The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-05-08
THE HAMPTON TRAGEDIES.
Killing of Two Citizens and Hunt for
Fugitive Described.


! of Yesterday resulting in the death of
two of the most prominent men of
| this section of the State and the in
Fiction of mortal wounds on another
and the wounding of two others not
so seriously, by the alleged would-be
negro rapist, Richard Henry Austin,
have shaken the surrounding terri
tory as nothing has done in years.
Fully one thousand men from Barn
we'll and Hampton counties, their
faces showing the grim determination
to have vengeance, today searched ev-
erv nook and corner of the community
in which the tragedies occurred for
the negro. The patience of those men
who have searched so diligently is
almost exhausted.
The period of excitement is over,
but in it's place is the settled and
steadfast desire to do something for
revenge. This is the expressed state
ment of a number of men who COM
pose the searching party.
The bloodhounds from the State
Penitentiary are on the grounds and
early this morning struck the trail
of the negro, but the trail ran into
public highway and was lost, the evil
dences being that conveyance was
used. Whether confederates or &C
cessories furnished the conveyance is
question asked by many of those on
the scene.
Refused to Assist.
1t is known that in the neighbor-
hood where the negro was last seen
last night negro hot supper was IN
progress and attempts were made by
some of the searchers to procure as
sistance from those in attendance
upon the supper but they steadfastly
refused. This adds fuel to the fire
and what may occur is not known.
Certain is it that the animal in these
men will most assuredly manifest
ITSELF
At Allendale this afternoon the
funeral of the brave magistrate, Mr..
Fred H. Edenfeld, was held and his
body inferred with Masonic honors,
and Mr.. J. Frank Bowers was buried
at his family burial grounds, near
the little town of Clifford, in this
county, while it is authorltatlVely
stated that DR.. Moore, lingering In
Knowlton's Infrmary in Columbia,
will not recover.
The details of the shooting are
that after the man Austin had pre-
pared himself with several boxes or
buck shot shells and a gun and
large calibre pistol with sufficient
ammunition, he attempted to assault
the wife of prominent farmer in the
Luray section of the county. The
lady by trickery succeeded in getting
a shotgun and ran the negro out or
the house at the same time giving the
alarm. Mr.. J. G. Folk, near neigh
bor. hearing the alarm ran to the as
sistance of the woman and shot at
Austin, who barricaded himself be-
hind a large box and Mr.. Bolk was
unable to shoot him. The negro then
commanded other negroes to harness
his mule to a wagon, which they did,
and he made his escape.
Took Refuge in Bay.
The news spread like wild fire and
a crowd of men from Luray overlook
the negro, who was in the road near
the home of Mr.. w. C. Bryant, in this
county, talking with Mr.. Bryant as If
nothing had happened. The negro
ran into a pond, or bay, nearby and
Mr.. George Hanna entered the bay
lust in the rear of the negro. Mr..
Hanna was shot through the should
er, but was not seriously wounded.
During the ensuing combat Mr.. Han
ma held his ground and continued
shooting.
DR.. Moore entered, going to the as
sistance of Mr.. Hanna, but the negro
shot him, literally mangling his right
arm and inficting serious injuries
with buck shot in his face. NotWlth-
standing this DR.. Moore recovered his
weapon, which had dropped to the
ground at the shot, and commenced
firing with his left hand at the negro.
Mr.. J. Frank Bowers, rushing in at
this time, was met with two full loads
of buckshot from the gun of the man,
which completely blew off the top OF
the head and the upper face of Mr..
Bowers. 1t being almost suicidal for
DR.. Moore and Mr.. Hanna to stay
where they were, the negro being Sc
curely barricaded, they withdrew,
leaving Mr.. Bowers body in the pond
IN +ba mol of his life blood Dr.