The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-13
THREE KILLED IN
A TRAIN FIGHT
TWO VICTIMS WERE NEGROES
AND THE OTHER DEAD MAN WAS
JACKSON DUNCAN.

Marshall Duncan, Brother of Jack
son Was Dangerously wounded
and w. NJ Duncan, Father OF the
Brothers Was Shot Twice as the
Result of the Row--wns ON a q.
S. and II. Excursion Train-Trou-
| bic Continues at Baxter.
| Valdosta, Ca, 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 written in the
history of the Okefienokee regions.
In general melee. a white man
named Jackson Duncan was stabbed
to death, two negroes were killed ana
Marshall Duncan was stabbed in sew
erdl places and either thrown from
the running 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
drunken row, preceded by a long period
| of bad feeling between the Duncans,
who are prominent naval stores men.
and the Altmans and other citizens of
that place, who appear to have been
resentful of the development which the
still and the mill had brought to that
section of country. The Duncans
have stated here a number OF times
that they were always having trouble
with their neighbors, who persisted in
| trespassing upon their lands
| when the Row Began.
Yesterday a large crowd from Mon
lac 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. M. Duncan, the father of the two
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 a quar-
rel with negro named Jim Riley, who
worked for the Duncans
Like a Hash. 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 be-
tween the seats and died instantly.
Then jackson Duncan demonstrated
with Altman and Hillary Altman drew
his dirk and stabbed Duncan. who died
| in a minute or so. Marshall Duncan
was also stabbed and was either push
ed from the train or fell off. He was
badly injured by the bruises he sus-
tanned In the fall and also by the half
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.
Father Sought Vengeance.
w. NJ Duncan In the meantime. had
drawn his revolver and was hunting
| for the Altmans in all Of the coaches.
A Macon baseball player was hidden
in one Of the closets, and Duncan sup
posed him to be the murderer of his
son. After firing several shots at the
| door. he smashed 1t with an axe. but
the Macon man lad escaped through
the window to the platform of the car
and into the ladies' coach.
AS soon as the fight was over a death
like stiffness settled over the scene.
One white man and two negroes dead
in the car, one white man badly wound
ed left by the side Of the road and two
coaches full OF terror-stricken men
and women were the result OF the fight
The bodies Of the dead were taken
off at Baxter and lever car was sent
back down the track after Marshal
Duncan, who was found badly wound
ed. The remains OF Jackson Duncan
were brought here this morning at IL
o'clock, and were carried to Ousley
station this afternoon for burial in the
family cemetery. The body was ac-
companied by Duncan's young wife
and some friends.
Fight Was Renewed.
This morning. according to reports,
the row was renewed between the
Duncans and the parties Of the other
side. Friends of the Altmans, II Is said
met at their house and went to Bax-
ter, where a fusilade occurred between
them and w. M. Duncan and another
younger son. w. NJ. Duncan was shot
through the heshy part OF HIS body
twice and his son was shot through
the hand. Dr. Allen of Fargo attend
ed their injuries and they were said
TO be getting better.
II has been expected for some time
that the Duncans would have serious
trouble with their neighbors. but no
one ever dreamed that II would come
about in such q sensational manner
as the bloody row on the train The
Duncans are well known here having
resided In this county They are all as
brave as lions and have refused to be