The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-12-14
TOBACCO PLANT
IS DEMOLISHED
DYNAMITE USED ON TRUST FAC
TONY AT ELKToN, ky.
MYSTERY SURROUNDS DEED
Band Known an "Hill Ililliesn sus-
pectsd--Masked Men Board Train
and Search Cars for To
bacco Buyers.

Eikton. KY, Dec. lathe tobacco
factory here owned by Mrs A. u
penyok. and operated for the tobacco
crust by the American snun com.
psoy, was blown up by dynamite at
1880 O'clock Tuesday morning There
was no loss Of life, but tho destrnc-
tlon OF the factory is complete. The
force OF the explosion was felt for
long distance Several houses in the
vicinity we're damaged, as were the
depot and four or five passenger
coaches standing on siding
There was no insurance on the plant.
as the insurance company had only a
few days ago Cancelled the policy. ow-
ing 10 the excitement occasioned IN
this locality by the tactics Of some
tobacco growers. A startling incident
which Is connected With the outrage
was the seizure and search of an
Elkton q Guthrie passenger train d
few hours before by $50 armed and
masked men who were looking for TO-
bacco buyers. The deed In thought 10
have been committed by parties
friendly 70 the Dark Tobacco Growers
association. but the latter has se
verely condemned such actions. a few
days ago the representative Of the
American Tobacco company az this
point received notice not to receive
any more tobacco from people favor.
ing fhs trust, but he paid no attention
70 II.
Masked Men Eeize Train.
The conductor Of a passenger train
on the Elkton & Guthrie railroad
stated that late Monday night ~ mis-
train was making the return trip from
Guthrie TO Elkton hs was tagged AZ
Bradshaw's, a small station Two miles
south OF here. When the train was
stopped the engine was boarded by
masked men who ingtAntIy covered the
engineer with reyoiyerg and told him
20 90 their bidding While this was
going ON about $50 men. all heavily
n1asked, boarded the train, about 40 "
them marching from one end 70 the
other, with drawn reyolycrs. The lead.
err OF the gang told the passengers not
TO get excited, as they we're only look.
ing for tobacco buyers. After thor.
ough search Of the train had been
made, All the men, az far as the com
ductor knew, left the coaches and the
engineer was ordered 10 proceed.5 The
train then moved on 10 Elkton.
For long time the Dark Tobacco
Growers association, has OPPOSED an
element ia It's organization known az
tho "Hill Billies,p whose depredations
while night riding have caused much
uncasiness In this district, where near
ly all the dark tobacco grown In the
world Is raised. This matter has been
within the last three weeks tho SUBJ
ject of an examination BY q special
agent OF the department OF commerce
and labor, and his report on the matter
is now believed TO be at tho depart.
ment offiec IN Washington.
Tho head OF tho Dark Tobacco Grow
,ers' association Is n. q. Ewing, Of
Nashville, Tenn, and no has frequently,
taken occasion 70 express his disap-
proval OF the methods Of tho "Hili
Billiss." II was learned Tuesday that
tobacco factory at Trenton, KY, con-
troiIcd by tho Italian Reggie contract
ors, was burned several nights ago,
The 1re Is thought 10 have been the
result Of incendiarigm.