The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-11-29
BLOODY BATTLE
FOUGHT AT PEAK
One Negro is Killed and Another Wounded-Two White
Men Suffer Injuries-Little Town in the Dutch
Fork is the Scene of Lively Exchange
of Shots on Friday Night.

Lexington, Nov. 23.-The little town
of Peak in the Dutch Fork was the
scene Of a bloody battle last night
about 1880 o'clock, when an effort
was made by number of citizens to
arrest two negroes, who, it was
thought, held up P. B. Ellison, an
aged and highly respected farmer on
the public highway few miles from
Prosperity, in Newberry county, yes
terday afternoon.
AS result of the battle one negro
is dead and two white men are suf-
fering from pistol shot wounds re-
ceived 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 a ditch after the firing
to the rivers bank, where all signs
of the trail was 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 second or
third shot.
Held Up in Road.
About o'clock yesterday after
noon P. B. Ellison was returning from
Prosperity alone in his buggy wnen
ne was accosted by two negroes, who
asked the white man for a chew of
tobacco. When the farmer stopped
che negroes drew their pistols, onI
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 s25, all the money
that he had in his possession. After
robbing Mr.. Ellison 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 ami
NAL to point near Pomaria, it is
said, when they deserted the horse
and buggy, leaving it beside the road
way, where it 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
Peake were notified of the occurrence
and were asked to be on the lookout
for the negroes. About 1880 o'clock
an engine pulled up to the depot, and
those who were one the watch for
the suspects noticed two negroes rid
ing on the tender. The negroes were
accosted, and it is said, opened fine on
the party. j. T. Gallagher. foreman of
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. Jas. E.
Epting, farmer, received bullet in
the left arm. When the negroes OPEN
ed fire on the party of citizens the
shots were returned.
Escaped to River.
One of the negroes ran toward the
river and was seen to fall to his
knees, the other ran through the
streets of Peak with his pistol in his
hand and was fired on by his pur-
suers. The negro'ran for short dis
tance, when he fell to 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 on Scene.
At IL o'clock last night Sheriff Mil
Ter was aroused from his slumbers by
telephone call, telling him of the
occurrence. The Lexington officer, Sc
curing an automobile, lert at once ror
the scene. He arrived at Peak abou,
2 o'clock this morning and found a
large party of citizens, the news of the
hold-up of Mr.. Ellison and the shoot
ing that followed having spread over
the community like wild fire in a sage
field. Sheriff Buford of Newberry
had been on the scene, but had re-
turned to his home. Sheriff Miller
made an investigation and traced The
missing negro to point near the
river. Messages were sent by the
Lexington officer to all railroad points
to be on the lookout for the culprit.
Negro Denied Guilt
The injured negro was interviewed
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.. Eli