The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-07-13

In mortal fear OF his life, and with
the hope that 10 New York he may
escape the pursuit Of those Who have
sworn to kill him, William T. Ed
ridge, president Of the Cane Belt rail
road has announced that on July /, he
will leave the State Of Texas forever
and resign his position, at the same
time abandoning all the interests in
his native State wtich have made
him wealthy and prominent in many
commercial and industrial enter
prises.
He has been shot at three times
from ambush, aud is now slowly re-
covering from the last attack, which
was made on June Of this year, the
same day on which he was elected to
the presidency Of the railroad. A bull
le. from {, Winchester rife entered
his right shoulder, passed downward
and through his lungs, and left his
body to shatter his left hand. His
recovery has been regarded as little
short Of miraculous.
Mr.. Eldridge now lies under guard
in the house Of his physiciap, DR.. w.
r. Eokhardt, in Houston. It 10 an-
nounced that o guard Of his friends
will accompany him across the Red
River when he starts North. In the
city Of Houston there is to-day also a
sister Of Captain William Dunovant,
whom Eldridge killed two years ego,
and this woman before her brother
died in her arms swore with uplifted
hand at his bedside that his death
should be avenged. The story Of the
vendetta which has raised Q Dunovant
party and an 7Gldridge party in three
counties Of Texas, is as dramatic as
any ever told. The final act Of the
feud may take place in this city.
Though Mr.. Eldridge is under in
dictment in Fort Bend County for the
killing Of Captain Dunovant, it is an
nounced by his friends that his bail
Of $25, 900 will be forfeited to the
streasurer Of the County and that when
the man leaves the State Of Texas he
will never return to it. For two
years the Eldridge.D Dunovant feud aud
the failure to try Eldridge have been
considered a grave scandal in the
Texas counties Of Fort Bend, Cele-
RADIO and Harris. While the State
has been ringing with it's discussion
little has been allowed to reach the
North.
Captain William Dunovant was Q
progressive, practical plantation own
er, who was the first man prominent
ly to seize the advantage Of the fer.
tile soil Of Southern Texas and start
development on scale which ct the
time was regarded as absurdly extra
vsgaLt. He owned 10000 acres in
Colorado County, which included
Eagle Lake and the village Of that
name, about ffty miles from Houston.
When the South first showed signs Of
recovery from the blasting effects Of
the Civil War, Captain Dunovant
plunged into the cultivation and de-
7elopment OF his vast plantation,
with methods which made his neigh
bors open their eyes wide.
He built pumping station at Eagle
Lake TO irrigata his land and vasa the
frst to raigs rice, which he insisted
was Q 5prod duet eminentIy adsptsa 10
/ the soil 81 that region, one Of the
4 richest in. che, world. .Tboae who
4 began BY laughing stopped 70 wonder
at his success, asd il was not long be.
fore the whole Southland was ringing
j with prais6 .of che pioneer Who had
added another, great agricultural go.
4 source 20 country just emerging
L from impoveEishment.. 4 4
d He saiesd sugar cane, cotton, corn,
famie, alfalfa and other produotB and
added manufactures to hid agricnl-
! tural interests nntil he became pros.
porous to marked degree. Pson oters
r Of immigration held him up, 40 On ex.
b ample or what . live man could do il
HTexas farming and raiifaad agents
Hpublished pamphlets for distribution
lin the North showing the pFosperity
Hof his Immense plantation and it's
+ diversified crops. s $ss5 ~
b There lived ii Southern Texas, the
Eson 81 y Confe ederate aszay& etfcer, who
Hded soon after ths war, lsaviDg Shis
family in poverty. This son, vii.
liam T. Eldridgs, Captain Duppyant
took to His plan i. ~ zSs ST 81 81 11riiends
hhip FOR sha father. who mid been 4
tOmpanion in armsa. rhs9 Boy was
H. -