a dastardly
deed. The Wilmington encountered a
severe storm on n way down and
some OF the beacon lights which mark
the hanne being out. made the trip
a dif3cuf one. Captain Harper
knew that he tri pwould be hard to
make on such a night, but he did no,
hesitate a minute when he saw the
services Of HIS boat were needed. Too
much praise cannot be bestowed upon
him for his humane act
II was near midnight when the boat
reached the pier. AS soon as DR.. Har-
ris saw the injured woman he pro-
bounced her cas- as almost hopeless.
The wounds were dressed but It was
thought best to bring both parties to
the hospital So that the bullets could
be removed. They were placed on the
train and made as comfortable as pos
sible during their trip to the pier and
also on the boat. The boat reached
the city at 2:15 mis- morning and the
ambulance was ready and both Eilers
and his wife were carried TO the hos
pital. Constable Savage, who arrested
Eilers as soon as he reached the beach.
accompanied him to the hospital. Dr..
Harriss stated hat Eilers was also in
a critical condition, far worse than he
appeared to be. He sat up in the am
bulance on the way to the hospital.
Mrs. Eilers regained consciousness a
few minutes on the trip to the city.
but she soon relapsed into an uncon-
scious condition n she was talking
in a delirious manner When she was
placed in the ambulance.
Quite a number of people gathered
at the Wilmington's wharf last night
to see her come in. Many wished to
get a view of the brute in a human form
who could commit such a crime. They
saw a man of heavy build and Of me-
dunn height. He had nothing to say
to any one but quietly walked from
the boat. He appeared to be in dazed
condition.
Many an expression of pity came from
the lips of those present as they viewed
the body Of the poor woman as she lay
stretched upon a cot in the cabin Of
the boat. A plain gold ring was no
ticed on her finger placed there no
doubt years ago when she became the
wife of the man who was to prove,
h he will no doubt be. her slayer.
Only curses were his lot and the crowd
woul have viewed with satisfaction
his outstretched form.
Ending of Old Quarrel.
Eilers had threatened to kill his wife
on former occasions and early in July
he was before Justice Bornemann for
asSaulting his wife. On the occasion
mentioned he attempted to knock his
wife in he head with a club. The
case against him was dismissed upon
| payment of the cost. A few days after
E,ilers made the cowardly attack on his
wife his son-in-law, Mr.. Louis Erie
muth, gave him a deserved beating for
his conduct. At the time Eilers swore
the would have his vengeance sooner
or later.
Eilers is a worthless character and at
times drinks heavily. He was partial
ly intoxicated last night. For a long
time he worked on different boats in
various capacities but recently he has
been following the painters trade.
While on the way down the river yes
terdav afternoon he applied to Captain
| Harper for a position on the steamer
| Wilmington. Eilers is about "a years
of age and his wife is 81.
Mrs. Eilers has led a. most industri-
GUS life. Fol some time past she has
had charge of the Hanover Seaside
Club and she formerly conducted the
: hotel at Carolina Beach. She was pro-
prietor Of the Oceanic hotel at the time
1t was blown down and on that occa-
sion she received severe injuries. The
i storm which swept away the Oceanic
hotel occurred today two years ago.
Several Of the party who went to thu
Beach on the night Of July 9Th 1902,
I were in the party last night and they
spoke of the occasion and it's similari-
ty to last night.