The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-10-02
Augusta i'm the Hands OF
the Militia,
MARTIAL LAW
is DECLARED
After Several Days of Disorder and
Strife, the City of Augusta is now
Quiet Awaiting Developments.
Trouble over Union Labor on Street
Car Line.

Augusta, Ca, Sept. 27.-At o'clock
tonight Augusta is in a turmoil of
excitement from one end to the other,
and 1T is impossible to foretell what
will happen before morning.
In the interval of the firing by the
troops on Fifteenth street and the
hour set for labor meeting at the
court house the situation appears to
have Gained down, but intensity Of
feeling over the shooting OF five peo-
pie has incensed the people gener-
ally, largely because they do not un-
derstand that the city is under mar
tial law
During the day ceaseess efforts
have been made by every BUSINESS in
terest in the city to bring about an
adjustment Of the street car strike,
which is now but an incident of the
trouble
Call for Arbitration.
The chamber of commerc. the
Merchants and Manufacturers asso-
citation and the cotton exchange, in
Joint meeting, demanded immeNa
arbitration by the company and the
strikers, commencing Mayor Barrett's
position Of enforcing protection OF
property and lives and the measures
taken to hold down mob rule. In
response to the demands Of the busi-
b fY,fn oAr .
have unequivocally accepted the sug-
gestion OF arbitration, but the com-
pany, in an address signed by General
Manager Deal, fatty refuses arbitra-
tion, declaring il has nothing to arbi-
trate, and further, that the men who
left its employ and, Mr.. Deal declares,
joined in the riot last night, have
no connection with or further claim
on the company. Mr.. Deal asserts
that the company st IDS ready to
operate all it's cars so soon as they
are given sufficient protection, which
it claims as right.
Situation More Strained.
This declaration has been like a
irebrand in a pile Of tinder, and the
portions Of the city, particularly West
End the mill district, are even more
turbulent than last night
From one end of the city to the
other the news has been spread of
the shooting by troops on Fifteenth
street, and besides the thousand or
more people congregated in West End
the 700 block on Broad street, in the
heart of the business district is
crowded.
During the middle of the day infor-
nation was conveyed to the authori-
ties that strike sympathizers had
planned to plant mine under the
power house tonight. During the af-
ternoon q military suard was thrown
around the Fifteenth street property
OF the company, where one Of the
power plants is located, and a dead
line was established at e, h end of
the property. The troops re given
instructions to challenge anybody at
tempting to pass through the line and
stop them; to fire If the challenge
should be ignored and any effor,
should be made to pass through the
lines after the challenge. The troops
are provided with riot cartridges and
are stationed on duty with loaded
pieces.
Business Man Shot.
Robert Cristie, business man, was
driving by III an automobile and, eyi-
IDENTIFY did not hear the challenge of
the sentry. He had gone but few
feet when he was shot through the
lungs. He is at a hospital where he
will die.
Ben. F. Baker and Alfred Dorm, also
business men, attempted to drive
through Fifteenth street few min
utes later. a few blocks from the
power plant some one told Baker, in
whose buggy they were riding, that
the soldiers were firing blank cart
ridges. AS he approached the power
plant he whipped up his horse. I'm
mediately, after challenging, one SEN
try fired, and others Joined in the
fire. Baker was wounded, but will