The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-07-13
Observation-Disclosures FEUD.
Railroad President F'lees to New Y orlz to
Escape Vengeance.

from Eagle Lake to mill, factory and
| the coast.
In due time the Cane Belt railroad
was comple.e3 from Sealy, on the
Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe railroad
to Eagle Lake, now almost city. It
was about twenty-five miles long and
had locomotives and freight cars
enough 10 carry the Dunovant cotton
to the ships side at Galveston or
New Orleans; the sugar cane to the
refinery ct Sugarland; rice to the
Gulf coast and other products to the
main line Of the great Atchison sys.
tenn. Eldridge developed into as good
C railroad man as he had proved an
agriculturist, and now, more than
ever before, he was the old man s
right bower.
After tho panicky times of 1893 4,
Captain Dunovant found himself
pinched for money. Always ahead Of
his age, he had engaged in so many
enterprises that, though all were pros.
pering, it took great deal Of money
to keep them afoat. The Lincoln
Trust company, of St. Louis, had car
ried many Of Dunovaut's enterprises
and for the benefit Of this concern the
railroad was permitted to go into the
hands Of receiver. It was blow
to the warm hearted, impetuous plan
tation owner, who had seen the com
pletion Of his ambitions almost within
his grasp. but he took it bravely. He
succeeded IN having Eldridge made
receiver Of the road, and then he be-
gan to repair his fortunes.
Crops continued abundant, the cot
ton thrived, the sugar cane was pro.
life, the rice did we'll, the railroad
showed large earnings. Captain Dun
ovant began to get on his feet again
and to see his wey oss Of the finan.
cial embarrassments. When the pres.
ent period Of prosperity set in right
after the close OF the Spanish wa,
things looked bright. Captain Dune.
want began to arrange for the recovery
of his railroad.
But he was not the only one who
wanted this prosperous little spur Of
track tapping fertile belt end pass
ing through country growing more
end more productive every day. The
great Atshison system cast covetous
eyes upon it. It was capable Of ex.
tension to the coast, they believed
and would form feeder for thei,
Gulf and Colorado branch. Dunovant
felt secure in his belief that as soor
as he could command the required capi
tai he would come into possession OF
che road. He had practically arranged
all the financial details when to his
surprise he learned that the receiver
had made . sudden sale TO the Gulf,
Coloradoand Santa Fe.
The news came like q thunderclsr
to the old man. It changed him from
Q lovable, generous, jovial friend to
the most bitter enemy that William
I. Eldridge or any other man could
have on earth. He met EldridKe or
the street in Eagle Lake, where both
lived, and denounced him to his face
as' an migrate. He told, Eldsidge he
would kill him Cor OF, ,aet oe treaohesy
and he warned Ehin thnt II whenever thes
mettonss equal footing To- prepare &c
defend himself, fos the sigaal fos
shooting would be sight. HE begged
Eldridge 20 get asevolvee and carry IL
constantly.
Strange 40 it. may aeem-and il yet
eeema strange in Texas Eldsidge aev-
or carried q .'gui. ~ For months he
eess;pued to 80 unarnsd, and Captain
Danoyant travelled mp and, down The
State, breaking out ia the raoss fiersyy
denunciations Of Eldsidge as an in.
CRATE and coward whenever his name
sges mentioned. The old man cent
message after message 20 him through
frisnds inploring him 20 get o pistol
and Carp il. With all his anger and
his heat Dunovant would never shoot
9 man who did mot have an equal
chance in on encounter with him.
Mean Vhilei Eldridge was made 9 di.
rector and general manager Of the Cane
Belt railroad, now . part ofthe Atohi.
son system. 4! y r l.,Si
Whsn the San Antonio and Arkan.
sas Pass railroad train pulled into
sinonton at moon on August II, 1902,
IEaridge alighted. Across the road
! a si5a ssthS sst station stood Captain Duno.
want There was d slashfof fire, q re-
port and theold man fell. He was ID
II 4 q q sost