The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-03-03
SERIOUS ROW AT sALUDA.
Citizens and Marslmls 1 q lffx-Cp
With Negroes.

w L Jackson. who came In yester-
day afternoon from Saluda, tells OF a
serious difficulty that occurred al that
place yesterday morning between sew
eral negroes, the town marshal and cit
izens. It seems that Thursday evening
six negroes. Mills Gregory, Douglass,
Brock1nan, West and Clemmons. peat
their way South Carolina to Sa-
luda and after reaching that place went
to the shanty where Engineer Ransom
and Conductor Boozer of the helper
engine, stationed at Saluda, kept their
effects, and in the absence of thee
trainmen stole a number OF articles.
The discovery that the shanuy had
been entered and the goods stolen was
made by the tTainmen some time later
and reported.
Suspicion pointed to the negroes who
had arrived shortly before and two OF
them, Mills and West, were located at
a rock quarry a short distanc away.
They were arrested by the town mar
shall and taken to Melrose. At Melrose
the marshal decided TO tie his prison.
ers. Mills resisted and declared that
he would never be tied. The marshal
reached for his pistol and the negro
went for the marshal. In the scuff.e
AA&AS SIAoA@o ~AAAA0 49,
ing the pistol from the marshal's hand
and throwing he officer to the ground.
Mills placed the revolver jam against
the officers head and just as he pulled
the trigger some one, Selng the danger
of the officer, rushed up and struck
Mills in the head. The blow causel
Mills hand to move and the bullet, in
stead of entering the officers handeta
stead of entering the officers head.
or0o nod tho cco1n on1 I1Irin6 ifca1f in
the mud. The other negro then attack
ed the man who had gone to the mar
sha1s assistance. Operator Heatherly.
of Melrose, who had arrived on the
scene, seeing that Mills was armed,
rushed to his office and picking up a
double-barreled shot gun started for
the scene some 80 yards distant.
In the meantime Mills a regained
his feet and seeing Mr.. H~eatherly with
the shot gun opened fire on him at a
distance of about twenty yards. The
bullet grazed the operators left side,
inf1icting a slight flesh wound. With
further warning Mr.. HeatherJy
threw the gun 70 his shoulder n fir
the contents of both barrels into
Mills face. Mills, although bleeding
and badly hurt still retained possession
Of the revolver and started to run. He
had gone but a short distance down the
O a when some WOOd-chOpperS, near
ing the firing rushed into the O with
their Ike and called ON Mills to stop.
The negro was game and drawing his
revolver demanded that the men open
"a right of way" The request was
complied with and he continued his eff
forts to escape. He was followed down
the branch for a distance of more nan
quarter of a mile by Mr.. Heatherly
anG others and finally covered and
made to throw UP his hands but not
he had thrown the pistol into the
creek.
Mills and West, together with Brock
man, Gregory and Douglass, who had
been captured in the meantime We're
led and taken to H~endersOnville later
in the afternoon. Clemmons boarded
freight train n succeeded in get
almOst to the South Carolina lire
he was captured and also taken
to Understandable last night. An ex-
of Mills wound showed rhlt
his face and lead had been considera-
bly, torn by the shot but that NOS one
Of the particles of lead had entered
his eyes. 1t is not thought that he is
dangerously MISUNDERSTANDING Ca
zette-NeWS.