The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-09-22
BLOOD FLOWED FREELY.
Excursion to Augusta Scene of Many
Rows-Men Shot and Cut.

The thirty-two coaches of the ex-
cursion train over the A. G. L. road
from Sumter to Augusta yesterday
housed many rows on the return trip
last night which caused the flowing
of much blood. The train passed
this city yesterday morning carrying
1900 people, and it reached the city
on the return trip at 1870 o'clock
this morning The train was in two
sections.
According to reports received in
this city, there was little disorder on
the trip to Augusta, but on the return
trip, what was lost in going over was
amply made up, in the way of drunk
enness, rows and shooting scrapes.
One probable fatal shooting took
place on the return trip which oc-
Cured in Denmark in which one Aidy
Spires was shot three times by one
Sam Dukes, so it is alleged. Inc
reports as to this shooting vary, but
the story which seems to be correct
is to the effect that Spires had
caused some trouble on the train.
The wounded man in company with
his brother was on the train, and
earlier in the evening it is alleged
Dukes got into a difficulty with one
of the brothers, James Spires, IN
which Spires was severely cut In the
abdomen. When the brother who
was shot learned OF the injury done
bv Dukes, he went in search of him.
It is claimed that he advanced on
Dukes with a knife, and Dukes told
him to stop. He failed to do so, and
Dukes fired three shots into his body,
all three of the balls passing entirely
through him. 1t is stated that Dukes
then ran through the coach and
Jumped off the train, and was pur-
sued by someone, who fired at him as
he fed in the darkness.
The brother who received the cut
got off the train at Cope, while Aldy
Spires who was shot was in such
critical condition that he was brought
on here for medical attention. The
train was stopped here for two hours
to have the wounded mans injuries
attended to and he was then uncon-
scious. A physician was secured and
the doctor had grave doubts if the
man would live until morning. He
was taken to Sumter for treatment
at the hospital.
Reports received in the city this
morning as to James Spires who was
disembowled, are to the effect that
while in critical condition, he is
still alive and resting.
Reports from Sumter were also Sc
cured here to-day as to Aidy Spires
the man who was shot, saying that ne
was still alive, but in dangerous
condition. An operation would be
performed on him to-day.
So far as is known, Dukes has not
yet been apprehended.
In addition to this row, there were
numerous cutting scrapes among the
negroes reported. Several of the ne
groes were seriously cut, one woman
having been cut across the breast and
about the head. Many who got OIL
the train had blood stains about
their clothing, and many were report
ed on the train in the same condition.
There was no little drunkenness
among the passengers, there being
several hundred reported intoxicated.
Many were drunk before they left
Augusta, and many arrests were re-
ported in that city, and it is also
stated that a negro was killed by
policeman at the Union station in
Augusta before the train left that
city.
Two arrests were made here when
the train arrived in this city on the
charge of being drunk, and for shoot
ing a pistol on the train.
A railroad detective was on the
train, and it is said that he was kept
busy from the time the train left
Augusta until it reached Sumter