The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-04-14

1mpJTIduL developments tOudy III inc
sensational encounter and shooting OF
the .wo alleged robbers near here yes
terday afternoon by a posse of citi-
zens. The third man succeeded in max
ing good his escape from the pursuing
citizens. The possee was hot upon his
trail for several hours, chasing him
toward the swamp along h Pee Dee
river, about ten miles from Wadesbo,o,
where he finally eluded his pursuers.
Constable Jim Porter and his posse &c
turnsd to W~adesboro late last nighr.
The country around here is thorough
" aroused and it is hardly probable
that the man will long escape capture.
He is exceedingly neet of foot and very
active, as may be surmised by the fact
that he gave men thoroughly familiar
with the country, the slip.
the two wounded men were remov-
de last night to d room in the Klondike
Hotel and placed in separate beds, the
room being strongly guarded.
AN OPERATION PERFORMED.
An operation was performed this af-
ternoon On the younger of the W
men, who was the more seriously
wounded. He was shot through the
back and in the abdomen and the OPP
eration disclosed the fact that his in
testines were perforated in seven
places. The surgeons sewed up the
punctures, but hold out no hope,stat-
ing that it is impossible for him to
ecoVer. Drs. C%ovington, Bennett ana
Ashe performed the operation n the
patient was under chlorofOrm an hour
When the doctors held a consultation
this morning they informed the young
man that an operation was necessary
and that eve then recovery was very
uncertain. The wounded man request
ed them to wait until tomorrow and
also expressed a desire to talk conf
dentially with his companion. the
doctors retired from the room and in
a few minutes were called, the stran-
ger expressing his willingness to Sub
NIT to the knife.
STOLID SILENCE.
The older man, Fisher, watched at
t%entively, but in silence, the operation
upon his companion, giving no sign OF
emotion and not changing his position
during the time the younger mar was
under the knife. When told, after the
operation, that, his companion would
surely die and that it would be best
for him to reveal their identity, he
simply shook his head and declined
to talk.
While the men were alone in the
room this afternoon Fisher was heard
to address his companion by a lame
that sounded like "Ronny," but their
conversation was in a very low tone
and more than this could not be dis
tinguished.
The other man is not so seriously
injured. He received several charges
of No. Z shot i'll both legs and both
arms and several bones were broken.
1T is probable an operation will be
necessary in his case and that point
will be decided tomorrow.
OLDER MAN TALKS.
The older of the two men broke his
persistent silence today and talked a
few moments to your correspondent.
He gave his name as John Fisher, and
said his companions name was Day.
Fisher, as he calls himself, says lie is
4e years old, but declines to say where
lie IS HULL. ne 10 d heavily Du1It ICI-
low, with black hair and mustache and
weighs about IT'S pounds. Day weighs
about $50 pounds and has black hair
and sandy mustache. He, according to
Fisher, is 27 years old. Both were well
dressed and bear marks of refinement.
Fisher stated emphatically that the
third a who escaped, was not
known to either of them and that Trey
had never seen MIN before they came
up with him on the road. He declined
to answer questions as to himself or
his companion and voluntarily gave
the slight information noted here.
CLUES OBLITERATED.
There is not the slightest clue to tie
identity of the men. Every mark
which might serve as a clue has been
carefully Obliterated. Clothing IL
hat tags had been removed and no let
tiers or papers we're found upon them.
II the men are professional safe
crackers, as the local authorities be-
lieve, they were w~ell-heeled for ply
ing INTERROGATION. Each had a pistol one
q Smith and Wesson of modern pattern
and the other a Colt hammerless. Bots
weapons were loaded and between
them the pair had a supply of twenty
three cartridges. In a small grip-sack
which one of them carried there were
nine fuses with decorating dynamitee
caps, two small dark lanterns, o
steel chisels, 1 inch long and a half
inch wide, one large bottle Of nlt!o-
glycerine containing about six pounds
of the explosive and two smaller lot
ties filled with the same yellow iuid,
1nA cpnnn on1 tuvn In-fO-6afn mans
one of North and the other Of South
Carolina, showing the railroad connec
lions. distances, etc.
In their pockets there were, all told
$165 in cash, consisting Of a $50 gold
piece and a shot bag nearly full oil
silver.
SHERIFF HUNTER COMING.
The authorities here confidently be
lieve they have the men who blew
the safe at Heath Springs. Sheriff