The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-10-01
Offices in their behalf.
South CarOlinian Killed.

Offices in their behalf.
South Carolinian Killed.
Robert Christie, who was shot
down last night by the militia, dying
at an early hour this morning at q
local hospital, was South Carolinian
coming here several years ago from
Barnwell, where he was reared. He
was travelling man and was in nc
way connected with the strike. He
returned to Augusta yesterday after
noon from trip on the road, and it
is said that when he drove his auto
mobile across the dead line on Fiji
teenth street and was challenged, he
lost control of his machine for mo-
ment in the excitement and before he
could bring the runabout to a stop, was
fired upon. His untimely death is gen
orally deplored
1t developed today that Ben F.
Baker, who was also shot and who
died tonight, his companion in the
buggy in which he was riding, Alfred
Dorm, being killed instantly, fired up
on the militiamen before he was
wounded. Baker drove across the
dead line, was challenged, and when
he did not stop, one of the soldiers
fired over his head. He drew a pis-
tol and returned the fire, and was
shot 1t is the opinion tonight of
those who are best able to judge of
the situation that, unless the sym
pathy of outsiders for the strikers
leads them to incite further trouble
and the street railway company is not
permitted to run their cars on the
streets, there will be no further vio-
lence attempted, and while that will
not end the strike, it will at least re-
duce the danger to life and property
to minimum, leaving the strike to
simmer down to a test of strength be-
tween the strikers and the company.
Sympathy Divided
There is no disputing the fact,
however, that the sympathy of the
people of Augusta is divided, al
though apparently the preponderance
is in favor of the strikers. Up and
down Broad street, hundreds of peo-
pie can be seen wearing on their coat
lapels little bits of white ribbon, on
which the words, eve walk" and
Ankle express" are plainly printed.
And they do walk-even the hacks
and auto trucks pressed into service
as public conveyances are not over
crowded with passengers.
L. a. Gardelle, one of the leading
druggists of Augusta, mas received
several anonymous letters because a
few days ago he boarded one of the
street cars manned by strike-breakers
and rode short distance. Mr. Gar
dele stated to friends that he got on
the car unthinkingly but he had not
returned to his Office long before a
letter was handed him. The letter
showed plainly that somebody is max
ing it his business to keep close tab
on those who dare to ride on the cars.
Mr. Gardelle's offense, the letter told
him, would be overlooked if he did
not repeat it, but if he rode the cars
again, the writer of the letter would
not be responsible for the conse-
quences. The merchants and busi-
ness people are, as rule, very guard
ed in their utterances, and in their
attitude toward the contending fac
tions. Their business is already para
lyzed. Travelling men who were in
Augusta today complained of their in
ability to get their customers to talk
business and left in disgust
Az has been stated, the open hos
tility of many people throughout the
Horse Greek valley to the trolley con-
pany and the sympathy Of these peo-
pie for the strikers is viewed here
with growing alarm 1t is believed
that it would be courting disaster for
the company to attempt to resume
operation on the Augusta-Aiken line
before the differences of the strikers
and the company are settled. On the
interurban line are many trestles and