The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-10-02
HUGH LONG IN AIKEN JAIL.
sheriff and His Men Outwit Angry
Wagcrcr Crowd.

he had shot Pickens IL. Gunter. pres
ident OF the Bank Of wagener. on
the streets of that town yesterday af-
ternoon. and after suffering many
hardsnips and travelling under serious
dimcuities more than rs miles
through the rain last night. Hugh
Long. mayor OF WAGNER and repre-
sentative-elect. was brought to Aiken
this morning by two rural policemen
and placed In Jail. Muscoe Samuels
and 8. X. Holley. the officers who ac-
complished one Of the cleverest ruses
ever worked In this county to protect
q prisoner from violence. arrived In
Aiken. haggard and worn out with
the hardships Of a wild night, al e,
o'clock.
When Cheriff Raborn and his depu-
ties reached wagener last night they
found an angry mob surrounding
the house In which Long had barri-
caded himself. Long. who was ay-
parentiy very glad to sec the officers
OF the law, was stationed "a the Sec
ond floor OF the house. at the head Of
q narrow stairway. armed with two
loaded revolvers and a shotgun. and
holding his ground with q determi-
nation that convinced the officers be-
yond doubt that IL he had been at
tackled by the mob he would have
sold his life dear.
According to the sheriff. Long had
taken up a position which he could
have held against the onslaught Of
the crowd until bis ammunition was
exhusated. and before he could have
been killed. II was apparent that he
could have shot down at least a dozen
OF the attacking party.
Longs wife and child. and another
family. were In the house with him.
Upon his arrival Sheriff Raborn ad-
dressed the crowd. but his words OF
advice were unavailing.s In a gin
house a few yards away were gath
cred q large number OF men. These
Long could see through q window
from his station at the head Of the
stairs. Their dark forms were moving
about continuously. and occasional
the glow Of their cigars and cigar.
ettes resembled the display Of %
many nrefiiea
Other men formed a Gordon around
the house In which Long had taken
refuge and the mob kept their eyes
upon the big black automobile in
vhioh the sheriff and his men made
the trip from Aiken. thinking that the
officers would attempt to carry him
away In the machine when they would
laS~ = letter Opportunity u make an
attack.
The sheriff. however. had no such
Intention. Realizing that to attempt
10 carry Long away In the face of the
mob would moan. at the very least.
the death Of his prisoner. he asked
the leaders OF the mob what they de-
nanded. They answered that they
would be satisfied IL Long we're kept
In Wagner until dayiight--presun-
ably TO await word from the bed
side OF Mr.. Gunter. the desperately
wounded man.
When the sheriff Informed these
men that he had no intention OF try
ing To carry Long away In the auto
mobile. many Of those composing the
mob were satisfied and left tho scene.
but enough remained to keep a pretty
close watch out. Once. when the
driver OF the automobile ran the ma
chine across the road. a volley Of
shot was fred over his head. Long
vas anxious to get away to a place
of more security.
At last. about midnight. one of the
deputies finding that the guard at the
rear Of the house had relaxed its
viiigance. he reported the matter to
the sheriff. ard the sheriff realizing
that this was his opportunity. told
Long TO go with the two deputies.
Long kissed his wife good bye. and
I'm the custody OF the officers. who
themselves we're heavily armed. slip.
slipped out OF the back door and into
the woods. For 12 miles the three
men walked through the rain and
the darkness. keeping away from the
public roads and following by-paths
through the woods. They lost their
way and were near salley when one
OF the officers realized their location.
Thirteen miles from Aiken they So
cured buggy. and wet to the skin,
worn and fatigued fhev drnva tho