Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-12-04
BLOODY BATrIlE AT PEAK.
One Negro Killed and Another
Wounded-Whttes Injured.

Lexington, Nov. 23.--The little
town of Peak, in the Dutch Fork,
was the scene Of bloody battle last
night about 7.30 o'clock, when an
effort was made by a number OF citi-
| zens to arrest two negroes, who, 1t
was thought, held up p. B. Ellisor,
an aged and highly respected far
mer, on the public highway, few
miles from Prosperity, in Newberry
county, yesterday afternoon.
AS a result of the battle one ne
gro is dead and two white men are
suffering from pistol shot wounds
received when the negroes opened
fire on their would-be captors. The
second negro Is probably floating in
| the waters Of Broad river, as he was
traced along ditch after the firing
to the rivers bank, where all signs
OF the trail were lost by the hounds
that were placed on his track soon
after the shooting. That he was
wounded is evidenced by the fact
that he fell to his knees at the Sec
ond or third shot.
Held Up In Road.
About"4 o'clock yesterday after
noon p. B. Ellison was returning
from Prosperity alone in his buggy
when he was accosted by two ne
| groes, who asked the white man for
chew Of tobacco. When the far
mer stopped the negroes drew their
pistols, one approaching from each
side OF the buggy. and demanded
that the white man give up his cash.
At the point of the pistol Mr.. Ellison
was forced to turn over about $25,
all the money that he had in his pos
session. After robbing Mr.. Tllisor
the negroes forced him TO leave the
buggy and the two highwaymen took
possession Of the buggy and horse
and drove off down the road. The
negroes drove the animal to q point
near Pomaria, it Is said, when they
deserted the horse and buggy, leav-
ing it beside the roadway, where 1t
was later found.
The Alarm Sounded.
Mr.. Ellison gave the alarm as soon
as possible and the officers at New
berry were notified. The citizens Of
Peak were notified Of the occurrence
and were asked to be on the lookout
for the negroes. About 730 o'clock
an engine pulled up to the depot,
and those who we're on the watch
for the suspects noticed two ne-
groes riding on the tender. The ne
groes were accosted, and 1t Is said,
opened fire on the party. j. T. Gal
linger, foreman Of the construction
gang Of the Southern railway, was
the first to receive a shot from the
negroes, a ball having pierced his
shoulder, lodging in the neck, near
the jugular vein. James e. Epting,
a farmer, received bullet in the
loft arm. When the negroes opened
fire on the party Of citizens the shots
were returned.
Escaped to River.
One Of the negroes ran toward the
! river md was seen TO fall to his
knees, the other ran through the
! streets Of Peak with his pistol in his
| haud an6 WAS fgad on BY his pur.
! suers. The negro ran ror snort
, distance, When he fell 20 The ground
as he attempted to cross ditch, a
pistol ball having entered his hip,
passing through the body and came
out in the abdomen. He was lodged
in the guard-house, where he was
kept until 10 o'clock this morning,
when he died.
Officers Oh Scene.
At II o'clock last night Sheriff
Miller was aroused from his slum-
bers by telephone call, telling him
of the occurrence. The Lexington
officer, securing an automobile, left
at once for the scene. He arrived at
Peak about 2 o'clock this morning
and found a large party Of citizens,
the news of the hold-up Of Mr.. ELI
sor and the shooting that followed
having spread over the community
like wild-fire in sedge field. Sheriff
Buford, Of Newberry, had been on
the scene, but had returned to his
home. Sheriff Miller made an in
vestigation and traced the missing
negro to point near the river. Mes
sages were sent by the Lexington Of
ficers to all railroad points to be on
the lookout for the culprit.
Negro Denied Guilt.
The injured negro was interview
ed by the sheriff, and gave his name
as Richard Sparks and his home as
Florence. He said that his compan-
ions name was John Brown. To the
last Sparks denied that he and
Brown had held up the white man.
Mr.. Ellison, however, Identified the
dead negro as being one Of his as
Sailants.
Blind 20 Years, Can Now See.