The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-07

IL for half a mile or more out Of the
little bay and down bigger one and
finally out of the latter one to q ne
gro house beside road. Here the
trail ended. 1t is thought that Austin
may have been picked up in q buggy
at this place or that he walked down
the road and that the dogs were un-
able to follow the scent on account
of the heavy travel over the road the
night before.
1T was 10 o'clock by the time the
dogs left the second trail Guard
Robbins said his bloodhounds were
hampered greatly by the dryness of
the ground and the fact that the
hunters had crossed and recrossed the
negro's trail early Wednesday night
After visiting the negro houses in
the surrounding section. the searchers
met at Mr.. Furse's house about II
o'clock. Sheriff Morris had been
down on the Savannah river with a
party in his automobile, but had been
unable to get trace of Austin. On
very short notice Mr.. Furse had
breakfast ready for all who wanted it
and many of the men accepted his
hospitality.
The hunt for the negro practically
ended for the morning. Guard Rob-
bins with his bloodhounds will remain
in the Barton section for day or
two in case word is received of Aus
tins whereabouts. Fresh recruits left
Allendale this afternoon to take up
the search.
About 15 years ago Austin was
driven away from the Barton section
on account of his bad character. He
went to Georgia and worked i'm the
terpentine camps. Last Monday Aus
tin reappeared in the Barton section.
He went to see his wife who still lived
there.
Last Wednesday morning Austin
began his rampage. He is said to have
declared that he meant to kill the
white men who had been instrumental
in driving him out of the country Is
years ago.
wednesday morning about 10
O'Clock he attempted to assault the
wife of a prominent farmer who lives
about five miles below Barton in
Hampton county. She succeeded in
repulsing the negro and made her
escape to the home of her brother
in-law half mile away. The alarm
was spread among the neighbors and
a party organized to search for Aus
tin, who was known TO be armed with
u double barrel shotgun and to have
sack Of shells loaded with buck
shot.
! j. G. Fulk, who lives about five
miles below Barton on Beach branch,
attempted to halt the negro when he
passed his place. Mr.. Fulk fired at
him with q shotgun loaded with bird
shot, but was forced To retire into his
barn for shelter from the negro's
buckshot. The negro refused to come
within range, but hung around Mr..
Fulk's place for an hour or so, and
then went toward Barton
The party in pursuit drove the ne
gro into little bay" fve-acre
swamp sparsely timbered but thickly
overgrown with sweet gum bushes,
blackberry and briars The "bay" is
on the Stillwood place, owned by
William Bryan. The line between
Barnwell and Hampton counties pass
ed right through the little swamp. 1t
Is about two miles from Barton and
eight from Allendale.
After the bay" was surrounded
Wednesday afternoon, there was some
doubt whether or not the negro was
hiding in it, Members of the party
wanted to wait until Sheriff Morris
hounds came before any attempt was
made to rout the negro.
About 4 o'clock Wednesday after
noon j. Frank Bowers of Valentine
In Hampton county, with two or three
other men entered the bay" in
search of Austin. They did not hear
a sound except cracking of the un-
dergrowth as they moved through it,
Suddenly though, a gun was fired al
most i'm thcir faces Mr.. Bowers fell
dead, where he stood. Ills brother,
McTccr Bowers Of Valentine, was
wounded in the hand
In "a second desperate attempt to
capture Austin, DR. =. G.. Moore Of
Luray was seriously wounded and
George Hanna of Clifford wa. shot
through the shoulder.
FRED H. Edcnilcld, magistrate of
Allendalc and Fairfax, arrived ON tho