The news & observer., 1905-12-14
Dynamite Sends it Rock
citing Skyward.
IN VAIL OF MYSTERY Y
Belief in Some Quarters Thatit Was
Done by Friends Of Dark Tobacco
Association Met by Bitter Con-
demnaiion Of Deed by Those
Interests.
(By the Associated Press.)

ElktOn, KY, Dec. 12.-The tobacco
factory here owned by Mrs. NJ. r.
penyck, and operated by the Ameri
can Snuff Company, was blown up ty
dynamite early this morning. There
was no loss of life, but the damage
to the factory is complete. There was
no insurance on the plant as the in
surance company had only a few
days ago cancelled the policy. owing
to the excitement occasioned in this
locality by the tactics of some tobacco
growers. The force of the explosion
was felt for a long distance. Several
houses in the vicinity were damaged
as was the depot
The deed is thought to have been
committed by parties friendly to the
Dark Tobacco Growers Association,
but the latter has severely condemned
such actions.
few days ago the representative
of the American Tobacco Company
at this point received notice not to
receive any more tobacco from people
favoring the Tobacco Combination. but
he paid no attention to 1t.
Masks Hold Up Train.
The conductor of a passenger train
on the Elkton and Guthrie Railroad
stated this morning that late last night
as his train was making the return
trip from Guthrie to Elkton ne was
tagged at Bradshaw's, a small sta
ton two miles south of here. When the
train was stopped the engine was
boarded by masked men who instant
ly covered the engineer with revolvers
and told him to do their bidding.
While this was going on about one
hundred and fifty men, all heavily
masked boarded the train about forty
of them marching from one end of
the train to the other. with drawn
revolvers. The leader of the gang
told the passengers not to get excited
as they were only looking for tobacco
buyers. After thorough search OF
the train had been made all the men,
as far as the conductor knew, left the
coaches and the engineer was ordered
to proceed The train then moved OH
to Elkton.
For a long time the Dark Tobacco
Growers Association has opposed an
element in it's organization known as
the "Hiu Billies" whose depredations
while night riding have caused much
uneasiness in this district where nearly
all the dark tobacco grown in the
world is raised. This matter has been
within the last three weeks the sub
iect of an examination by special
agent of the Department of Commerce
and Labor and report on the matter
is now believed to be at the depart
ment in Washington.
The head of the Dark Tobacco
Growers Association is f. j. Erwig, of
Nashville. Tennessee and he has fire.
gently taken occasion to express his
disapproval of the methods of the
"Hilr Billies."
IT was learned today that tobacco
factory at Trenton. KY. controlled by
the Italian Reggie Contractors was
burned several nights ago. The fire
is thought to have been incendiary.
Ewing VIII Investigate.
Nashville. Tenn. Dec. 12.-Col
Fell +. Ewing. Chairman of the Exc
cutive Committee of the Dark To-
bacco Growers Protective Association
is at Tate Springs. Tenn. for his
health. The following despatch was
received from him this afternoon re-
garding the blowing up of the trust
tobacco plant at Elkton. Ky:
81 have heard nothing of the inner
particulars of the dynamiting at Elk
ton. | heard of undue excitement yes
terday in that neighborhood. and
have telegraphed to numerous news
papers saying that the executive com
mittee condemned it absolutely. | have
prepared and forwarded the stronges
membership letter l could write ad-
monishing all members of the danger
If the dynamiting was done by mem
bers of the association, the executive
committee will deplore it greatly.
start home today to look into the
matter"